Summary: Online shopping has made buying more convenient, sure. But because we can’t touch, feel, and try items on when perusing e-commerce sites, return rates have skyrocketed. Each year in the US alone, shoppers return approximately 3.5 billion products, only 20% of which are actually defective. Spoiler alert: these perfectly new and non-defective items that we return? Workers only very rarely restock them for sale.<br> Today I divulge what *actually* happens to clothing that we buy online and then return; I’m also offering up some practical action steps for everyone (like myself!) who enjoys shopping online.<br> <br> Here’s a preview:<br> [5:15] How did we get here? A brief history of fast, free, no questions asked returns<br> [7:00] The major differences between forward logistics and reverse logistics<br> [12:00] What happens to the clothes we return: landfill, merchandizer, or abroad<br> [16:15] 5 ways to reduce returns sent back to manufacturers<br> <br> Resources mentioned:<br> <br> * <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CW6Ar2JJ9hu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Enter to win free coffee for you and a friend!</a> (giveaway closes on Saturday, 12/4)<br> * <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/unwanted-gifts-online-returns-amazon_n_5fdd2e8cc5b60f8288564bf9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What Actually Happens To Your Online Returns?</a> (via HuffPost)<br> * <a href="https://amzn.to/3oEkUpS" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Did you know there’s a book based on THIS podcast?</a> (Thank you for supporting my work!)<br> <br> <br> * Thank you to <a href="https://scentfill.com/minimalist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Scentfill</a> for sponsoring this week’s episode! Use promo code TSM10 for 10% off your order and fast, free shipping.<br> * Thank you also to <a href="http://beacon.site" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beacon</a>! Head over to <a href="http://beacon.site">beacon.site</a> to learn more and download for FREE for iOS and Android.<br> * Join our (free!) community <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.<br> * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook,</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mommyminimalist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> + <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mommyminimalist/pins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pinterest</a>.<br> * Want more episodes like this one? Check out <a href="https://mamaminimalist.com/105/">#105: Where Do Goodwill Donations Go?</a><br> <br> <br> <br>
