Free returns make it easy to send things back. But which online purchases get sent back the most?

Answer: Clothing

25% of U.S. online shoppers said they returned clothing they bought online in the past 12 months, followed by shoes (17%) and accessories (12%).

Questions:

• Would you rather buy clothes online with free returns or try them on in a store first? Why?
• Some shoppers order several sizes and send back the rest. Is that smart shopping or unfair? Why?
• Should online stores charge a fee for returns, or should returns always be free? Why?

Click here for the ready-to-go slides for this Question of the Day that you can use in your classroom.

Behind the Numbers: (Statista)

Statista Consumer Insights data “shows that clothing is by far the most frequently returned product category for U.S. online shoppers. 25 percent of respondents claimed to have returned clothing they bought online in the past 12 months, followed by shoes at 17 percent and accessories at 12 percent.” It also found that “50 percent of respondents said that they hadn’t returned a single online purchase in the past 12 months.” (Statista, April 28, 2025)

About the Author

Yonathan Tadesse

Yonathan is a Dallas-based Curriculum Designer at NGPF with 12 years of experience as a high school math, college transition, and financial literacy teacher. An award-winning educator, he has a track record of launching innovative programs at the high school level that expand access and opportunity for students. He is a graduate of Emory University and is passionate about advancing financial education for all students. Outside of work, Yonathan loves spending time with his wife and two kids, working out, playing chess and poker, and learning new things.