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This is actually one of the major advantages retail still has over online purchases: returns to online providers require paying for shipping, and the initial sh

This is actually one of the major advantages retail still has over online purchases: returns to online providers require paying for shipping, and the initial shipping costs aren't refunded either. Even with 'free shipping', the cost of shipping + everyone else's returns is just built in. That said, this seems like just bad policy that leads to the problem. Why should stores allow returns without a receipt or other proof (lookup using credit card)? That seems to be the major issue. If they require proof of purchase, it means they at least aren't refunding theft or products purchased from other stores. Accepting returns of opened but non-damaged product that can't be resold (eg: missing parts/packaging, obviously used, etc) also seems to be opening themselves up to abuse. Of course, how they handle this has to take into consideration the fact that easy returns are a competitive advantage. This is maybe where the analytics firm can step in, to help identify people that frequently do this.

kolpa 9y ago
> returns to online providers require paying for shipping, and the initial shipping costs aren't refunded either. Amazon offers various kinds of free / flat-price shipping, and free return-shipping for flawed products > Even with 'free shipping', the cost of shipping + everyone else's returns is just built in. Delivering a package to a local retailer is customer-paid shipping, just in effort/gas/wear-and-tear, not simple cash.
- atonse 9y ago
  > Delivering a package to a local retailer is customer-paid shipping, just in effort/gas/wear-and-tear, not simple cash. Potentially. In the case of Home Depot, I usually take my returns when I need to go anyway to shop there. Kills two birds with one stone. Speaking of which, I've got 3 bags of stuff to return. Hope they take it back! Not stuff I've used (like I wasn't sure what size window latch I needed, so I bought 4 different sizes, checked them on the window without opening the package, and have to return the other 3) This kind of stuff is such a boon with kids. I don't have time for 3 trips to Home Depot in one day. But I do over the course of 3-4 weeks.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
chrishas35 9y ago
I did a return on Amazon last week where not only was there no shipping charge, but I didn't have any additional expense...box, label, time, gas, etc. They scheduled UPS for the pickup, and the UPS driver brought the label with them.
- Domenic_S 9y ago
  Return shipping is free the same way socialized healthcare is free.
  - brokensegue 9y ago
    true but probably not in the way you meant
  - 21 9y ago
    What tax do you pay Amazon? The only thing I can think is that they are building a monopoly which might be a problem in the future.
    - Domenic_S 9y ago
      All of us who shop there pay increased prices (The wal-mart effect is in full force on Amazon -- they're pretty rarely the cheapest).
      - dcotton 9y ago
        I still compare prices when I'm about to buy something from Amazon and they are almost always the cheapest still. That's even before considering the 5% rewards the amazon credit card gives me. Maybe you are seeing certain types of merchandise that went up there? Or my purchase habits just happen to line up with their pricing more than yours.
        jjeaff 9y ago
        The laws of economics are unbreakable. You have to realize that someone is paying for the shipping and that someone is always the customers. Or at least temporarily, investors.
fma 9y ago
The ecommerce version of some brick and mortar store likely monitor Amazon and change their prices to match. If there's an item on sale and it's cheaper on a store that have a B&M presence...I'd buy from there and ship to my house. Why? If I need to return for whatever reason I can. I don't need to pretend "Item doesn't match description".
thirdsun 9y ago
> This is actually one of the major advantages retail still has over online purchases: returns to online providers require paying for shipping, and the initial shipping costs aren't refunded either. I disagree. At least here in europe, with mandatory 14-day return period, buying and returning something feels a lot easier than in a brick and mortar store. I'm not quite sure, but I think even the shipping costs (for items above 40€, I think?) are covered by the return policy legislation. I appreciate this minimal set of standards.

kolpa 9y ago

> returns to online providers require paying for shipping, and the initial shipping costs aren't refunded either. Amazon offers various kinds of free / flat-price shipping, and free return-shipping for flawed products > Even with 'free shipping', the cost of shipping + everyone else's returns is just built in. Delivering a package to a local retailer is customer-paid shipping, just in effort/gas/wear-and-tear, not simple cash.

atonse 9y ago
> Delivering a package to a local retailer is customer-paid shipping, just in effort/gas/wear-and-tear, not simple cash. Potentially. In the case of Home Depot, I usually take my returns when I need to go anyway to shop there. Kills two birds with one stone. Speaking of which, I've got 3 bags of stuff to return. Hope they take it back! Not stuff I've used (like I wasn't sure what size window latch I needed, so I bought 4 different sizes, checked them on the window without opening the package, and have to return the other 3) This kind of stuff is such a boon with kids. I don't have time for 3 trips to Home Depot in one day. But I do over the course of 3-4 weeks.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

chrishas35 9y ago

I did a return on Amazon last week where not only was there no shipping charge, but I didn't have any additional expense...box, label, time, gas, etc. They scheduled UPS for the pickup, and the UPS driver brought the label with them.

Domenic_S 9y ago
Return shipping is free the same way socialized healthcare is free.
- brokensegue 9y ago
  true but probably not in the way you meant
- 21 9y ago
  What tax do you pay Amazon? The only thing I can think is that they are building a monopoly which might be a problem in the future.
  - Domenic_S 9y ago
    All of us who shop there pay increased prices (The wal-mart effect is in full force on Amazon -- they're pretty rarely the cheapest).
    - dcotton 9y ago
      I still compare prices when I'm about to buy something from Amazon and they are almost always the cheapest still. That's even before considering the 5% rewards the amazon credit card gives me. Maybe you are seeing certain types of merchandise that went up there? Or my purchase habits just happen to line up with their pricing more than yours.
      - jjeaff 9y ago
        The laws of economics are unbreakable. You have to realize that someone is paying for the shipping and that someone is always the customers. Or at least temporarily, investors.

fma 9y ago

The ecommerce version of some brick and mortar store likely monitor Amazon and change their prices to match. If there's an item on sale and it's cheaper on a store that have a B&M presence...I'd buy from there and ship to my house. Why? If I need to return for whatever reason I can. I don't need to pretend "Item doesn't match description".

thirdsun 9y ago

> This is actually one of the major advantages retail still has over online purchases: returns to online providers require paying for shipping, and the initial shipping costs aren't refunded either. I disagree. At least here in europe, with mandatory 14-day return period, buying and returning something feels a lot easier than in a brick and mortar store. I'm not quite sure, but I think even the shipping costs (for items above 40€, I think?) are covered by the return policy legislation. I appreciate this minimal set of standards.