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This week, in my conversations with clients and women inside my VIP email community, there was one major dilemma I heard about over and over: making returns.

Yuck! I agree, this is the biggest downside to shopping online. A lot of times, you end up with pieces that don’t work for one reason or another. And even though a lot of companies are offering free returns, it still costs you precious time! You have to go through the trouble of boxing it up, driving it to the post office, and then waiting –sometimes not so patiently– to get your money back. It’s a big deterrent.

If this is something you struggle with, you’re not alone. According to a report conducted by the National Retail Federation, returns account for $816 billion in lost sales across the U.S. retail marketplace. That’s roughly 17% of total sales. And remember, that’s just in the United States! I heard from a few women this past week that they live in other countries where store options are limited and it’s really difficult to make returns. In fact, in some countries, like Switzerland, you also have to pay taxes and customs on imported items, like clothing. So it’s incredibly important to make better buying decisions when you’re shopping online!

No matter where you live, making returns is frustrating, time-consuming, negatively impacts the environment, can create feelings of returner’s guilt (yes, that’s a thing and some people never make returns just because they feel too badly to do so!), and they can come with a financial cost. So let’s pow-wow on a few ways you can shop smarter and avoid buyer’s remorse altogether. I want to help you cut down on the number of returns you have to make and find greater satisfaction with your online orders.

This week, in my conversations with clients and women inside my VIP email community, there was one major dilemma I heard about over and over: making returns.

Yuck! I agree, this is the biggest downside to shopping online. A lot of times, you end up with pieces that don’t work for one reason or another. And even though a lot of companies are offering free returns, it still costs you precious time! You have to go through the trouble of boxing it up, driving it to the post office, and then waiting –sometimes not so patiently– to get your money back. It’s a big deterrent.

If this is something you struggle with, you’re not alone. According to a report conducted by the National Retail Federation, returns account for $816 billion in lost sales across the U.S. retail marketplace. That’s roughly 17% of total sales. And remember, that’s just in the United States! I heard from a few women this past week that they live in other countries where store options are limited and it’s really difficult to make returns. In fact, in some countries, like Switzerland, you also have to pay taxes and customs on imported items, like clothing. So it’s incredibly important to make better buying decisions when you’re shopping online!

No matter where you live, making returns is frustrating, time-consuming, negatively impacts the environment, can create feelings of returner’s guilt (yes, that’s a thing and some people never make returns just because they feel too badly to do so!), and they can come with a financial cost. So let’s pow-wow on a few ways you can shop smarter and avoid buyer’s remorse altogether. I want to help you cut down on the number of returns you have to make and find greater satisfaction with your online orders. This is 100% possible. Keep reading and I’ll tell you how.

Returns Around the World

Before We Can Solve the Problem, We Need To Know the Cause

There are dozens of reasons you might need to make a return. You could be facing the same issue again and again. Or you might have a handful of different reasons, depending on the store or the item.  But I want you to take a couple of minutes right now to do some digging and see whether there are any patterns or common issues.

Part of the solution is having awareness. If you’ve been having a hard time finding jeans that fit you well, you might need to take some updated body measurements or get recommendations from friends. If you’ve been disappointed with the quality of what you’ve been buying, it might be time to do more research on the fabric details or retailer reputations before you checkout.

Let’s get really clear on the deeper issue. Because we’re not just trying to cut down on returns, we need to rewind a step and get better at selecting merchandise in the first place.

Slow Down

One of the most important steps to this is being intentional when you shop. 

You might be realizing that you make some pretty hasty shopping decisions. Maybe you saw an influencer looking super cute and you decided to snatch up her entire outfit on a whim. Or perhaps you fell prey to the italic font whispering … only 3 left in stock! I’m not saying this to shame you. We’ve all been there. 

But the best way to beat buyer’s remorse and to shop smarter is to slow down. Take your time. Let things hang out in your cart for a while. Check in and ask yourself WHY you want to buy this item? Is it an actual need? Will it fill a gap in your closet and work well with other pieces you own? Do you have upcoming occasions to wear it? Is it a must-have?

Cutting down on your purchases will also cut down on your returns. So it might be time to raise the bar on what you bring into your wardrobe and start buying less, but better.

Master Your Foundations of Style

To be more discerning and confident when you shop, you need to master your Foundations of Style. I talk about this a lot and I don’t even care if I sound like a broken record at this point. We can’t skip over this step.  The 3 Foundations of Style, and what you need to know to dress yourself well and pick out clothing that will actually work for you are 1) dialing-in your signature look, 2) learning how to flatter your figure, and 3) knowing your best colors. 

Think about it. When you have a crystal clear vision of your style, you know how to dress your body, and you can confidently pick out colors that make you look more refreshed and brighten up your complexion you have all the parameters you need to choose garments, accessories, shoes, and jewelry that you’ll LOVE. I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough!

So next time you’re shopping online and your finger starts hovering over the “add to cart” button, ask yourself these 3 sets of questions:

1. Would I save this item to my Pinterest style mood board? Does it align with the style I’m envisioning for myself?
2. How will this look on my body? Does it draw attention to the right places? Do I have other pieces in this silhouette and how do they make me feel? How will this type of fabric drape on me? Stop and think about how this will translate to YOU.
3. Is this in my color palette? Does it coordinate with the other colors on my palette? Or, do I believe this will be a flattering color on me? Do I have anything else in this color? Will it coordinate with other pieces I own?

Choose Sizes Based On Your Body Measurements

Now, here are a couple of other quick tips. And I actually talked about these at length in episode #11: My Not So Secret Strategies To Shop More Effectively Online. In that episode, I mentioned the importance of choosing sizes based on your actual body measurements as compared to the provided size guides.

Don’t default to the size you think you are when you’re shopping online, because every store and product runs differently. It’s really helpful to confirm your measurements and opt for the size that fits to your largest measurement.  

Try Google’s New AI Shopping Feature

If you live in the US, you can also check out Google’s new AI shopping feature. Virtual try-on for apparel uses generative AI to show you clothes on a wide selection of real models in a range of skin tones and body types, so you can get a better idea of what an item will look like on you. This free feature just rolled out in June, so it’s very new and a little limited. But so far, it works with women’s tops from brands like Everlane, Anthropologie, H&M, and Loft.

Just tap products with the “Try On” badge on Search and select the model that resonates most with you. AI feels kind of like the wild west to me right now and I definitely get creeped out by some of it. But this is actually a super helpful resource and I think it’s just the beginning of what online stores will be able to do to help ensure better fit and more confident purchasing decisions.

Read Product Descriptions and Reviews

While you’re doing your research, please take a minute to read the full product description, including the fabric and care instructions. This will give you some insight into the quality of the item as well.

Check out the reviews. People are usually very honest about fit, quality, color, and any strange quirks or things to know before you buy. There have been many times I was tempted to buy something until I read the reviews. If you’re someone who hates doing returns, then you’re going to want to think twice anytime you see a negative review. Sometimes it’s okay to take a chance! There are often outliers and if you’re reading 20 good reviews and see one bad one, odds are you’ll be fine. But look for red flags before you buy. If 3 out of 5 people… or even 3 out of 10 people… have the same issue with a product, you might want to pass it by! Or be prepared that the same issue could happen to you.

Limit the Number of Online Stores You Frequent

Yes, I know it’s tempting to shop at every new retailer that pops up on your Instagram feed or that your favorite TikTok influencer posts a haul from. There are MILLIONS of online stores. But it’s far safer to stick to your top 3-5 tried and true brands, the ones you know fit well and that you can trust in quality, than to take a lot of risks.

If you hate making returns, then be cautious about where you’re shopping. Take some time to research, get recommendations, try things on in-stores, whatever you need to do to find a couple of favorite stores or designers you love, and then be loyal to them. Don’t over complicate things and make more guesswork for yourself. If you know that Levi’s jeans hug your curves in all the right places and you already have two pairs you live in, shop at Levi’s for the new denim trend you want to try. Do more of what works for you!

Have a Backup Plan In Place

I also recommend having a backup plan in place. If you’ve run through your Foundations of Style and you’re confident this item will work well for you and it has a place in your wardrobe, are you willing to make some alterations if it doesn’t fit you flawlessly? If it runs a little big or if the sleeves are slightly too long or if there’s another minor issue, could you take it to a tailor? Can you allot a small amount of your budget to having your clothing altered, as needed? This can make such a big difference!

If not, is there a friend who might be interested in buying it from you or that you could gift it to? If you truly detest returns, there are ways to fix or repurpose your purchases. It might take some creativity… and maybe that even feels like more trouble than it’s worth. But consider all of your options and have a backup plan in place, just in case it doesn’t work out.

Alright, my love! I just gave you a lot to chew on. It’s not a perfect science. Sometimes, you’re going to have to make a return. There’s only so much you can do. But these tips will empower you to make better choices, shop smarter, and minimize how much has to go back.