America's Biggest Regret Purchases, Ranked

An October 2026 report on consumer spending habits found that unworn clothes are the single biggest waste of money in American homes. A new study by the custom packaging company Arka (https://www.arka.com) reveals the top 10 things that people buy most often but never use again.

• Unworn clothes are Americans' biggest regret purchase, with 9 in 10 admitting their wardrobes are full of pieces with the original tags still on.
• 86% of people who bought slow juicers say the cleaning process alone was enough to make them stop using it within weeks.
• Most GoPro buyers use it on a single trip and never touch it again, with 3 in 4 saying their phone was good enough all along.

The research examined 20 popular products to find which ones people buy most often but never use again. The report looked at public Reddit discussions tied to buyer regret and unused purchases, classifying each post or comment as reflecting little or no use, mixed use, or regular use. It then calculated the share of negative responses for each item, revealing which purchases are most likely to end up forgotten in a drawer or closet.

Here's a look at the top 10 things people buy but never use:

| Item | Category | Negative or Little-Use Share | Mixed or Conditional Share | Positive or Regular-Use Share | Overall Reddit Sentiment | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Unworn clothes | Fashion | 85.70% | 14.30% | 0.00% | Strong regret | | Slow juicer | Kitchen appliance | 85.70% | 14.30% | 0.00% | Strongly negative | | Shoes and high heels | Fashion | 82.40% | 11.80% | 5.90% | Strong regret | | Handbags | Fashion | 80.00% | 20.00% | 0.00% | Mostly negative | | Beauty and skincare products | Personal care | 76.90% | 23.10% | 0.00% | Mostly regretful | | Craft supplies and yarn | Hobbies | 75.00% | 20.00% | 5.00% | Strong regret / overwhelm | | Singer home sewing machine | Craft and hobby equipment | 75.00% | 25.00% | 0.00% | Strongly negative | | Camera | Camera technology | 75.00% | 25.00% | 0.00% | Strongly negative | | Notebooks and journals | Stationery | 73.30% | 20.00% | 6.70% | Mostly regretful | | Camping and backpacking gear | Outdoor recreation | 73.30% | 20.00% | 6.70% | Mostly regretful |

You can access the complete research findings here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSby_UQZfWSz-cQZXsGRlVfiAxSVfQpSjwgdl6z1whDBO3jMyn-jqYwojGX-90Omto-DTyeq8A-fuMI/pubhtml

1. Unworn Clothes

• Category: Fashion
• Negative or little-use share: 85.7%
• Mixed or conditional share: 14.3%
• Positive or regular-use share: 0%
• Overall Reddit sentiment: Strong regret

Unworn clothes are Americans' biggest shopping regret. Close to 9 in 10 buyers on Reddit say a large portion of what they buy never gets worn, sitting in their wardrobes with tags still on. According to the threads, most of it comes down to impulse buying, with some people also picking up clothes for a size they're still working toward. Either way, it rarely fits into real daily life, and they end up sticking with the same everyday wear.

2. Slow Juicer

Slow juicers rank second among regret buys, with 86% of Reddit users saying they stop using them within a few days to a few weeks after purchase. Seven Reddit threads point to the same issue every time: the cleanup. Every single use means taking the whole thing apart, scrubbing each component, and dealing with leftover pulp. So most slow juicers end up in a closet or on a second-hand market within the first month.

3. Shoes and High Heels

Shoes and high heels are also a shopping regret for many. 8 out of 10 buyers on Reddit admit that a good chunk of what they own has never been worn outside the house. According to the threads, most pairs are bought for a special occasion or simply because they look good. Interestingly, the threads also show that people sometimes know the fit isn't right but buy them anyway. And after that one occasion, they stop using the pair due to pain.

4. Handbags

Handbags rank fourth in shopping regrets, with 8 in 10 buyers on Reddit saying their purchase barely leaves the closet. According to internet users, they most often buy these items for their design or for brand appeal. But these handbags end up being too heavy, too awkward, or just harder to style than expected. Most people have one bag they always reach for, and a newer purchase rarely replaces it.

5. Beauty and Skincare Products

Beauty and skincare products round out the top five disappointing purchases. More than 75% of Reddit users who regret buying them say they opened the products once and never touched them again. When talking about reasons, the threads point to internet trends and big discounts. But in reality, keeping up with viral trends is often too complicated, or these skincare products are simply not suited to the buyer's skin type.

An eco-friendly packaging expert from Arka commented on the study:

"Impulse buying is behind most of these purchases, and it's more widespread than we think. The average American spends around $150 a month on unplanned purchases, which adds up to nearly $1.8K a year. A lot of it comes down to how retail is designed: sales, limited-time offers, and discounts push people to buy things they wouldn't have considered at full price. From an environmental standpoint, that's a serious problem. Every unused item still went through the full production process, and most of it ends up in a landfill eventually. Buying less and using what you own is one of the simplest things people can do for the planet."

When using the data, please credit: https://www.arka.com