Keep or Return Scorecard

First, the calculator computes a Base Value Score as a weighted average of your Fit and Quality scores (fit is weighted slightly higher for wearables). Then it subtracts an Urgency Penalty that increases as “days until return deadline” gets smaller, and subtracts a Policy Risk Adjustment based on whether the policy is Flexible, Standard, or Strict. If you toggle Special Concern, an extra penalty is added for likely regret signals such as sizing feels off, itchy material, poor construction, or needing alterations.

A strong quality score won’t fully rescue a low fit score: if your fit score is 3 or below, the tool leans toward Return unless quality is exceptional and you explicitly choose to consider a “maybe.” Also, the same item can flip between “Lean Keep” and “Lean Return” when the return deadline is very close—because urgency is treated as a real decision constraint, not a preference. Finally, “Strict” policies reduce confidence when you’re only a few days away, since there’s less room for delays.

If “Days until return deadline” is 0, you’re effectively at the cutoff—use the high-urgency warning as a cue to act immediately rather than re-evaluating forever. If you input 30 days, urgency penalties are minimal, so the score is driven mostly by fit and quality. If you enable Special Concern, make sure it reflects an item-specific issue (e.g., itchy seams or needing alterations) rather than general indecision, because it adds an additional penalty.

This tool doesn’t model price paid, resale value, emotional attachment, or shipping/restocking fees—so your final decision may still differ if those factors matter to you. It also assumes you can return the item in usable condition; if the return condition requirements are strict (beyond the Flexible/Standard/Strict setting), you may need to interpret the score more conservatively. Treat the score as a decision aid, not an objective measurement of garment craftsmanship.