4 ms·

I still find it quite odd that the west (or at least the US) has decided that we're entitled to a trial period with things we purchase. It's an incredibly waste

by doytch 3y ago

I still find it quite odd that the west (or at least the US) has decided that we're entitled to a trial period with things we purchase. It's an incredibly wasteful practice and one that isn't at all common in a lot of other places on the planet. I know people who've moved to Europe who were in for a rude awakening when they tried returning things to the local shop just 'cause.

wtetzner 3y ago
> It's an incredibly wasteful practice How is it more wasteful than keeping something you're not going to use?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- ahar083 3y ago
  A lot of lower end items are sent to the trash when returned. (Not items like an iPhone, which would be sold as referb models). The wastefulness comes from the fact that the barrier to purchase is pretty low, given the ease of return, so one is more likely to buy an item which may end up in the trash in 14 days (30 for Amazon). If I absolutely couldn’t return a product (aside from defects), I’d not buy a lot of items in the first place. (I say this as someone who is guilty of plenty of “trials”). I’m actually travelling through Japan right now, where one can visit a Yobadashi or Bic Camera, these stores are great, because all their tech is out and able to be played with, without explicitly getting assistance from a staff member. It’s obviously not the same as bringing a camera etc into the field to test, but it goes a long way in deciding if something works from an ergonomic perspective, before purchasing it.
kranke155 3y ago
Huh? There are laws about being able to return items in the EU as well.
iwontberude 3y ago
What you’re saying doesn’t make sense. Returns are common around the world. Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/27584/how-common-are-online-returns-gcs/ https://www.statista.com/chart/27584/how-common-are-online-r...
- iwontberude 3y ago
  Also many places charge restocking fees too. So we aren’t that entitled.

by doytch 3y ago

wtetzner 3y ago

> It's an incredibly wasteful practice How is it more wasteful than keeping something you're not going to use?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
ahar083 3y ago
A lot of lower end items are sent to the trash when returned. (Not items like an iPhone, which would be sold as referb models). The wastefulness comes from the fact that the barrier to purchase is pretty low, given the ease of return, so one is more likely to buy an item which may end up in the trash in 14 days (30 for Amazon). If I absolutely couldn’t return a product (aside from defects), I’d not buy a lot of items in the first place. (I say this as someone who is guilty of plenty of “trials”). I’m actually travelling through Japan right now, where one can visit a Yobadashi or Bic Camera, these stores are great, because all their tech is out and able to be played with, without explicitly getting assistance from a staff member. It’s obviously not the same as bringing a camera etc into the field to test, but it goes a long way in deciding if something works from an ergonomic perspective, before purchasing it.

kranke155 3y ago

Huh? There are laws about being able to return items in the EU as well.

iwontberude 3y ago

What you’re saying doesn’t make sense. Returns are common around the world. Source: https://www.statista.com/chart/27584/how-common-are-online-returns-gcs/ https://www.statista.com/chart/27584/how-common-are-online-r...

iwontberude 3y ago
Also many places charge restocking fees too. So we aren’t that entitled.