FashBlog.com

By Christina VanGinkel

I shop online a lot, as much as I can actually. It is not that I am store phobic; it is that I am constantly short on time, and with the price of gas these last few months, I would rather pull my computer chair up to my desk than my husband's truck up to town. So when I ordered a pair of snow board pants for my son the other day, it was about as usual a transaction as any other I have made this past year. I browsed the site, I checked the sizing recommendations, I browsed some more, found a pair in his size and my price limit, and ordered them. A few days later, UPS pulls into my yard, knocks, and hands me a package.

Well, I always know there is a risk when buying clothing without having the person try it on, but as my son would rather order online anyway, instead of go to a store to try something on, this is not even a consideration. He likes his clothes a bit baggy anyway, so getting an exact fit is also not a concern. The size I ordered would probably be a bit loose, but that is what he wanted. They would have been loose that is if the snowboard pants in the package were even close to what I ordered! The label read right, a Men's Large, but before I even measured the waist to see how far off they were off, I was laughing. When stretched out, they barely measured at a 28-inch waist. I had been expecting a 36-38 inch waist, give, or take the difference with the elastic built into each side to make the pants wear with a smoother fit, when the wearer is racing down the slopes.

I got online while I was still laughing, and was going to expedite a return, but noticed that the place I ordered from had a restocking fee, and even though their shipping is very low, I would have to pay the shipping fee to return them. I browsed online for just a minute, found their 800 number for customer service, and gave them a call. I explained the erroneous difference in size in comparison to what was listed on their site, to what actually arrived, and told the rep I was talking to that I did not think I should have to pay any part of the return, shipping or restocking. She agreed immediately and I was quickly emailed a link to download a label to place on the box, complete with an RMA number. In no time I had the snowboard pants back in their box, re-labeled, and could have then scheduled a pickup with UPS, but chose to drop the package off at a local shipping affiliate, as I had to run to town.

I had another pair ordered later last evening, and all in less time than if, I had dragged my son all over town trying to find a pair for even close to what I ended up paying. Yes, errors do occur when shopping online, but as long as you take care of them right away, know why you are returning the item, and can explain it level headed; chances are it will not cost you anymore to make the return than if you did so to a local store. This return was actually less painful than many I have done in person, as I did not have to stand in line for an interminable amount of time. I just dialed, printed, and dropped off. It can't get much easier than that.