Returning an item step by step
Short answer: Report the return to the shop before the deadline, pack the item as it arrived, include the order number and keep the postage receipt until the money is back. Follow the four steps and it usually goes smoothly.
Four steps and no guesswork
A return is easy when you take it in order. First you report it to the shop, then you pack the item, then you send it, and finally you keep the receipt. That sounds like very little, but it is the small things that get forgotten and cause delays or disagreements later. Here are the steps one at a time.
Step one is reporting the return
Tell the shop before the deadline runs out. This is usually done through a form on the shop's site or by email. Give the order number and the items concerned, and add a short reason if you like. If you get a confirmation or a return label, keep it. It is your first proof that you reported in time.
Step two is packing the item
Pack the item as it arrived. Put it in the original packaging if you still have it, with all labels attached and no signs of use. Include the order number on a slip so the shop can see who the parcel is from. Check nothing is left behind in the bag, and close the parcel so it does not open on the way.
Step three is sending it
Send the parcel with the return label you were given. If you choose another carrier yourself, it can change who is responsible for the parcel in transit, so follow the shop's instructions. Hand the parcel in at the drop-off point named on the label and ask for a receipt. Do it well before the deadline, not on the last day.
Step four is keeping the receipt
The postage receipt is your proof that the parcel was sent, and when. Take a photo of it with your phone so you have it in two places. Keep it until the amount is back in your account, not just until the shop has replied. Then you have something to show if anything goes wrong on the way.
What the receipt is for
If the parcel is lost in transit, the receipt is the document that settles the case. Without it, it is hard to prove the item was sent, and at worst you carry the loss. With it you have something to point to when you speak to the shop and the carrier. That is why it is worth keeping. See bamboo clothing for women.
How long it takes
The shop typically has fourteen days to refund you, counted from when it received the item. So some time passes between handing in the parcel and the money arriving. If you have heard nothing after two weeks, write to the shop with the order number and a copy of the receipt. See also bamboo clothing for men.
Underwear and packaging
If you bought underwear, check especially that the packaging is still unopened, since that can decide whether the item can be taken back at all. If only part of an order is going back, state which item numbers are being sent. You can see the range at bamboo underwear for men. Always read the terms before you open the bag.
When in doubt, ask
If you are unsure about one of the steps, ask the shop before you send the parcel, not afterwards. A short reply by email takes a few minutes and can save you a refused return. Keep the reply together with the receipt, so you have the whole process in one place if questions come up later about the parcel or the refund.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay the return postage
It depends on the shop's terms. Read them before you order so you know whether the return costs anything and who provides the label for you.
What if the labels have been cut off
Then the shop may refuse the return or reduce the refund. Leave the labels on until you are sure you want to keep the item, and keep the packaging as well.
Can you return part of an order
Yes, state which item numbers are going back. Put a short list in the parcel and give the same numbers when you report the return, so there are no misunderstandings.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
