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Main reason I still use them is 100% hassle free return policy. I don’t stress about buying something crappy, as I know I can return it, in very convenient ways

Main reason I still use them is 100% hassle free return policy. I don’t stress about buying something crappy, as I know I can return it, in very convenient ways.

d23 4y ago
For some reason that changed for me lately and they no longer do free UPS pickup for returns. I have to go mail them myself, which tips the balance of the return convenience scale for me.
- markbnj 4y ago
  I rarely have to return things, but when I do have to return something purchased on Amazon it's basically: couple of clicks, get a QR in email, walk into the local UPS store with the item and hand it over, quick scan of the QR and done. Yeah it would be nice if they just sent someone to the house to get the item, but it doesn't surprise me that the economics of that don't work out.
  - bombcar 4y ago
    It’s annoying because they used to give you a UPS label you could use, now they make me drive 30 miles to a UPS store. I was able to get a label for one item and shove all the others in the same box and it worked. For now.
- justapassenger 4y ago
  I have Whole Foods, UPS drop off points, Amazon locker and Kohls all on the routes I frequent. And TBH, I prefer those over UPS pickup as making sure I’m home and running to the door when they arrive is not convenient for me. YMMV.
Tempest1981 4y ago
I heard that if you return too many items, they threaten to prevent future purchases. Has anyone hit this? What is the return/purchase ratio?
- GingerMidas 4y ago
  I suspect it's more about value of returned items than the quantity. I have returned ~half of the items I purchased in the last year
account42 4y ago
Similarly, if the parcel service marks it as "attempted delivery not home" (even though I or someone else was home all day) and drops it of at a pickup on the other side of town (even though they have a branch around the corner) I can just order it again and count on amazon to refund the first order (and perhaps demand the delivery service be less shit). For a smaller seller a) I probably need to contact them to get a refund at all, b) more than likely they want me to eat the delivery fee for sending it again and c) even if they cover it they don't have any leverage with the delivery service to be less shit.
YurgenJurgensen 4y ago
Will their return policy rebuild your house when a faulty power adapter burns it down?
- justapassenger 4y ago
  And that’s relevant how? I don’t buy unknown Chinese brands for stuff like that. And that’s getting harder. But that’s a separate issue.
  - YurgenJurgensen 4y ago
    "Stuff like that" being what, anything mains-powered, anything with a lithium-ion battery, anything that touches your skin, anything that might get very hot as part of its operation, anything whose continued functionality manages the safe temperature or pressure of anything else, anything that connects to the Internet, anything that stores data, anything that touches food, anything you might ingest or inhale, anything load-bearing, anything that is costly or difficult to remove once installed, any components that fail in a way that damage other components in the same device, anything whose failure would block an ongoing project, anything that seals containers or conduits for liquids or gases, et cetera, et cetera? It turns out that the category of products who can fail in a way that wouldn't be covered by a full refund is actually "most products". EDIT: Also collectables and randomised products such as trading cards.

Main reason I still use them is 100% hassle free return policy. I don’t stress about buying something crappy, as I know I can return it, in very convenient ways.

d23 4y ago

For some reason that changed for me lately and they no longer do free UPS pickup for returns. I have to go mail them myself, which tips the balance of the return convenience scale for me.

markbnj 4y ago
I rarely have to return things, but when I do have to return something purchased on Amazon it's basically: couple of clicks, get a QR in email, walk into the local UPS store with the item and hand it over, quick scan of the QR and done. Yeah it would be nice if they just sent someone to the house to get the item, but it doesn't surprise me that the economics of that don't work out.
- bombcar 4y ago
  It’s annoying because they used to give you a UPS label you could use, now they make me drive 30 miles to a UPS store. I was able to get a label for one item and shove all the others in the same box and it worked. For now.
justapassenger 4y ago
I have Whole Foods, UPS drop off points, Amazon locker and Kohls all on the routes I frequent. And TBH, I prefer those over UPS pickup as making sure I’m home and running to the door when they arrive is not convenient for me. YMMV.

Tempest1981 4y ago

I heard that if you return too many items, they threaten to prevent future purchases. Has anyone hit this? What is the return/purchase ratio?

GingerMidas 4y ago
I suspect it's more about value of returned items than the quantity. I have returned ~half of the items I purchased in the last year

account42 4y ago

Similarly, if the parcel service marks it as "attempted delivery not home" (even though I or someone else was home all day) and drops it of at a pickup on the other side of town (even though they have a branch around the corner) I can just order it again and count on amazon to refund the first order (and perhaps demand the delivery service be less shit). For a smaller seller a) I probably need to contact them to get a refund at all, b) more than likely they want me to eat the delivery fee for sending it again and c) even if they cover it they don't have any leverage with the delivery service to be less shit.

YurgenJurgensen 4y ago

Will their return policy rebuild your house when a faulty power adapter burns it down?

justapassenger 4y ago
And that’s relevant how? I don’t buy unknown Chinese brands for stuff like that. And that’s getting harder. But that’s a separate issue.
- YurgenJurgensen 4y ago
  "Stuff like that" being what, anything mains-powered, anything with a lithium-ion battery, anything that touches your skin, anything that might get very hot as part of its operation, anything whose continued functionality manages the safe temperature or pressure of anything else, anything that connects to the Internet, anything that stores data, anything that touches food, anything you might ingest or inhale, anything load-bearing, anything that is costly or difficult to remove once installed, any components that fail in a way that damage other components in the same device, anything whose failure would block an ongoing project, anything that seals containers or conduits for liquids or gases, et cetera, et cetera? It turns out that the category of products who can fail in a way that wouldn't be covered by a full refund is actually "most products". EDIT: Also collectables and randomised products such as trading cards.