They supply something that was underutilized in this case, the ability to try it on for size, before you buy it.
That's why it would seem highly suspicious to the shop owner.
Guy goes in tries something on, it fits. Gets it home, and tries it on 3 days later, it doesn't fit, so brings it back?
Say someone took it home and swapped the better armour out for their old used armour.
Say they messed up the zipper, pulled a thread, tore the liner, screwed up something hidden from view, etc. etc.
Should the store owner now take on that risk.
Buyer may have spent hours, and hours trying it on in the store, without penalty. They had that opportunity.
That's where my mixed feelings come from on this.
So everything you've ever purchased you've been 100% happy with and never needed to return?
People do leave and go back to the quiet of their home and second guess the fit, I know I have, more than once. ANY good retail/online MC store suggests trying it on at home before riding.
I had a great experience at GP Bikes, picked up a helmet and jacket from a lady who spent over 2 hours with us ensuring I was happy, even then she said "go home, wear it some more, if you aren't happy bring it back, things change once you get home and sit down" . (I'm 1.5 hours away from GP, so they aren't a frequent trip unfortunately)
Additionally, for shops that don't want to ensure we are completely satisfied with our $600 jacket, I can order ANYTHING from FortNine and return it within 30 days and all it costs is $7 return shipping, no restocking fee. Using that model, they've just lost money in order to keep a customer happy. While I didn't end up getting my jacket from them in the end, the ability to send multiple items back without a hassle and quick refund earned my business going forward. They have fair prices and quick shipping, if they stock what I'm looking for, I'll get it from them as they treat me as a true customer, not a piggy bank.
Local shops need to realize this isn't the monopoly game of the old days where there are 3 bike shops in town, all charge $700 for a set of tires while acting like they you owe them for giving you the time of day. The older, more loyal crowd will eventually stop riding, and the generation that aren't afraid to shop online will take over if they aren't given a reason to frequent B&M stores. I'm sure at that time we will see the same shops shops crying "we don't know how this happened, business just isn't what it use to be".