Getting new clothes is exciting.
The first thing you will want to do is take the tags off and wear the new outfit.
However, sometimes this turns out to be a mistake.
The ripping off the tags can sometimes be a premature move and it will end up making the clothing difficult to return.
There are some things that you should know about clothing and tags and the return process.
We have gathered some of the best practices to help you make sure that you are following what you should be doing when it comes to making returns of clothes.
Can You Return Clothes Without Tags?
Yes, you can return clothes without tags to certain clothing retailers.
However, there are some stipulations and restrictions here that need to be understood.
For the most part, it is a good idea to keep tags on until you are sure that you want to keep a piece of clothing.
Keeping the tags in place is really the best way to ensure that you get your full amount of money back for your return.
In addition, it can sometimes be helpful if you still have the tags, but you ripped them off.
The store can often place the tags back on the clothing item as long as you have them and they are not damaged.
When you bring an item back to a store for a return, and you don’t have the tags, there are some other qualifications the store may have that will decide whether or not you can return the item.
Let’s take a look at some of what you should know regarding the return policy on items with no tags.
Shipping Costs
When you return an item without tags, chances are you will have to pay for the return shipping costs.
Most retailers are not going to like the fact that the item is coming back without tags.
Some will deny the return completely; others will tell you that the return shipping costs are going to be at your own expense.
Most retailers will take back an item and pay for the shipping as long as you are returning the item within the accepted window of purchase.
Shipping costs can often make it a bad idea to make a return.
Retailers get very discounted shipping costs from most of the major carriers.
This is why when you return an item, your shipping costs will likely be almost as high as the cost of the item.
Sometimes you can take the item into a local store and return it there if you want to avoid having to pay for shipping.
This tends to be a good solution and will let you know right away if the store will take the item back even without the tags being attached.
Shipping costs are a major deterrent to a return, and retailers know that is the case.
Time Since Purchase
The time since you made a purchase is a big indicator of whether or not you will get your money back.
If you purchased an item more than a year ago and you expect to bring it back into the store with no tags on it, you will not get your money back.
However, if you bought the item within the last 30 days and it is still out on the shelves of the store, most stores will take it back.
The reason behind the time limit on the purchase is because the stores tend to close out their books after just a few months.
This means that returns that are several months old are going to throw off the quarterly numbers.
The stores need to put a limit on this so that they are able to properly manage their budgets and their spending and see how the store is performing.
Returns have a major impact on the success of the store as a whole.
Receipt
A receipt is also necessary for a return and especially when there is no tag.
You will have to be prepared to show at least a receipt or at least a tag in order to get some money back for your purchase.
The receipt will let the store know how much the item was originally sold for.
Without the tags on the clothes, they may have a hard time giving you the full amount that you paid for the product.
A receipt proves that you purchased a product on a certain day and time.
The price of the product will also be listed on the receipt, as well as any sales that you may have received when you purchased the product.
If you don’t have the receipt, you may actually end up getting less money for the return than you originally paid.
For instance, if you paid $40 and the item is now on sale for $30, the return price will likely be $30 unless you have the receipt.
Gift Cards/Paypal
Some stores are very particular about taking returns if you paid or the purchase with gift cards or PayPal.
Sometimes it is difficult to refund you and to track your method of payment.
This makes it even harder for the store to make sure that you really did purchase the clothing without tags from them.
The problem is when you don’t have the tags on the clothing; there is always a chance that a product was purchased from a different store.
If you are wearing brand-name clothing that is carried by multiple stores, there is quite a bit of damage you could do to the store financially by purchasing from one place and then returning at another.
Again, you will notice that you are going to need some evidence of your purchase.
If you don’t have the tag, expect to be prepared to pull out a receipt for your transaction.
In-Store Vs. Online Returns
As you will probably quickly notice, online returns and in store returns are two different things.
The process of returning online is going to sometimes be easier because your transaction was likely tracked through an online system.
If you have your online account or system pulled up, the retailer can check the status of your purchase and ensure that it meets all other requirements as part of the online return system.
The in-store vs. online return process can get a little tricky when the online system asks if you still have the tags in place on the clothing.
You will need to be honest otherwise, the clothing will come back to you, and you won’t get a refund for your purchase.
Some of the retailers are going to eliminate you from a return as soon as you state you are not going to have a receipt; others may still allow you to return but will hold off on payment until the item is inspected.
Overall the in-store and the online process can have different requirements, so be sure that you check into both and see which one is going to make more sense for the tagless returns.
Patterns Of Abuse
Some stores have systems in place to check on who is making quite a few returns.
They will ask you for your identification and your contact information.
This will be entered into a system to state whether or not you have been continually returning to the store.
For those that are purchasing quite a bit and returning one or two things it is not a big deal.
However, there are some people that will try and purchase at a low price and then return when the pricing goes higher.
They will use this as a way to try and make some extra money, and stores have caught on.
This is why all of the information is logged and tracked so that there are no long-term issues with people trying to make money from the store.
If you happen to try and bring in items often that have no tag or don’t have a receipt for, expect to eventually get caught and have the store tell you that you can no longer do this.
Obvious Signs Of Use
Another reason that you wouldn’t be allowed to return clothing without tags is if the clothing was obviously used.
Sometimes the shirt or dress can show signs that it was worn or washed.
If this is the case, the store has every right to turn down the return.
Many of the stores will say that they simply won’t take the clothing as they can tell it is no longer new.
The requirement above all other things, including receipts, and tags is that the item is still new.
Clothing is not meant to be returned if it has already been worn.
This goes for other things aside from just clothing; you can’t return tools that have been used or food that has been opened.
If your clothing doesn’t have tags because you wore it already, try to sell it, not return it.
Chances are, you can still get a great deal when you sell it, and you won’t have to worry about going through the hassle and process of a return.
Defective Or Unusable
Clothing will likely be taken back quite easily if it is defective or unusable.
If you can show that the clothing is still new, but the zippers are broken, or there are stains on the clothing then it will likely be taken back quite quickly.
This is, of course, not the fault of the buyer, and it is the fault of the store.
Therefore, clothing like this will often be taken back regardless of the tag being in place or not.
Of course, if this happens to be something that you try and do each week, the store may feel differently, but for a once in a while issue, the defective clothing will likely be taken back for a full refund.
As always, you will want to ensure that you bring this back to the attention of the store almost immediately.
The quicker you deal with the issue, the better your chance of getting some of your money back.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now feel a bit better about the return process involved with returning clothes without tags.
In most situations, this is going to be a bit of an annoyance.
It is undoubtedly better to try and keep tags on clothing until you are sure that you are keeping it.
Once you have the clothing on for a while and it seems like a good fit, feel free to take the tags off and keep it.
Until then, while there is any doubt in your mind, keep the tags and the receipt for all the clothing you purchase.
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Alexandra HuttonA says
Bought stuff from Matalan online,it all does not fit,ordered 3 coats accidently also tops don’t fit me,clothes never been worn.have tags on except my receipts are on outside of parcels