It is fairly well-known across the web and in practice that They (Amazon) want to cut down on costly returns. I read recently that They have instituted a $1 return fee; I have not seen that and it is probably another test market (to be discussed later). Instead of providing return labels they require a dropoff which is not free to customers. Then they try to upsell to other return options. They make it costly, time consuming, and potentially difficult. They are all little tricks to cut down.
For consumers, it is a necessary safeguard when buying online. Plus, it is promised as free.
This is about Their consumer-based monopolistic tendencies. For now most of the lawsuits have centered on the businesses or seller side, which of course affect users too. I may have something to add to the legal situations in that I am experienced in and knowledgeable about consumer behavior and big company service practices. I can spot the scams.
So that–making returns difficult and lying about free returns–is general illegal practice number one.
This, converting credit card refunds to gift cards, may be a widespread practice at Amazon or it could be something smaller, such as a test. I think it comes from Seattle or wherever the decision-maker is located. The reps probably don’t even know, they’re trained to enforce what they see on the screen. They are out of the country and are not trained or capable of doing anything further anyway. Sometimes someone steps in and provides a refund; that is as far as customer service goes. The “supervisors” are always in a hurry and that is completely by design. When they are backed into a corner they say ‘what the hey it is only a $XX package’ but they sure don’t have any interest in or authority over stopping it from happening again.
It is hard to believe things like this happen by accident. It may even be a test market–someone, somewhere says “Let’s pull the plug on a few thousand of these and see what happens?” It is, after all, a computer networking (and warehouse) empire, what more do executives have to do all day? They can document and study customer reactions. They can even test the people answering the phones and emails to see if it works without even telling them. Overall, they can follow the initiative of gaining (or retaining) market share and increasing profits.
The most likely cause is management demanding higher profits. Amazon has a history of very strong sales (and sales increases) vs. not-so-increasing profits. I have seen it before where sales go up and the stock goes down. Personally, I have bought items that were so inexpensive no one makes money, e.g., a mattress, a crummy one as it turns out, but with removal of old one(s) a good temporary buy. Many of the products seem like they won’t last or are even returned or recycled–packaged but with a slight problem; others like an oil filter for a 33-year old Mercedes and a custom-fitting shelf for an Amana refrigerator, delivered, are huge steals in dollars and convenience. In the media and around the web others have commented too–much of it is not needed. For me it is about 75% discretionary, put another way, only 25 percent is needed or necessary.
Black Friday and other promotions offer huge, competitor-killing savings to buyers. How is it that I can buy a left-side, rear window regulator for that same old car on Amazon for about 65-75% the price of everywhere else? Those $10-15 shipping and handling fees for items like that from specialty sellers cannot compete. They are being squeezed. They have to sell on Amazon but they can’t make money on items that rare.
This, the convert to gift card scam, is just one effort in reducing return costs. I’m tired of going to that degrading returns store too, and I am lucky to have a very good one nearby.
Maybe I’ll put Amazon.com to the eBay standard. If it is isn’t under $5 and a complete trinket or nonsense purchase that is not worth my next trip to a store, I’ll seriously try to walk away.
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In what appeared to be a direct attack on Musk, Villadsen added that “even if you are one of the richest in the world, you can’t just make your own rules.”
– https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/06/you-cant-just-make-your-own-rules-tesla-faces-scandi-revolt-as-danes-join-swedish-strike.html
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