SFP and returns...wow!
HI all,
Im selling tshirts, hoodies, sweaters and since starting with SFP a few months back the amount of returns is crazy! Yes i know this trade of selling clothes is more than susceptible to returns but come on… do customers not read the size guides we provide? We put sizes in the bullet points and also an image for display. The sizes couldn’t be more clearer and we only use the manufactures sizes - Gildan. Is the power of the free returns system just too tantalizing to just guess at whether it will fit or not? We sell the same volume on eBay and the returns there are virtually zero compared to AZ. eBay’s return is a self-paid RM48 stamp if the customer wants to exchange, but AZ’s free return policy is just open to abuse. We’ve noted a few AZ customers buying 2 of an item in say a Large and Xlarge, then a few days later we get one size returned to us! That return costs us, the SFPer, but its just abuse in my opinion.
Yes, if we sent the wrong size or whatever then thats our fault, return accepted. But we see that many returns customers are not wanting to have another size sent out, so its a refund!
Yeh,its par for the course that returns happen, but blimey nora, its crazy!
And one more thing, I have a horrid feeling that many Christmas clothes will be returned after the new year, not from incorrect items being bought but rather from…they’ve worn it for Christmas day, it wont be worn again, so … back it goes!
Any other SFPers seeing this?
(all im gonna do is put them in a box and dig them out next year!) 
SFP and returns...wow!
HI all,
Im selling tshirts, hoodies, sweaters and since starting with SFP a few months back the amount of returns is crazy! Yes i know this trade of selling clothes is more than susceptible to returns but come on… do customers not read the size guides we provide? We put sizes in the bullet points and also an image for display. The sizes couldn’t be more clearer and we only use the manufactures sizes - Gildan. Is the power of the free returns system just too tantalizing to just guess at whether it will fit or not? We sell the same volume on eBay and the returns there are virtually zero compared to AZ. eBay’s return is a self-paid RM48 stamp if the customer wants to exchange, but AZ’s free return policy is just open to abuse. We’ve noted a few AZ customers buying 2 of an item in say a Large and Xlarge, then a few days later we get one size returned to us! That return costs us, the SFPer, but its just abuse in my opinion.
Yes, if we sent the wrong size or whatever then thats our fault, return accepted. But we see that many returns customers are not wanting to have another size sent out, so its a refund!
Yeh,its par for the course that returns happen, but blimey nora, its crazy!
And one more thing, I have a horrid feeling that many Christmas clothes will be returned after the new year, not from incorrect items being bought but rather from…they’ve worn it for Christmas day, it wont be worn again, so … back it goes!
Any other SFPers seeing this?
(all im gonna do is put them in a box and dig them out next year!)
0 replies
Seller_y85eShwkJ1SUS
They are doing it to be competitive because major clothing retailers offer free returns. It works… I used to buy most of my clothes from ASOS and Boohoo etc without giving Amazon a second thought - now I will check on here too.
Maybe it’s a female thing but I always order more than one size - it’s not abuse, it’s the norm for buying clothes online. If you try clothes on in a shop, most women at least would take in 2 sizes. Buying one size, then finding it’s not right then exchanging takes longer and most of the time you want to compare the sizes at the same time.
Seller_bhSWqoVh7Pn98
The problem is sizes are so inaccurate on Amazon, mainly by Chinese Sellers. So, you have to buy several to save keep swapping oven items. If you want a shirt, you want it to fit 1st time if possible.
I have found, it says ‘large’ and only if you are a Chinese man is that large, then you have to buy another, etc. My size used to me Medium in the UK Stores. I think I got to XXXL to be correct on 1 shirt I bought, even then it shrunk on 1st wash and that was a known make imported.
I bought 1 size fits all adults socks a few weeks ago, as stretchy, but maximum they would fit would be someone with size 7 feet.
I bought several shoes on here (for a child), again not great, massive compared to what they should be. I went for Clarkes brand on Amazon in the end and they fitted 1st time.
I would suggest do NOT put medium, large, etc. Show the actual size, eg 34” etc. Or, show both, and say something like: MEDIUM (UK MAN), 34” waist. Not just a size chart.
Even mention if UK or EU Seller and show the ‘Small, Medium, Large’ etc are sizes for Western Men / Women.
I’ve taken notice of charts on here and they never seem to be correct, one persons large is anothers small, etc.
I do choose Amazon to buy clothes on, as I know sizing useless, so I can buy several of various designs and send some back. Usually I keep the ones that fit though. Most have been FBA, so all returned as 1 parcel and all can be resold.
If returned not as new, eg worn out somewhere etc, you can charge a restocking fee, you do not have to accept those back.
I guess you need to build a % of returns in the price. Then just accept back, as long ‘as new’
Seller_GGByEa9ThBuw8
I find some customers read very little before placing an order. The return request we received today had an accompanying comment which started “Now that I’ve read the description, I know what I’m getting……”.
Snap! In fact, I could copy that exact comment and replace the word “returns” with “items not received”, “items damaged in transit”, “incorrect listings” etc etc. All our issues only ever happen on Amazon.
Seller_v79Ty9jbXuDFs
Customers abuse it big time! so we have stopped doing amazon, SAME as you no returns on ebay, but on amazon its absolutely dreadful and always in favour of the customer - IF only we could just refund the sale price and not the postage, but then you risk getting bad feedback
Seller_dMbss28h0Lysl
The free returns policy in the clothes category came out last year around September or October.
Most big branded online stores are doing it so Amazon rolled it too. Wouldn’t really buy clothes online anyway, due to the fact different sizes and the colours do not match the pictures when they come.
Having said that, a pair of trousers in Zara I had to buy waist 38 where as if I bought it from Next I wear size 32 (both being slim fit too). So yeh, always buy in store and try it on.
Seller_x1xMSBwZsJrTE
There used to a time when the size of the garment was exactly what it said on the label, the problem is that so many clothes today are made in China and the sizes are never consistent, even from the same brand.
Interesting that you mention Gildan too, because I bought some of their jogging bottoms. Even though I purchased the correct size and they fit perfectly in the waist, they are way too long. The problem is most of the clothes these days (mens & womens) are made for tall stick models. Since I’m medium height and moderately athletic build you’d think that would be ok, but it’s a complete nightmare trying to get anything that fits properly.
I do agree though that the Amazon returns policy is open to abuse and buyers don’t bother to read listings properly. I sell a product and most of the returns are for size issues, of those 50% say it’s too big and 50% say it’s too small, despite the fact that the size couldn’t be made any clearer on the listing. (And for some reason the Americans are twice as problematic as the Brits)
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
Dave_C
The reason you are getting high number of returns is because I beleive a competitor has instigated these claims. We had the same issue three years ago when we had a popular product being sold on Prime, the reviews were perfect over 40 good reviews. Now that product is dead and buried. Unfortunately what you may find is offering free returns invites high returns especially on this platform. The location of all the returns we’re in the same areas as my competitors. Other platforms the cost of return is borne by the customer.
It appears to me despite entering the sizing information on the product description groups of people are ordering them just to return the order to show a high number of returns.
Let me let you into a secret. We started selling cosmetics competing against a seller in Sheffield. All of a sudden we noticed more than normal claims in Sheffield and then Leeds. What we noticed the the claims were being made by the group of females same ages as our competitor. This information was logged and passed to the Competition Commission for anti competitive practices.
Seller_DQfkgZNWeH1xJ
Thanks, good to know it’s not just me!
I think I’m going to make another image to show full dimensions of the tshirt. I get what people say about China sizes but Gildan are either Haiti or Bangladesh, and as anyone of the larger persuasion knows, Gildan are very generous compared to Fruits.
I was looking to start up a premium line of printed tees in the new year using better quality tees, even vegan ones, but the return rate is crazy and I don’t want tees sitting on racking waiting to be reshipped.
My last count was 87 returns for reasons like wrong size purchased, changed mind etc. Yeh I got some wrong and a return is justified but not on this scale. Over a £1000 waiting to be refunded!! Nuts!!
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
For example product description says its 10cm item but the customer wanted a 30cm item. So my point is why would you order something that is blatantly the wrong size and obvious. The customer then rips all the packaging uses the product and wants a full refund also. The product description cannot be made any clearer. As we all know we have a picking and packing cost, also outbound shipping costs plus our fees on the return cost this can be around 30% of the order. The customer returns the item which costs less than 10% to return.
Seller_zglo62a63bLtm
Why not just charge a touch more per item so that a 2 item purchase will cover 1 return cost, or at least an acceptable portion?
You might see less sales volume but at least you can work out which method is more profitable overall.
