Amazon is saying goodbye to “Try before you buy.”
The service, which allows Amazon Prime members to try on select clothing, shoes and accessories at home before they buy, is scheduled to end in the coming weeks. The last day eligible customers can place orders using subscriber benefits is January 31, the company confirmed.
With this service, Prime members can try out up to six carefully selected apparel products. Customers can then return unwanted items for free within 7 days of receiving the item.
In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson cited the limited scope of the program and the increasing use of improved artificial intelligence-powered sizing recommendations on e-commerce platforms.
“We are expanding our try-before-you feature to a limited number of items and AI-powered features such as virtual try-on, personalized size recommendations, review highlights, and improved size charts. “Given that more customers are taking advantage of new features, we’re phasing out the try-before-you-buy option to ensure you can find the right product for you.” said the person.
Seattle-based Amazon first began testing its try-before-you-buy service under the name Prime Wardrobe in 2017, and the program officially launched in 2018.
As more people shop online and take advantage of generous return policies, Amazon and other retailers have worked to reduce shipping fees, processing times, and other significant returns costs.
Amazon said Monday that customers will continue to have free returns across its apparel departments and will be phasing out “Try Before You Buy,” giving shoppers more options with a larger selection and faster shipping. He said it can provide a simple experience.
