Prime Try Before You Buy: How To Try On Clothing From Amazon for Free

Amazon’s about to make your life a whole lot easier. You already buy just about everything on the site, but you’ve always been a bit skeptical about clothing.
See: How To Get Cash Back on Your Everyday Purchases
The online marketplace sells clothes from a wide variety of brands, which is great. However, this can make it hard to figure out sizing, so you’ve steered clear — until now.
Prime Try Before You Buy is a game changer because there’s no commitment until you’ve verified your purchase is a win in person. Keep reading to learn more about this program.
What Does Try Before You Buy on Amazon Prime Mean?
Just as the name suggests, Prime Try Before You Buy allows you to order clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories without actually purchasing them. This includes a huge selection of items for women, men, kids and babies.
Select up to six items and check out. Your order will arrive in four to six business days.
Upon receipt of the last item in your order, your seven-day trial period begins. This gives you one week to try your items on and decide if you want to keep them.
How To Return Prime Try Before You Buy Items
It’s very possible you won’t want to keep everything in your Prime Try Before You Buy order. In fact, having extra leeway to decide what you actually want is the point of the program.
Amazon recommends returning items you don’t want to buy within your seven-day trial period. To initiate a return, simply find the order in the Your Orders section and choose “Purchase or Return Items.”
If you forget to start the return before your seven-day trial period ends, it’s not too late as long as you do so within 30 days of the end of the seven-day try-on period. In this case, you’ll request a return in the Returns Center, just as you would with any Amazon order. Fashion items are still eligible for free returns, so you won’t have to worry about paying for postage.
You’ll get a notification email from Amazon when all of your return items have been received. If you want to track your return, you can do so in the Your Orders section.
Does Prime Try Before You Buy Cost More?
If you think Prime Try Before You Buy costs extra, you’ll be pleased to know it doesn’t. This service is included with a Prime membership.
A standard Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 annually, but discounts are available.
Qualifying government assistance recipients — including SNAP EBT and Medicaid — can get an Amazon Prime membership for $6.99 per month. Additionally, a Prime Student membership is available to students enrolled in two- or four-year colleges for $7.49 per month or $69 annually.
Where To Find Prime Try Before You Buy Items
Wondering where to find Prime Try Before You Buy items? You can easily navigate to this section by clicking “All” in the top left corner of the homepage, then clicking “Clothing, Shoes, Jewelry and Watches,” and then selecting “Prime Try Before You Buy.”
It’s also likely you’ve stumbled upon these items while searching for clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories on the site. These products appear in standard search results, with the option to turn the Prime Try Before You Buy feature off if you’re not interested in this service.
What Happens If You Don’t Return Prime Try Before You Buy Items?
The Prime Try Before You Buy service was designed to give you more freedom with online shopping — but this doesn’t mean there aren’t strict rules in place. If you don’t return the items by the time the seven-day try-on period ends, you will be charged for them.
Additionally, if the returned items are received but aren’t in a condition that satisfies the Amazon Fashion return policy — i.e., new and unworn condition — you will be charged for them. So, think again if you were planning to wear the items during the trial period, then return them.
3 Benefits of Prime Try Before You Buy
If the Prime Try Before You Buy program is new to you, it makes sense if you’re a little apprehensive about using it.
However, this Amazon service can prove very helpful. Here’s a look at three reasons to give it a try.
1. Take More Fashion Risks
Shopping online opens the door to an entirely new world of fashion. Instead of having to settle for the clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories available in your local area, Amazon puts basically anything you could want at your fingertips.
This is amazing, but buying online can also be nerve-wracking. It can be hard to commit to an item when you haven’t seen it, touched it and tried it on.
Prime Try Before You Buy essentially serves as a bridge between you and the fashion purchases you’re worried about making online. When there’s no obligation to keep the items, you can give anything you’re interested in a try.
2. Enjoy Easy Returns
Amazon returns are easy. Simply initiate the return online, then bring it to a drop-off location.
Most U.S. Amazon customers have at least one label-free, box-free return drop-off point within a five-mile radius, according to the company. This includes Amazon stores, Whole Foods, Kohl’s and Staples locations. The UPS Store is another option, but in some cases, you may be charged $1.
3. Save Time
Buying — and returning — clothes and accessories at several different stores requires a lot of time and energy. Of course, this is a nonissue when you utilize the Prime Try Before You Buy service.
Whether you’re shopping for yourself or the whole family, you can find everything you need in one online storefront. All items you buy can also be returned together, making the process quick and easy.
It might sound complicated, but it’s not. The Prime Try Before You Buy program is as straightforward as it appears.
This innovative way to shop can make your life easier while taking your wardrobe to the next level. It could prove to be your favorite service yet, so if you’re thinking about giving it a try, it might be time to go for it.
Information is accurate as of Sept. 24, 2023.
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