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> This is all part of a larger phenomenon I like to call the "Amazon syndrome". Say what you like about Amazon, but their no-quibble returns policy is second t

> This is all part of a larger phenomenon I like to call the "Amazon syndrome". Say what you like about Amazon, but their no-quibble returns policy is second to none, even in places like Europe that have high-levels of consumer protection enshrined in law. From my own personal experience: Amazon: Bought an IT component on Amazon (sold by third-party, not "sold by Amazon"). Item that arrived was not as described (lower spec than promised). Filed a return on Amazon, Amazon paid for the return shipment and refunded me as soon as the courier scanned the collection barcode. Third-party: Bought a new PC from a reputable reseller (with whom I'd dealt with before occasionally over the years). PC arrived, hardware was OK but the BIOS was completely FUBAR (corrupted beyond salvage). Requested a return and a refund. Despite consumer law being strong in my country, the seller made it so painful and was dragging out the process so much (no doubt so they could push me past the consumer law deadline) that I gave up. I now have an expensive doorstop that is completely unusable. I still buy from third-parties, but generally only low-risk stuff or higher-risk if I've got recent prior really good experience (or if there's no choice, e.g. things that have to be bought from "authorised resellers"). Otherwise for random stuff, if Amazon stock it and its not outrageously above the going price, I'll just buy it on Amazon for the peace of mind.

emteycz 5y ago
Buy from large EU eshops like Alza (if it operates wherever you are, or the local alternative) - much better experience even than Amazon, in all things considered.
CptFribble 5y ago
Amazon judges how quickly/whether to issue a return based on an algorithm weighted by your lifetime total value. If you shop a lot on Amazon, occasionally returning an item will be 0 hassle for you. If you don't shop on Amazon that often and get unlucky, they will hassle you about the return (you can google this for confirmation). Prime customers are also generally treated much better, obviously because they have a much higher LTV. That third-party seller probably gave you so much grief about the return because their sales volume is much lower, so individual returns cost them a much more significant % of their revenue. Also, easy returns doesn't mean the items are being reused/the process is good for the environment. Industry surveys show around 25% of returns wind up in a landfill, and this number varies greatly based on what the item is - clothes are thrown away much more often. Basically, Amazon and other high-volume low-quality retailers simply sell so many products at so high a markup that they can absorb the cost of throwing away some XX% of the products that get returned as a cost of doing business.

emteycz 5y ago

Buy from large EU eshops like Alza (if it operates wherever you are, or the local alternative) - much better experience even than Amazon, in all things considered.

CptFribble 5y ago

Amazon judges how quickly/whether to issue a return based on an algorithm weighted by your lifetime total value. If you shop a lot on Amazon, occasionally returning an item will be 0 hassle for you. If you don't shop on Amazon that often and get unlucky, they will hassle you about the return (you can google this for confirmation). Prime customers are also generally treated much better, obviously because they have a much higher LTV. That third-party seller probably gave you so much grief about the return because their sales volume is much lower, so individual returns cost them a much more significant % of their revenue. Also, easy returns doesn't mean the items are being reused/the process is good for the environment. Industry surveys show around 25% of returns wind up in a landfill, and this number varies greatly based on what the item is - clothes are thrown away much more often. Basically, Amazon and other high-volume low-quality retailers simply sell so many products at so high a markup that they can absorb the cost of throwing away some XX% of the products that get returned as a cost of doing business.