Farnam Elyasof, founder of the clothing company FlexSuits, reports a 50 percent increase in returns over the past year. He sees orders of the same garment in multiple sizes as a warning sign. In these cases, he often contacts customers to check measurements and provide advice before the purchase.
It's starting to become a real problem. It's a loss-making business for me, says Farnam Elyasof to The Wall Street Journal.
According to statistics from return management company Narvar, the proportion of exchanges where customers choose a smaller size has increased for three years in a row, reaching 14.6 percent in 2025.
According to analysts, it is primarily returns in sizes medium, large and extra large that are increasing, as customers order multiple options to see which fit works best during their weight loss.
Reviewing Return Fees
To manage the increased costs, some e-commerce companies have begun to adjust their terms. Judith Somekh, co-founder of The Dress Outlet, has doubled the company's return fee to 20 percent of the purchase price to encourage customers to use the size guides more carefully.
Audrey Herring, founder of the brand June Adel, states that the company's total return rate remains stable at 12 percent, but that the underlying reasons have changed. Previously, fit or style were most often cited as reasons. Now, 60 percent of customers state that the garment is too large or that they have lost weight, a figure that was 30 to 40 percent a year ago. As a result, the company has begun to purchase more smaller sizes and is working with more detailed product descriptions.
Customer behavior is often based on uncertainty about the new body shape. Consumers who have undergone significant weight loss report that they often buy multiple sizes because they have difficulty knowing which of the smaller sizes will actually fit.