Okay, I have a confession that I’m sure is going to make me appear like the most gullible person alive. For years, I have continued to purchase clothing on Amazon. I know, I know. I literally write articles about the importance of making smart purchasing decisions when it comes to your wardrobe, and yet here I am, getting fooled by the same scams over and over again.
There was this “silk” blouse last year that was so obviously made of polyester it practically crinkled whenever I touched it. The worst was probably these leggings that said they were “of Lululemon quality,” but were so see-through that I could have used them as a window. Each time I fall for this trick, I promise myself that I will never again purchase clothing from Amazon. I’ll dramatically declare to my roommate that I will never again use a website that sells toilet paper and car parts to purchase my wardrobe. But a month later, I’m stressed about needing a certain piece of clothing for work, and their algorithm provides me with the exact piece of clothing I need at a price that isn’t outrageous. It’s honestly embarrassing how predictable I am.
The problem is, I get so many messages from people asking me to basically verify whether or not their Amazon fashion purchases are authentic. Like, they’ll send me a picture of a shirt or sweater and say, “Is this dress/sweater actually cute or am I being lied to by good-looking pictures?” Until recently, my response to this type of question was always some version of “Girl, you’re taking a huge risk, be cautious and have low expectations.”
However, something changed how I approach Amazon shopping recently. And I’m sort of annoyed with myself for not realising it earlier. What I learned about was this weird loophole in Amazon’s policies that allows you to essentially create your own trial-by-fire shopping experience without enrolling in any special programs or having Prime (although I do have Prime since I’m weak and addicted to two-day shipping).
I stumbled upon this by accident, after yet another fashion fiasco. I had purchased a denim jacket that was supposed to be of “premium quality,” but it came in the mail and looked like something a middle school student made in Home Ec. The stitching was sloppy, the buttons were hanging on by a thread, and it smelled like chemicals (which is a dead giveaway that the factory wasn’t exactly reputable).
So I decided to return it. As I was processing my return, I saw an option I had never seen before: “Don’t ship yet—hold for future returns.” I was curious (and avoiding actual work), so I clicked on it, and it sent me down a rabbit hole of reading Amazon’s Return Policy. Yes, I read Amazon’s Return Policy for fun. No, I don’t want to talk about my social life either.
Anyway, what I discovered is that Amazon has a system for allowing you to group your returns together, rather than sending each one back separately. And here’s the crazy part: they usually refund you immediately, before you ever send the item back. Essentially, you get your money back, and then you have up to thirty days to actually send the item back.
At first, I assumed this was some sort of mistake or something specific to my account. So I began testing. Every time I purchased something that didn’t turn out to be great, I would start the return process with the “hold for future returns” option. And every time, I received a full refund in a matter of hours, while the item sat in my closet.
This is literally game changing if you shop on a budget and hate having hundreds of dollars tied up in Maybes. Instead of purchasing one item, hoping it will work, you can purchase multiple options, try them all out, keep the ones you love, and receive refunds immediately for the ones you don’t.
Last month, I put this theory into practice when I needed a black cardigan for a work trip. Rather than my usual method of purchasing one, praying to the Fashion Gods, I purchased three different cardigans that ranged from approximately twenty-five to forty dollars. When they arrived, I had my own little Fashion Show, trying each one with the outfits I was planning to wear during the trip.
One was so thin I could literally see through it – straight to the return pile. Another looked fine, but was pilling simply from the act of putting it on and taking it off. The third was actually pretty great quality, with nice thick material and proper stitching. I kept that one, and initiated returns for the other two.
In a few hours, I had sixty-five dollars back in my bank account, although both of the bad cardigans were still hanging in my closet. It felt like I’d discovered some sort of Retail Cheat Code.
This system is also amazing for Gift Shopping, which has saved me a ton of stress. My brother is impossible to buy for – he has very specific tastes, including what fabrics should be used, and how sleeves should fit. Last year, I was determined to get him the perfect gift for Christmas, and I did. I purchased three different sweaters that I thought he might like, took them all with me on Thanksgiving when I visited his house, and he tried them all on. He chose his favorite, and I returned the other two. The refunds hit my account before I even drove home.
Before I continue, let me clarify that I’m NOT recommending that you use this as some sort of way to scam Amazon or anything sketchy like that. This is a real policy – not some sort of loop-hole I’ve exploited. I believe they allow you to do this because processing batched returns is easier than handling individual shipments. In essence, they’re giving you a loan for a couple of weeks in exchange for some logistical convenience.
That being said, there are some rules you have to follow. This works best with Amazon branded products and items that Amazon fulfills directly themselves, and not with third party sellers who have their own policies. Also, you cannot simply treat Amazon like a Free Clothing Rental Service. While Amazon tracks your return activity, if you’re constantly returning everything they will likely restrict your account.
Also, you have to actually return the items. The refund is based on you acting in good faith. Do not be the person that ruins it for everyone else by keeping items you received refunds for.
For the past six months, I’ve been using this system to shop on Amazon, and it has absolutely changed my relationship with Online Shopping. Recently, I needed to purchase new workout tops, so I purchased four different styles, kept the two that actually fit, and returned the other two. Same thing – immediate refunds, no money tied up while waiting for the return process to finish.
This is especially beneficial for those Designer Dupe items that are EVERYWHERE on Amazon. You know the ones – “inspired by” a $500 handbag, but priced at $45 with suspiciously glowing reviews. Now, I can actually test the quality of the item without being stuck with something that will fall apart after a week.
Just last week, I purchased a tote bag that was clearly copying a designer style. The reviews were incredible, but when I opened it, I could immediately tell the quality was subpar. The lining was flimsy, the hardware was cheap, and the stitching was already starting to come undone. One click to initiate the return, instant refund, and it’s sitting in my pile of rejected items to drop off at the UPS store next time I’m close to one.
This method has also worked amazingly well for Seasonal Shopping. I recently started preparing for Spring by purchasing several light weight jackets that I’d been eyeing all Winter. Trying all of the jackets at once and comparing them side by side, helped me choose the perfect one rather than choosing the first one to arrive.
The fact that you get an immediate refund is also extremely helpful when shopping on a tight budget. Because when you’re living paycheck to paycheck, you don’t want to tie up your money in multiple purchases while waiting for the return process to take place. This makes Online Shopping on Amazon WAY more affordable.
One of my Instagram Followers told me that she used this method when she was preparing for Job Interviews after being laid off. She purchased 5 different blazers, tried them all on, selected the best one, and returned the other 4. Before her Rent was Due.
Another Reader told me she used it after losing weight and was unsure of what size she was. She could purchase multiple sizes without worrying about tying up hundreds of dollars while figuring out Returns.
Look, I’m not saying this solves all the problems with Fast Fashion or Online Shopping. I wish we lived in a world where Sizing Consistently existed, Quality Descriptions were Accurate, and every Item was Ethically Made. But until that day arrives, at least this provides us a means to make more informed decisions while reducing the Financial Stress of Multiple Simultaneous Purchases.
The Fashion Industry has been EXTREMELY slow to address the basic issues with shopping online – you can’t feel the quality of fabric on a computer screen, sizing charts are virtually non-existent, and product photos can make ANYTHING look GREAT. This Amazon Method doesn’t resolve those issues, but it does provide consumers with a bit more control in the process.
