Amazon has ended the Prime Try Before You Buy program (formerly called Amazon Prime Wardrobe) as ofJan. 31, 2025, after seven years. I found Amazon Try Before You Buy (one of the many benefits included in Amazon Prime) to be a simple and convenient way to get clothes, shoes, and accessories shipped straight to my door. (Things really do look different in your own mirror, don’t they?) You got charged only for what you kept, and Amazon paid shipping both ways.
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Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy ended Jan. 31
While Amazon never made an official announcement about the end of the program, we noticed an alert on the Try Before You Buy order page notifying us that the program was ending on Jan. 31.
We confirmed with Amazon's media relations team that Jan. 31 was the last possible day to place a Prime Try Before You Buy order. Orders placed by then will still have the 7-day return policy (during which you can try on items and send them back if they don't work out).
As for why the program went away, Amazon confirmed to CNBC that they're focusing on their AI-powered size and fit recommendations. Amazon also has a virtual try-on service for shoes (in-app only).
None of these services will fully replace the ability to try stuff on for free (in multiple sizes) at home. Amazon does have a 30-day return policy for most items; however, you'll have to pay for all your items up front.
What was Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy?
The service, formally known as Prime Wardrobe, was basically Amazon’s version of a fitting room. You can, as the name implies, try on an article of clothing for a week before you buy it. Since sizing varies a ton across different brands and styles, this feature takes the guesswork out of online shopping. (Too many times I've bought something online only to find it just doesn’t fit.)
And the best part? It’s already included in your Prime membership benefits. You don’t have to shell out any dough for the shipping or the service as a whole. So essentially, it’s free if you return everything within seven days. Just note that if you don’t have a Prime membership, you won’t have access to the feature. More on that later.
This can only be used by Amazon Prime subscribers. Consider signing up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial.
How to Use Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy
The process and timeline for using the service are actually super easy, even for first-time users. Here’s how it works:
Search for what you want to Try Before You Buy.
Order up to eight items without charge, including shoes and accessories.
A Prime Try Before You Buy box will be delivered to your door within four to six days. Shipping is free, and the box comes with a prepaid return shipping label as well.
Try on your stuff at home, keep what you want. Amazon will send reminders to your email so that you don’t forget to mail back your unwanted items.
Complete the “checkout” process on your order. You’ll be prompted to fill out the “keep or return items” page on your order. This is how Amazon knows what to charge you, though it’ll be checked — and any inconsistencies rectified — when your box is received too.
Box up and send back what you don’t want within seven days. You can drop off the resealable box at any UPS location. Don’t forget the prepaid shipping label.
How Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy Saves You Money
You’re less likely to make impulse purchases.
With Prime Try Before You Buy, you’re in control of what you search for, which curbs impulsive buys. Plus, you have literal days to decide if you want to keep something or not.
Use Prime Try Before You Buy to find pieces you like — then buy them elsewhere for less.
The Roxy My Way To Coast Strappy Midi Wrap Dress I tried on was listed at $58.36 on Amazon. The price was the main reason I didn’t keep it. But then I decided to check Roxy.com — and voila: the exact same dress was listed for $25.89.
Sometimes you can even find cheaper prices for the same item on Amazon.
A few weeks after receiving my Prime Try Before You Buy box, I searched for one of the items (that I didn’t keep) again on Amazon. You know, just out of curiosity … and it was a full $32 cheaper. I felt a little miffed about the price difference, but also grateful to get a good deal.
So if you’re still thinking about something you loved but didn’t keep, don’t give up. Look again.
Prime Try Before You Buy is perfect for ordering multiple sizes to find the best fit.
Sizes vary A LOT by brand (as every woman knows), and kids grow fast. If I’m new to a brand or item, I like to order multiple sizes, find the perfect fit — and then use that knowledge to buy it from other sites whose return policies aren’t so generous/wherever is cheapest.
KCL TIP: Amazon brand sizes tend to run large. I had to return a size small dress (I normally wear a medium) because I was swimming in it. I would’ve been wise to order an XS as well and compare the two.
Prime Try Before You Buy is great for finding the right special occasion look.
I don’t go to a ton of social gatherings these days, but hey, it’s good to be prepared. And when wedding season comes around, I’ll be ready. Rather than stressing about having the perfect look for your next event, try on whole outfits through Prime Try Before You Buy.
The Cons of Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy
Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy is only for Prime members.
This can only be used by Amazon Prime subscribers (including anyone in your Amazon Household).
If that’s you, great; if not, consider signing up for a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial. In theory, you could order a Prime Try Before You Buy box, pay for what you keep, cancel your free Prime trial — and boom, you basically just had a VIP online shopping experience for zilch. (Just don’t forget to cancel if you don’t want to get charged.)
And it creates a lot of waste.
While it’s great that the Prime Try Before You Buy box can be reused for sending back items, there's a lot of waste created by the individual plastic bags that each item is packaged in. I had a huge wad of plastic and cardboard from the shoebox that I had to toss/recycle at the end of my try-on session.
The Prime Try Before You Buy closet has lots of brands — but still feels somewhat limited.
You’ll find big-name brands like Levi’s, Adidas, Guess, Lacoste, Alex and Ani, and Hudson; lesser-known brands that you can find by selecting “Boutique Brands” in the search bar dropdown; and, unsurprisingly, lots of items from Amazon’s private label brands — including Lark & Ro, Daily Ritual, and Goodthreads.
That being said, I'm not super impressed with the selection of Prime Try Before You Buy eligible items. I had to do some digging to find certain items. And some items just weren’t available at all.
Amazon Prime Try Before You Buy FAQs, Answered:
What if I don’t have a return label?
Lost your label? No problem. You can find the prepaid shipping labels for Personal Shopper or Prime Try Before You Buy packages by clicking on the “What if I don’t have a label?” button on the return in your order history.
What if I'm late to return my Prime Try Before You Buy box?
Amazon Fashion has a 30-day return policy. If life gets in the way and you forget to drop off your box at a UPS within your 7-day window, you'll be charged for the entire order. However, if Amazon receives your return within 30 days of the order date, you’ll be automatically refunded.
What if I accidentally took the tag off something I want to return?
Prime Try Before You Buy items have to be returned unworn, unwashed, and with their tags and original packaging such as a shoebox or hanger, if applicable. Whether or not an item is fit to be returned is up to the discretion of the Amazon employee/machine who receives the box; however, if they find something to be “damaged,” they'll send it back to you and you'll be charged for the item.
Can I decide to keep something after I complete the checkout process?
If you marked an item “return” but didn’t put it in the Prime Try Before You Buy box, that will be tallied when your return box is received, and you’ll be charged for the item. No biggie.
When will my card be charged for the Prime Try Before You Buy items I keep?
Your card is charged as soon as you mark your item “keep” in the checkout process. Amazon doesn't wait until your return box is received to charge you, though they will adjust any inconsistencies — reimbursing you for returned items you may have accidentally marked “keep” and vice versa — when the box is received.
Why is Amazon asking me to pay?
If Amazon doesn’t receive the item, you’ll be charged for it. So if the item was lost in the mail, then you pay for it. But if there was an error, you can reach out to customer support to get that charge reversed.
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