Should You Return Clothes You’ve Worn?

Have you ever worn something and returned it?  Have you ever purchased clothes with that intention in mind?  Do you purchase, wear, and return on a regular basis? Now I’m not talking about buying something and deciding once you get home that it doesn’t fit, doesn’t match your shoes, or whatever.  I’m talking about buying an outfit, wearing it for a function (date, interview, charity ball), and then returning it once the event is over. Shockingly, there are A LOT of women who do this.  In fact, there’s a whole subculture of socialites and wannabees who manage their closets this way because they want to be seen in the “latest and greatest” designer clothes without having to pay for them. Frankly, I find it appalling.

So do a lot of retailers.  Some women have been banned from stores because they buy and return so often.  Others are refused at the register once their store credit card gets flagged.

I remember when Loehmann’s went from an “all sales final” to a 7-day return period.  They quickly amended it to 7 days with all tags still attached.  Then they started affixing the price tags to really conspicuous places like shoulders and waistbands so they couldn’t be tucked out of sight.  What did enterprising fashionistas do?  Buy price tag guns so they could cut off an reaffix tags after wearing.

Now yes, I can see why women would want to “wear and return.”  Since they only intend to wear the garment once, it just doesn’t make sense to them to buy and keep it.  They get great clothes for the short time they need them, and it doesn’t cost them anything except their time to return it.  Besides, Macy’s and Neiman’s and Saks are big companies and they know they’re going to have returns.   No one gets hurt, right?

Wrong.

Whenever I hear of someone wearing and returning, I remember the story of the young, over-extended antiques dealer who was elated when a decorator came and purchased several large pieces of furniture for a client on a Friday night.  The five-figure sale meant the dealer could FINALLY clear some of her past due bills.  She deposited the check on Monday morning, dropped her bills in the mail, went to her antiques store…and was met in the parking lot by the decorator returning all the items.  When the dealer explained that “all sales were final,” the decorator said she’d already put a hold on the check and the dealer could be out the money or be out the money AND the merchandise.  It was up to her.

Turns out, the “decorator” was actually an event planner who created spectacular party themes for her high end clients by buying and returning unusual pieces from stores throughout the area.  She didn’t care about the financial havoc she created for others; she was only interested in her own bottom line, which increased every time she didn’t have to buy or rent stuff for parties.

See the ripple effect?  It doesn’t matter if it’s Macy’s or a Mom and Pop boutique; it’s WRONG.

If you don’t want to buy clothes for an event, rent, borrow, or swap with someone.  Get stuff on eBay.  Shop consignment stores in high-end neighborhoods.  Or, buy clothes and resell them to consignment stores to recoup some of your expenses.  Don’t buy, wear, and return.  It’s tacky and dishonest. Treat others how you want to be treated.  It’s the right thing to do. Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of Wardrobe Magic, an ebook that shows women how to put together a wardrobe that works.  Ready to look great every day?  Download a copy of Wardrobe Magic.

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Tags: return clothes, return clothing, womens-clothes