NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon is bidding adieu to its “Try Before You Buy” service. The feature, which permitted Prime members to try on certain clothing items, shoes, and accessories at home before finalizing a purchase, is scheduled to be phased out in the upcoming weeks. The company has confirmed that the final day for eligible customers to place orders using this subscriber benefit is Jan. 31.
Within this service, Prime members were able to order up to six designated apparel items for a trial period. Following the receipt of the merchandise, customers had seven days to return any undesired items without incurring charges.
An Amazon spokesperson, in a statement, cited the limited reach of the program and the increasing utilization of enhanced sizing recommendations facilitated by artificial intelligence on the e-commerce platform. “Given that Try Before You Buy was only accessible for a restricted number of items and with customers progressively embracing our latest AI-driven functionalities such as virtual try-on, personalized size suggestions, review highlights, and improved size charts to ensure they secure the right fit, we have decided to phase out the Try Before You Buy option,” the spokesperson explained.
Amazon, headquartered in Seattle, initiated testing of its try-before-buy concept under the moniker Prime Wardrobe in 2017, with the official launch of the program taking place in 2018.
With the surge in online shopping and the rise of lenient return policies, Amazon and other retail entities have been striving to curtail shipping costs, processing time, and other escalating expenses associated with returned items. On Monday, Amazon announced that customers would still have access to free returns within its apparel category and that discontinuing the Try Before You Buy service would provide shoppers with a more streamlined experience, boasting a broader selection and expedited delivery.
