Online retailers - returns charging

[Steve vRS]

With the demise of Wiggle, I am struggling to find anywhere online to buy clothing (my LBS sells bike bits but no clothing) that doesn't charge for returns. With the vagaries of cycle clothing sizing, I always buy a couple of items and return one. Where would you recommend? I am talking mid-range stuff - I used to always wear the DHB Aeron type stuff from Wiggle.

[ecs]

Rapha do free returns, but it's worth holding out for a sale. Le Col do too, but I've found their quality has gone to st lately so wouldn't recommend them.

[Julian Scott]

From what I'm told, the ordering a few to keep one is a reason why a lot of them charge for returns now, re-merchandising costs rather than postage - but as you say, unless it's a known quantity, it's a difficult quandary.

I use Sigma when I need (who only charge a flat £3.50 return fee), although I'm lucky, my LBS stocks clothes. I'm also a creature of habit with clothing so know the sizing.

[Steve vRS]

Julian Scott said:

. I'm also a creature of habit with clothing so know the sizing.

So was I with DHB, however with the other brands, it’s a whole new challenge!!

[Harpoon]

IIRC Galibier don't charge for returns. The few bits I have from them have been very good - Mistral winter bibs and Sentinel jersey.

https://www.galibier.cc/

[Steve vRS]

Julian Scott said:

. I'm also a creature of habit with clothing so know the sizing.

So was I with DHB, however with the other brands, it’s a whole new challenge!!

[mrtomsv]

Have you tried Decathlon (in store if you don’t want to worry about returns)? I’ve been very impressed with their stuff in recent years, a lot of it is better than some expensive kit I own.

[Steve vRS]

Good idea. I use their running socks

[Benson11]

I've found Altura kit to be good lately and well priced in some of the sales, not sure about returns policy but it is sold direct from the distributor so should be OK. Sizing I've found to be pretty accurate so far.

[bigdom]

Steve vRS said:

With the demise of Wiggle, I am struggling to find anywhere online to buy clothing that doesn't charge for returns.

Just one part of their flawed business model, those costs are too much to absorb.

Personally if it's less than me driving/parking to go to the shop, i'll happily pay the return if i've bought different sizes to try on.

When it get backs to the retailer, apart from courier costs, they then have to check it over, maybe repack, process back into inventory, add back to correct picking location in warehouse etc. Lots of hidden costs.

[Julian Scott]

bigdom said:

Steve vRS said:

With the demise of Wiggle, I am struggling to find anywhere online to buy clothing that doesn't charge for returns.

Just one part of their flawed business model, those costs are too much to absorb.

Personally if it's less than me driving/parking to go to the shop, i'll happily pay the return if i've bought different sizes to try on.

When it get backs to the retailer, apart from courier costs, they then have to check it over, maybe repack, process back into inventory, add back to correct picking location in warehouse etc. Lots of hidden costs.

This 100%. It's why a lot of retailers returns just get sold en masse, the processing is just not worth it.

[HenryV1415]

You could go to an actual bike shop. Depressing that not one single poster has bothered to speak up for the Independent Bike Dealer.
Just a total default to buying online…love how in the pursuit of cheap stuff you have all these other problems.

[Salted_Peanut]

I’d much prefer to buy from a local bike shop, but—sadly—few have a decent clothing range.

bigdom said:

Personally if it's less than me driving/parking to go to the shop, i'll happily pay the return if i've bought different sizes to try on.

Me, too.

[Salted_Peanut]

ecs said:

Rapha do free returns

Givelo is another premium player with free returns.

https://givelo.cc/

Givelo’s shipping takes a few days, but the quality is a significant step up from Rapha. The Colombian company’s clothing is beautifully crafted.

[HenryV1415]

You could go to an actual bike shop. Depressing that not one single poster has bothered to speak up for the Independent Bike Dealer.
Just a total default to buying online…love how in the pursuit of cheap stuff you have all these other problems.

[DE1975]

Harpoon said:

IIRC Galibier don't charge for returns. The few bits I have from them have been very good - Mistral winter bibs and Sentinel jersey.

https://www.galibier.cc/

+1 for Galibier.

I've got quite a bit of their stuff and it's good value for money. They sell direct to consumer with no retail presence or much marketing to speak of, so you get good quality products at a price point below the bigger brands.

If you buy from them and go on their mailing list, you get emailed discount codes when they launch new products, and they don't send spam emails either, I get maybe 1 email a month or so.

Edited by DE1975 on Saturday 22 March 14:28

[Julian Scott]

HenryV1415 said:

You could go to an actual bike shop. Depressing that not one single poster has bothered to speak up for the Independent Bike Dealer.
Just a total default to buying online…love how in the pursuit of cheap stuff you have all these other problems.

Except me?

My LBS stocks Rapha, Castelli, Spatz and have just this week started stocking PAS Normal Studios. Plus Specialised, Shimano and Lake shoes and KASK and Specialized Helmets.

[BunkMoreland]

HenryV1415 said:

You could go to an actual bike shop. Depressing that not one single poster has bothered to speak up for the Independent Bike Dealer.
Just a total default to buying online…love how in the pursuit of cheap stuff you have all these other problems.

Only people did!

I'm lucky in that there's a Evans not too far from me, and Sigma are a short drive as well. So I buy clothing from them. Though I can get Castelli Bibs anywhere.

Return costs are just the flipside to online retail taking over from bricks and mortar. When you could go actual shops, the costs of petrol and parking were probably still more than the new returns costs. So its about the same really.