Unworn Clothes Top List of American Shopping Regrets, Study Finds
A new study from Arka reveals the most common impulse buys that lead to buyer's remorse, with clothing items heading the list.
Unworn clothing remains the most regretted impulse purchase among Americans, with a significant majority admitting to owning garments still bearing their original store tags, according to an October 2026 study by custom packaging firm Arka. The study analyzed 20 popular consumer products by examining Reddit discussions related to buyer's remorse to identify items that are frequently purchased but rarely used.
Arka's research indicated that impulse buying is a widespread issue, contributing to the average American spending approximately $150 monthly on unplanned purchases, totaling nearly $1,800 annually. The study highlights that these purchases often end up unused and forgotten.
Top Regretted Purchases
According to the study, the top impulse buy Americans regret most is unworn clothing. Approximately 90% of respondents reported having closets filled with clothes that have never been worn, with many still attached to their original tags. The reasons cited include impulse purchases driven by sales and "aspirational sizing," where items are bought with the intention of fitting a future physique. A substantial 85.7% of individuals confirmed that a large portion of their wardrobe sees little to no use.
The second item on the list of regrets is the slow juicer. The study found that 86% of slow juicer buyers reported abandoning the appliance shortly after purchase. Frequent reasons for non-use include the tedious cleanup process, involving dismantling and scrubbing components, which often leads to the appliance being stored away or resold within a month.
Footwear, including shoes and high heels, ranked third, with 80% of buyers admitting that certain pairs are rarely, if ever, worn. These purchases are often made for specific occasions or bought in the wrong size on impulse, leading to them being worn only once or not at all.
Handbags secured the fourth position, with 8 out of 10 shoppers indicating that their designer bag purchases seldom leave the closet. While initial attraction might stem from flashy designs or brand prestige, buyers often find them impractical or too heavy for daily use, opting instead for a more functional everyday tote.
Beauty and skincare products rounded out the top five. Over 75% of buyers who expressed regret admitted to trying a product only once before discontinuing its use. Factors contributing to this include the exhaustion of maintaining multi-step routines and the failure of trendy formulas to suit individual skin types, often driven by viral social media trends and attractive sales.
The study also identified a broader top 10 list of regrettable purchases:
- Unworn clothes
- Slow juicer
- Shoes and high heels
- Handbags
- Beauty and skincare products
- Craft supplies and yarn
- Singer home sewing machine
- Camera
- Notebooks and journals
- Camping and backpacking gear
A representative from Arka noted that retail environments are designed to encourage impulse buys through tactics like sales, limited-time offers, and discounts. The expert also pointed out the environmental implications of such purchasing habits, as every unused item contributes to production processes and eventual landfill waste.
