Sounds like merchants should be selling better quality products. Fewer returns and more loyal customers. Win-win. From the comments I have seen in here about receiving a used item, it seems QVC doesn't send much to the landfill. 

@Duckncover I failed to mention in my OP this was online orders not brick and mortar. I am sorry I omitted that fact. I will edit it and add that crucial piece of information.

There are clothing recyclers that buy by the pound.  That's what happens to many donations to charities.  Much is dirty or in poor condition so it's sold by the pound. 

The practice of ordering two sizes is a retailer's nightmare and is quite common.  No excuse for it when you're given the measurements.  It's expensive for the customer too. 

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@Kachina624 wrote:

There are clothing recyclers that buy by the pound.  That's what happens to many donations to charities.  Much is dirty or in poor condition so it's sold by the pound. 

 

The practice of ordering two sizes is a retailer's nightmare and is quite common.  No excuse for it when you're given the measurements.  It's expensive for the customer too. 

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Yep, it's expensive but measurements don't always tell the whole story. Still, I rarely buy clothing online if I have any question about fit and even more rarely, as in almost never, order the same item in two sizes with the intent to return one. Returns are a pain in the neck and I avoid them at all costs whenever possible.

There's a website that I trade with once in a while: Thredup. I know that sometimes they will have a little box saying that this purchase saves so much gallons of water or something like that. I didn't get it, but now, if this article is true, then, my goodness. What a waste. I would rather the company just say that it's a customer return and offer the item at a deep discount. Maybe make it a final sale. 

By the way, check out Thredup. Sometimes, they have some pretty good deals on used clothing. 

Look at the large volume listers on ebay that buy returns in bulk from the Q and HSN.

You can find many name brand returns at a discount.

BTW, if you've ever been sent a customer return as a new item, or the recent SG TSV which was "new" last August, it will shed some doubt on the story.

There is a nonprofit called R2S " recycle to support". You can look at their site in your area if they have one where you live. They will take all clothing donations ( and also household goods, etc. as well) All wearable clothing is given to charities who clothe those who need it. What can't be worn is sold by the pound to industrial manufacturers who use it for wiping rags, etc. This has been the process for decades for thrift stores, Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc. 

Textiles are responsible for massive environmental distress. 

I'm guilty of purchasing too many cheap-disposable clothing. 

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@Kachina624 wrote:

There are clothing recyclers that buy by the pound.  That's what happens to many donations to charities.  Much is dirty or in poor condition so it's sold by the pound. 

 

The practice of ordering two sizes is a retailer's nightmare and is quite common.  No excuse for it when you're given the measurements.  It's expensive for the customer too. 

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Sizing is often wrong.