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This is the pattern I've seen as well. That and the anti-pattern of using Amazon as a quasi-tool-rental outlet where they buy something for a project, use it,

This is the pattern I've seen as well. That and the anti-pattern of using Amazon as a quasi-tool-rental outlet where they buy something for a project, use it, and then return it after the project is done. The 'borrowing' aspect was also an issue at Fry's in the Bay Area where test equipment that they sold would have been used already. Of the two I think the 'borrowing' pattern to be pretty unscrupulous. I see the buy a bunch and return the ones you won't use/wear/eat what ever is more along the lines of the store fitting room approach.

sokoloff 6y ago
The tool borrowing is unscrupulous, but it provides a ready source of “Used-Very good” Amazon Warehouse tools at 15-35% off, which I do appreciate.
- omgwtfbyobbq 6y ago
  I'd like to see Amazon start a lend/use program like auto parts stores. I guess they would have to verify tool functionality though, which can be expensive.
  - sokoloff 6y ago
    The auto parts stores pretty much don’t, at least in my experience, and push it off to the customers/borrowers. I’ve gotten broken or incomplete tools from the (free) lending programs enough that I’ve mostly stopped using them and just buy tools instead. I don’t have time to get stuck halfway through a job and any $50-100 tool still leaves me with cash savings overall on the job. Even in cases where I told them I broke a piece in a kit, they didn’t seem to care and it looked like the kit was going right back into stock to me. Parts store do it because it gets you in the door to buy parts. If the lending was done through the mail, I’m sure Amazon would sell more parts, but it’s not clear it would be enough more profit to cover 2-way (or 4-way if a tool was broken) shipping on the tools.
    - justinclift 6y ago
      In Brunswick (part of Melbourne, Australia), there is a Community "Tool Library" where people can borrow tools. In much the same way as book libraries: https://www.brunswicktoollibrary.org https://www.brunswicktoollibrary.org It's pretty cheap (AUS$85/yr), and AFAIK they have about 400 members. Though Melbourne is currently in a coronavirus lockdown so everything is closed. :( Regarding broken/incomplete tools, (prior to the lockdown) they had a day every week or two set aside to go through and fix broken/worn tools (etc). Seems like a good solution to the tool sharing problem, and it seems to work well for everyone.
- lm28469 6y ago
  Some returned objects are sold as new, some people even swap the items before returning them. See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23939042 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23939042
- O5vYtytb 6y ago
  I've bought too many things that come with annoyingly broken parts. Not enough to render it useless, just annoying. For example, a cracked handle on a Amazon Warehouse snowblower. It still worked but required a tricky glue job. For most things now, I'll pay the extra for something new from a local shop.

sokoloff 6y ago

The tool borrowing is unscrupulous, but it provides a ready source of “Used-Very good” Amazon Warehouse tools at 15-35% off, which I do appreciate.

omgwtfbyobbq 6y ago
I'd like to see Amazon start a lend/use program like auto parts stores. I guess they would have to verify tool functionality though, which can be expensive.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  The auto parts stores pretty much don’t, at least in my experience, and push it off to the customers/borrowers. I’ve gotten broken or incomplete tools from the (free) lending programs enough that I’ve mostly stopped using them and just buy tools instead. I don’t have time to get stuck halfway through a job and any $50-100 tool still leaves me with cash savings overall on the job. Even in cases where I told them I broke a piece in a kit, they didn’t seem to care and it looked like the kit was going right back into stock to me. Parts store do it because it gets you in the door to buy parts. If the lending was done through the mail, I’m sure Amazon would sell more parts, but it’s not clear it would be enough more profit to cover 2-way (or 4-way if a tool was broken) shipping on the tools.
  - justinclift 6y ago
    In Brunswick (part of Melbourne, Australia), there is a Community "Tool Library" where people can borrow tools. In much the same way as book libraries: https://www.brunswicktoollibrary.org https://www.brunswicktoollibrary.org It's pretty cheap (AUS$85/yr), and AFAIK they have about 400 members. Though Melbourne is currently in a coronavirus lockdown so everything is closed. :( Regarding broken/incomplete tools, (prior to the lockdown) they had a day every week or two set aside to go through and fix broken/worn tools (etc). Seems like a good solution to the tool sharing problem, and it seems to work well for everyone.
lm28469 6y ago
Some returned objects are sold as new, some people even swap the items before returning them. See: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23939042 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23939042
O5vYtytb 6y ago
I've bought too many things that come with annoyingly broken parts. Not enough to render it useless, just annoying. For example, a cracked handle on a Amazon Warehouse snowblower. It still worked but required a tricky glue job. For most things now, I'll pay the extra for something new from a local shop.