Costco question

[noodleoo]

How do you buy clothes from Costco?  They don't have dressing rooms, so you buy stuff to try on at home and then return if they don't fit?  Do they resell clothing returns or do they just end up in a landfill?

I always see people recommend clothes from Costco and I bought a few things there today.  But I realized the multipack of leggings I bought for DD are going to be hard to repackage nicely if she tries them on and they don't fit.  I know they'll take it back anyway, but I hate the idea that they'll be wasted if they don't fit.

[lavenderblue]

I guess I've been lucky and anything I've ever purchased has fit. That said, I do try on, over my clothes, in store when I can just to be sure, but also, at this point I kind of just know what size I am in the brands that they carry. I don't think that I've ever had to return anything, but from what I understand, they'll take just about anything back, I just don't know what they with it after that.

[sdlaura]

I have never bought clothes from Costco for this reason, but I do know they have a very generous return policy, so I imagine that’s how people do it?

[nicolewi]

I think they re-sell?? They seem to have a big pile at the return desk that it seems like they are taking back onto the floor, but I don't know for sure.

I have tried on things like jackets or sweaters over my clothes as they have some mirrors up, but for other items we just tried at home and returned if they didn't work.

I guess you could call and ask.

[puppyluv]

All the clothing I buy is under $15 so even if it doesn't fit perfectly, I usually just keep it anyways. The only piece I returned was a jacket that did fit but it pilled badly after a couple weeks.

[7costanza]

Every once in a while I’ll see a cart of random clothes that are discounted, it seems to be stuff like unpackaged leggings, older stuff that was returned, the last few of a certain style, etc. I also see Costco stuff at liquidation places so I think they make an effort to avoid sending it to a landfill (and probably recouping some money.)

I just buy and return what doesn’t fit. I like that they have a model in the size of them item modeling it both front and back on the tag, that helps me identify things I know won’t fit or look good on me.

[eb777888]

Yeah, you take it home and try it on.

[sugarbear1]

Most of what I buy is athleisure, which seems pretty forgiving to me. I haven't had to return anything.

[sonrisa]

Costco is great about returns. Most things are sold in a way you can try them on and send them back. I've seen things that sold out back on the floor so they do put them back out. (I can't speak to those specific leggings. I wouldn't be surprised if they had a donation program for such things).

[sandandsea]

Take it home and try it on. I’ve returns clothes too that didn’t fit right and I think they resell clothing reruns if they are still new/have tags/etc.

[jackie011]

99% sure they just put it back on the table. Food items, I understand, they cannot resell. I know they are constantly folding things as people shop the tables. I’ve seen some items with tags pinned on, assuming they were returned or last quantities.

I wonder if something has changed with their approach to clothing. We had a new location open over the summer and it seems like clothes are getting marked down shortly after being introduced. Or, maybe I’m just there more frequently now that it’s literally down the street.

[thebreakfastclub]

As a buyer, I would assume that a retailer like Costco repackages and resells your returns.

Inventory is the most important asset of the company. We don't throw our assets in the trash.

Where this comes up is online retailers. The reverse logistics process of your return making it back to the retailer and then being resold is where they may tell you to just keep it.

More often than not, they are now consolidating returns and selling pallets of them to 3rd parties who resell them. This is a huge business in its own right.

[noodleoo]

Ok cool, thanks all! I've bought jackets and costumes for the kids before that we could try on or be pretty sure kids will eventually grow into. This is the first time I bought stuff for myself (plus leggings for DD1). I am much more picky about clothes than the kids are. Fingers crossed they fit, I got a sweater and pants that look promising and were so reasonably priced!

[sparty04]

They definitely resell. I bought a coat a few weeks ago that smelled like cigarette smoke, I didn't realize it until I got home. I washed it because I liked it but it didn't go away. Back it went.

Sometimes I see things rubber banded together. I also know my size in most things but I also tend to read reviews on their website. I return things every once in awhile though

[sadlebred]

I take them home and try them on. If I'm in between sizes, I'll often buy two sizes and return the one that doesn't fit.