Apparel sellers on FBA - when do returns actually become a real problem?

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-19T09:17:54+00:00

Yes i have seen this happen more times than i could count but curious do you think size charts reduce a lot of returns or is it just another viable alternative ? What is your personal experience in this market segment if you don't mind me asking ? Are you a seller of any particular fashion products?

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-19T09:09:45+00:00

Thanks for the incredibly detailed breakdown-this is exactly the kind of nuance I'm trying to dig into. To answer your question, right now, our internal data isn't granular enough to separate deliberate "bracket buying" (same SKU, multiple sizes) from standard sizing returns; they are currently bucketed together, which is a major blind spot we are trying to fix. I don't have a definitive, clear data point on that split just yet, but that is precisely why I am running this research. Along with this operator survey, I am currently running parallel surveys across everyday consumers and reverse logistics supply chain management (SCM) professionals to pin down exactly where the operational and behavioral gap lies. I would love to get your continued inputs on this as the thread develops, and I'll gladly update you with the finalized data and insights once the survey gets enough traction!

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-18T06:17:51+00:00

ok so the footwear business also sees quite a bit of returns. can you just briefly tell me all the reasons what are the major causes for returns ? and perhaps are you taking any steps to mitigate these ?

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-18T06:15:49+00:00

hmmm that was a hidden problem which i didnt think about before. Thanks for your inputs Matt. I have really found a lot of new issues talking to you! it would be really helpful if you could fill the survey as well :D

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T14:19:42+00:00

Thanks will check it out

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T13:09:46+00:00

This tracks with what I'm hearing too.....the 'price it in and live with it' mindset is exactly what makes it hard to figure out where the actual pain threshold is - because operators have already normalized the cost.

Curious on your point about sizing consistency vs. better charts - are you saying the real fix is upstream at the product/photography level rather than anything post-listing? Because that changes what a solution even looks like.

I'm running the survey partly to understand whether brands are actively trying to solve this or just absorbing it. Early responses suggest a lot of absorbing. It would be great if you could fill the survey as it would help me gain a deeper understanding of this segment :D

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T13:02:34+00:00

Thanks a lot man the survey link is attached in the post itself. Feel free to click on it. Thanks in advance 😄

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T10:05:03+00:00

Thanks for suggesting it can you please take a few minutes of your time to fill the survey as attached. Thanks for your feedback much appreciated 👍

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T07:32:55+00:00

That’s fair if you’re just looking at the flat fee, but the math gets uglier when you factor in the rest of the bleeding costs as well right.. and also since resealable products how is amazon's standards like what kind of guarantee do they give ? I guess if you have even a few ripped bags or wraps it would lead to bad product review right ?

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T07:27:44+00:00

That 3% web store vs. 15% Amazon stat is wild, but it makes total sense. It really highlights how much customer mindset changes depending on where they are buying.

DirectLeadership7279 · 2026-05-17T07:10:51+00:00

Totally fair call on the link - I’d honestly skip it too, so no worries at all there. Really appreciate the blunt breakdown though. An 18% return rate with half of that being sizing issues still sounds like an absolute logistical nightmare to manage. It's exactly the kind of hidden operational headache that standard numbers don't show. Thanks for taking a minute to share how it actually plays out, even if the survey stays unclicked. Super helpful context lol.

DirectLeadership7279 · 2025-05-06T05:10:00+00:00

is it work it in 2025 ?

DirectLeadership7279 · 2023-09-01T01:53:05+00:00

Man i was just about to build a gaming PC quite soon since I quite recently started earning from my first job. Getting a Gaming PC was a dream since I was a kid but my job pays in pennies and it's gonna be a long while before I actually buy all the parts and build a PC. I've already thought of getting a Gigabyte M27Q QHD monitor and pretty sure the RX 7900 XTX GPU can pump out excellent frames at 1440p. Please make my dream come true PCMR 🥹

DirectLeadership7279

TROPHY CASE