as one of those people, it sticks to drove 30m one way to get to a ups store. I already avoid Amazon because returning items is such a hassle, and about 1/3 items has to be returned because damage, false advertising (getting a product other than what was listed/depicted), or wrong measurements listed on product description or any of the other many issues. most products people won't do pickup at my house already, ups stores are a pain. I hate the whole Amazon return ecosystem.
I mean this could be solved by just adding an exception for those very rural not near a UPS, Prime, Wholefoods, Kohls... if delivery location > X minutes' drive from a free return spot, offer free return pickups
This must be US only? Consumer protection law in the EU/UK has got this covered for those citizens.
There could be unforeseen consequences for this regardless:
1. The amount of dodgy sellers slinging garbage on amazon has only been growing, and the only reason I (and probably other people) risk it is because you can just send things back if they turn out to be terrible.
2. People might start damaging your goods deliberately in order to return them if they feel that your returns policy isn't fair.
>Consumer protection law in the EU/UK has got this covered for those citizens.
There's nothing in the EU guarantee free returns. All shops are allowed to get you to pay for the returns shipping fees yourself, and for the wear and tear on the product if it's been opened and used.
Amazon is currently one of the few exceptions that pays for the returns fees and reimburses 100% no questions asked, but most other smaller shops don't do that.
">Consumer protection law in the EU/UK has got this covered for those citizens."
regarding the topic that said:
"free" returns are coming to an end"
and I said that your comment is wrong becuase there is no EU protection in place saying that your return must be "free".
EU law only says the store must accept your return within 14 days, but you as the consumer are liable of the cost of your return such as shipping and loss of value of the item due to wear and tear or opening the seal.
There is no EU law mandating "free" returns for you, even if some of the big stores like Amazon or Zalando have been doing it as a courtesy to the customers, that doesn't mean it was the law, and as the title says, that can come to an end if the stores desire, and there's no law to stop them as you claim.
Consumer protection law in the EU/UK has got this covered for those citizens.
To the best of my knowledge EU consumer protection laws only state that you must be allowed to return the product for a full refund of the product (not shipping). It says nothing about who should pay for return shipping, that is up to the company.
On a practical level, many companies do offer free returns, as most people would avoid companies that don't if given a choice.
I for one hope it will cause a resurgence of brick and mortar retail. Too many things are only available sight-unseen from an Amazon-alike, and turn out to be crap, not as described, poorly made etc when they arrive.
Already return shipping is a pain in the ass, if it's a pain in the ass that also costs money, I will be done with Amazon for all products instead of just products prone to forgery - and with it will go my prime membership.
Returning is literally dropping it off at kohls or a prime dropoff or ups... like i've never found the free options that are still free ... a pain in the ass lol
I don't own a vehicle, and I'm not very strong, so taking an item somewhere for return shipping can get very tricky.
Last year, I purchased a "stair climbing" hand truck through Wal*Mart, but it was sold by a third party. Big mistake. The device was defective, and had a tendency to fail catastrophically while on stairs and drop its load. I initiated the refund process, and eventually, the vendor gave me 100% back, and said to keep the item.
I was very nervous the other week as I ordered a spring mattress, about 50 pounds worth. It's shipped rolled up with all the air taken out. Thankfully, I'm keeping it.
The biggest return I've made is a rather heavy UPS unit that failed. It was under warranty -- thanks, TrippLite! I took a taxi to the UPS store, and I just told them to package it up. No fuss.
I just did a return to Amazon where I bought a pair of GFCI adapters for power cords, and got a children’s book of Christian devotionals instead. Doubly useless because both my wife and I are childless and effectively atheist.
But that return was completely free of charge. We’re in Canada, if that counts, and my own history of returns may have also helped: I average only one every two years at the minimum. I can probably count less than five returns in the last decade and a half of using Amazon.
22 comments
[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 64.6 ms ] threadThere could be unforeseen consequences for this regardless: 1. The amount of dodgy sellers slinging garbage on amazon has only been growing, and the only reason I (and probably other people) risk it is because you can just send things back if they turn out to be terrible. 2. People might start damaging your goods deliberately in order to return them if they feel that your returns policy isn't fair.
There's nothing in the EU guarantee free returns. All shops are allowed to get you to pay for the returns shipping fees yourself, and for the wear and tear on the product if it's been opened and used.
Amazon is currently one of the few exceptions that pays for the returns fees and reimburses 100% no questions asked, but most other smaller shops don't do that.
>> Big stores in Germany yes, but in Austria no, shipping it back is on your dime as per EU law to most but the biggest shops.
EU law only says the store must accept your return within 14 days, but you as the consumer are liable of the cost of your return such as shipping and loss of value of the item due to wear and tear or opening the seal.
There is no EU law mandating "free" returns for you, even if some of the big stores like Amazon or Zalando have been doing it as a courtesy to the customers, that doesn't mean it was the law, and as the title says, that can come to an end if the stores desire, and there's no law to stop them as you claim.
Clear now?
To the best of my knowledge EU consumer protection laws only state that you must be allowed to return the product for a full refund of the product (not shipping). It says nothing about who should pay for return shipping, that is up to the company.
On a practical level, many companies do offer free returns, as most people would avoid companies that don't if given a choice.
They seem to handle it in the UK correctly based on the return reason.
Defective/faulty/not as described - free return.
Changed your mind - pay for a return, or return to a collection point for free.
Consumers abusing the system -> consumer pays.
I for one hope it will cause a resurgence of brick and mortar retail. Too many things are only available sight-unseen from an Amazon-alike, and turn out to be crap, not as described, poorly made etc when they arrive.
Already return shipping is a pain in the ass, if it's a pain in the ass that also costs money, I will be done with Amazon for all products instead of just products prone to forgery - and with it will go my prime membership.
Last year, I purchased a "stair climbing" hand truck through Wal*Mart, but it was sold by a third party. Big mistake. The device was defective, and had a tendency to fail catastrophically while on stairs and drop its load. I initiated the refund process, and eventually, the vendor gave me 100% back, and said to keep the item.
I was very nervous the other week as I ordered a spring mattress, about 50 pounds worth. It's shipped rolled up with all the air taken out. Thankfully, I'm keeping it.
The biggest return I've made is a rather heavy UPS unit that failed. It was under warranty -- thanks, TrippLite! I took a taxi to the UPS store, and I just told them to package it up. No fuss.
But that return was completely free of charge. We’re in Canada, if that counts, and my own history of returns may have also helped: I average only one every two years at the minimum. I can probably count less than five returns in the last decade and a half of using Amazon.