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Have you ever splurged on an online clothing order only to be disappointed when your clothes arrive because they are ill-fitting or look nothing like how they were pictured?
We’ve all been there. But there is a solution for all your online shopping inconveniences.
Since 2018, Amazon Prime’s Try Before You Buy Program (previously known as Amazon Prime Wardrobe) has been a game-changer for online shoppers. With the ability to try on clothing before you commit to purchasing, you’ll stay up on the latest fashion trends without wasting money on items that may be unflattering or ill-fitting. Keep reading to learn all the ins and outs of this convenient Prime-exclusive Amazon program.

Shop Prime Try Before You Buy

What is Prime Try Before You Buy and how does it work?

amazon try before you buy
Try Before You Buy is an exclusive program for those who have Amazon Prime. You can order eligible items from women’s, men’s, kids’ and baby clothing, shoes, and accessories before you buy them. You’re not charged for the items upfront, and you can easily return what you don’t like at no cost.
Amazon makes it simple to purchase Try Before You Buy items. Here’s how you do it:

  • Order eligible items for delivery: Browse through the Try Before You Buy catalog and add items with the Prime Try Before You Buy icon to your cart.  You’ll find a wide selection of items, including from popular and big-name clothing brands.
  • Wait for your order. Once you complete the checkout, it usually takes between four to six business days for your order to arrive. The clock starts when the last item in your order arrives.
  • Try on your items: When the items you ordered arrive, you have seven days to try the items at home.
  • Send back items you don’t like: Once you’ve tried on your items, decide what you don’t want and send those items back using the enclosed prepaid return label. You are only charged for the items you keep.

This concept is similar to popular fashion subscription boxes like Stitch Fix and Trunk Club, where you can try on all the items in your box and send back what you don’t want, while only being charged what you end up keeping.

How do you return items with Prime Try Before You Buy?

Amazon makes returning Prime Try Before You Buy items even easier:

  1. Visit the Your Orders page before the seven-day try-on period and check off what you’re keeping and what you’re returning. You may be charged for the full value of your order if you don’t complete this step on the last day of your checkout window by 11:59 p.m. local time.
  2. Mail back what you don’t want. Return items in the packages you received using the enclosed prepaid return label. You can also choose another return method in “Your Orders.” Amazon recommends returning all the items you don’t want before the seven-day try-on period ends.
  3. Wait for your return confirmation. You will receive an email notifying you when Amazon has received the items you returned. If you’d like to track the process of your return package, go to Your Orders.

Note: Even after the try-on period ends, you can request a normal return in the Returns Center. Purchased items are still eligible for Amazon Fashion’s 30-day free return policy.

How much does Prime Try Before You Buy cost?

This program comes at no additional extra cost for Prime members, as it’s part of your Prime membership, which costs $139 a year (or $14.99 a month if paying monthly).

What items are eligible for Prime Try Before You Buy?

logos amazon try before you buy

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From casual wear to dresses and accessories, there are thousands of products from big-name brands such as UGG, Calvin Klein, Levi’s, Under Armour, Adidas and Ray-Bans, that are eligible for Amazon’s Try Before You Buy Program.
Here are some examples of items that are available for you to try on now:

  1. UGG Women’s Classic Ultra Mini Boot
  2. Adidas Women’s Cloudfoam Pure Running Shoe
  3. Crocs Classic Clog
  4. Carter’s Unisex Babies’ Neutral Cotton Sleeper Gown
  5. Adidas Men’s Track Pants
  6. Carhartt Men’s Rugged Professional Cap
  7. Dr. Martens Bonny Chukka Boot
  8. Levi’s Men’s 527 Slim Bootcut Fit Jeans
  9. Tommy Hilfiger Fit and Flare Dress

What’s the difference between Prime Try Before You Buy and Prime Personal Shopper?

Prime Try Before You Buy and Prime Personal Shopper may have their similarities, but they are different Amazon services.
The Prime Personal Shopper is a service you can add to the Try Before You Buy program. In this service, Amazon stylists curate wardrobe items based on your style and budget. You choose up to 8 of these items to ship in your Prime Try Before You Buy order.
You can choose to get styled one, two, or every three months. If you choose to opt into the Personal Shopper service, it will cost an additional $4.99 on top of your regular Prime membership.

What are the pros and cons of Try Before You Buy?

hangers woth clothing sizes for amazon try before you buy

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Before you decide whether or not you want to take advantage of Amazon’s Try Before You Buy program, let’s lay out the pros and cons.
Pros

  1. You can get in-person second opinions: Trying on at home means that the whole family can see your outfit in person and give their opinions on your new clothing.
  2. Skip the dressing room: If you’re someone who isn’t doing much in-person shopping right now or just despises the fitting room, this is a great opportunity to try on items in the comfort of your own home.
  3. Fewer impulse purchases: On Amazon, you’re more likely to make purchases for things that you actually want rather than purchasing items in-store on a whim. Plus, it’s really easy to return the items you don’t want.
  4. Try multiple sizes: You can order multiple sizes of the same items to ensure you get the perfect fit.

Cons

  1. You need a Prime membership: This service can only be used by Prime members.
  2. Limited brands: Though there are several big names to shop from, don’t expect to use Try Before You Buy to be a substitute for all your online shopping needs.

Is Prime Try Before You Buy Worth it?

Prime’s Try Before You Buy program is absolutely worth it if you are already a Prime member. Having the ability to try on items before you have to purchase them will always be a major plus in the online shopping game. You have access to a wide selection of clothing and accessories from trusted and stylish brands. And, essentially, you have nothing to lose because Amazon makes it so easy to return items you are not satisfied with.

KR

Kennedy Rasberry

Kennedy Rasberry is a Fellow at Complex Networks and a recent graduate of Ohio University. Her work has been published in Complex Magazine, Melanin in the Media, and The Northern Quota. As she adjusts to post-college life, she has been writing about the things she loves (mostly hair products and makeup) and when she’s not doing that, she is chronically online.