The Real Returns Challenge Goes Beyond Fit

Amazon recently unveiled its new “perfect fit” solution, leveraging AI and computer vision to help customers find the ideal size and fit for clothing and apparel purchases. While this is a step in the right direction for reducing some e-commerce returns, it doesn’t address the larger challenge of open box and used product returns.

Amazon’s “perfect fit” solution is certainly an innovative approach to tackling the returns problem, especially when it comes to apparel. By providing customers with more accurate sizing recommendations upfront, the hope is to cut down on the number of Shopify order returns (and similar across other platforms) due to poor fit.

However, this only addresses one aspect of the returns dilemma. The reality is that a significant portion of e-commerce returns are not due to fit issues, but rather because the customer has changed their mind, the product didn’t meet expectations, or it was simply the wrong item altogether.

These open box returns present a different set of challenges for online retailers. Rather than just reselling the item as new, they now have a product that must be inspected, possibly refurbished, and relisted transparently. Clothing, for example, may arrive with missing tags, scents like perfume or smoke, or damaged packaging. In either case, it cannot be sold as brand new—but that doesn’t mean it should be discarded.

Shopify’s ReturnsForSale App: The Better Solution for Open Box Returns

For Shopify merchants, the ReturnsForSale Shopify returns app offers a more comprehensive solution. Instead of focusing only on exchanges or refunds, this app turns Shopify return management into a revenue opportunity by enabling merchants to:

• Quickly process and inspect returned items.

• List open box products for resale directly on their Shopify store.

• Provide a clear description of item condition, building customer trust.

• Automate pricing with daily price-drop (DRIP) functionality and inventory updates.

Why Reselling Returns Matters

By using a Shopify return management system like ReturnsForSale, merchants can:

• Reduce the overall cost of returns by reselling instead of liquidating.

• Give customers a discounted, transparent way to shop for open box products.

• Improve sustainability by extending the lifecycle of returned goods.

• Create a branded Shopify returns portal that integrates seamlessly into their store.

Amazon’s fit solution is valuable, but it doesn’t tackle the open box challenge. For Shopify merchants, the ReturnsForSale app makes it easy to resell returns, automate pricing, and recover lost revenue—transforming what used to be a costly returns problem into a profitable, sustainable channel.