Returning something under the "return for any reason" clause.

[IBrakeforPastry]

I bought a jacket at a major outdoor sporting goods r/etailer. It was a little expensive, but based on the description, it seemed like it would fill a gap in my large jacket collection. Unfortunately, it's not working out as planned/hoped. The company has a "return for any reason, at any time" policy. I feel uncomfortable taking advantage of that because it's basically my own fault, but they insist: "any reason, any time". I could use some advice on how to feel less guilty.

[Blueberry]

My experience has been that retailers who offer such policies 1) charge slightly more than other retailers and 2) bet on people buying more than they would without the guarantee, thus increasing their profitability. They know most people won't return. As long as it's been a reasonable time and amount of wear and you don't generally abuse the process with the retailer, I see no issues returning a jacket that doesn't work for you.

[Pax]

If it's the retailer I'm thinking of, they like to tell the story of someone who owned one of their fishing rods; he had it for a long time and one day, while walking in from fishing, tripped and broke off the tip of the rod. He returned it and they "happily replaced it, because we want you to be satisfied with everything you buy from us". They seem to mean it when they say "anytime, for any reason".

[OakLeaf]

... and if it's the retailer I'm thinking of, it's a co-op, and their decision to offer a generous return policy is a decision made by member representatives elected by members like you. (Though, if it's the retailer I'm thinking of, it's "only" one year for no reason, and "any time" only when there's a defect?)

I felt a little guilty last year when I returned an item that actually had failed within the year, just because it was more convenient to do it there than to send it back to the manufacturer under warranty. But the person who helped me was all, no, that's why we have this policy, go ahead and do it.

[IBrakeforPastry]

It's the retailer Pax is thinking of. I'll probably take the jacket back. I've been in the store when people return used items, and the staff are always friendly and accommodating.

[ny biker]

I recently returned an mp3 player to an electronics store that had a 15-day return-for-any-reason guarantee. I had opened the package, charged the battery, loaded it with music, used it, hated it, did a factory reset, put it back in the original box with all the cables and returned it on day 14. I told them there was nothing wrong with it, I just didn't like it. The person working at the return counter said no problem, it all goes back to the manufacturer anyway. Apparently people do this sort of thing all the time when the store's return policy allows it. So my only regret was that I wasn't able to find a different mp3 player to buy in place of the one that I hated.

From the store's point of view, they've lost the revenue from that sale but they've cemented their relationship with me. Knowing that they have this policy removes some of the risk that comes with buying new things, so I will happily buy from them again.