Amazon making it nearly impossible to return items

Elfrida

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 10:14 am

Bnei Berak 10 wrote:

What was the delivery time?
I live in Israel. Ordered from Amazon and also from iHerb. It took almost a month until arrival. There aren't too many flights these days.
Very grateful I succeeded to get the items at a bargain rate compared to Israelis prices.

I don't think that's comparable. When we order from Israel, we know that the delivery time is normally two to three weeks, and longer around the chagim or if there is any flare up in the war. We don't order something we need the next day.

In America, they are ordering with the expectation of next day delivery. If it doesn't turn up in time, it's a real problem.

amother

↑ Raspberry ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 10:58 am

tweety1 wrote:

If you want ups pickup it's $6.99 or something. I just initiated a return for a ups dropff. No label needed just qr code. No charge. Item arrived too late. No issues whatsoever.

I guess you have a ups store near you that accepts UPS QR codes. I don't. The one closest to me is 3 miles away and being that I live in an urban city without a car, that's impossible. There's a reason I order from Amazon.
All I have are UPS drop off stations in my zip code, and you can only drop off if you have a ready pre paid UPS label attached to the package.

amother

Latte ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 2:28 pm

lamplighter wrote:

Ive been having trouble too. If I chat with them I'll get a free return label but I don't want to chat every time I need to return something.
I wonder if Walmart has easier returns.

Lately I’ve been getting free FedEx pickup from Walmart

↑ A_Mother_First ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 2:57 pm

tweety1 wrote:

If you want ups pickup it's $6.99 or something. I just initiated a return for a ups dropff. No label needed just qr code. No charge. Item arrived too late. No issues whatsoever.

In the past. Last night they wanted to charge me 6.99 to return an unopened box to a UPS drop point

↑ A_Mother_First ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 3:09 pm

We can't succumb to their new demand to pay for returns to a location that's convenient for us. If we all start paying 6.99 just to return to a UPS drop point, despite paying for a prime membership, soon there will be no free returns!

They are watching the trends to see what customers will put up with. If we lower our standards and just go with whatever new dictates they throw at us, it's their gain and our loss. This has been going on for awhile in gradual, subtle ways. At first prime membership includes also free videos, Amazon fresh services etc
Then most movies became 2.99 or more to rent (unless you have another subscription that you pay for with a third party). Then they started charging separately for Amazon Fresh etc. They keep raising the membership prices while offering less and less. If we put up with it, they will take the cue and cut more corners.

amother

↑ Obsidian ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 4:19 pm

A_Mother_First wrote:

In the past. Last night they wanted to charge me 6.99 to return an unopened box to a UPS drop point

Yes.

It’s so frustrating when I see.

Whole Foods 9 miles away. Free
Staples 5 miles away. Free
Kohls 3 miles away free.
Ups drop off .5 miles away. $6.99.

I went to kohls today. The line was 1/2 hr long as she processed each person item. Bags it. Prints label. Put us in box. Scans. Prints receipt. Tons of ppl online.

The ups drop off takes 2 seconds. He scans my box. Done.

amother

Antiquewhite ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 4:26 pm

amother Obsidian wrote:

So the most convenient option is the one that costs money. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to return items, it’s just not convenient. Nobody said it needed it be

If you want to pay $7 for convenience, do it. People do that all the time for many other things in life

amother

↑ Latte

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 4:28 pm

amother Antiquewhite wrote:

The point of paying for monthly prime is for convenience!
Otherwise why is she paying for prime?

amother

Apple

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 5:14 pm

amother Antiquewhite wrote:

Do you live in the USA? Because I had to read your post twice to make sure it was real. I'm not trying to be unkind but whose side are you on?
If I wanted to drive for twenty minutes to a Kohl's, and then stand in a line for half an hour to return an item, still in its original packaging, I would not be paying a prime membership or ordering on Amazon in the first place!

Additionally, recently when I try to return an item that is defective (like pillow covers with loose stitches falling apart straight out of the box), the only option I am getting is to replace the item instead of return it. Why would I want to receive an identical item that is clearly poor quality and not as portrayed in the picture / description?
And no, I don't return items that often. I keep the majority of items I order. I spend thousands on Amazon and expect better service.

amother

↑ Violet

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 5:39 pm

amother Clover wrote:

I just chat with customer service and they give me a free UPS return label every time. I don’t have a staples, Whole Foods or ups store in my immediate area and I’m not paying for a prime membership if there’s no free returns.

How far is the nearest UPS store ? Maybe it’s across town but I find it hard to believe it’s 30 miles away

amother

Ruby

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 5:51 pm

I take my returns to staples, I get a coupon to use and it’s all good. Very easy and I’m not charged. And often I’m told to keep/donate/throw away the item I don’t want.
Edit to add that my daughter ordered something and didn’t want it, she tried it out, didn’t like it, and I returned it at work with a free ups pick up. It was something like a blow dryer. Very easy. And I don’t live in tristate.

UROOT

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 6:33 pm

I've had this happen when the "return reason" I select doesn't fit their free return criteria. I just go back a page and select a different return reason.

I also recently got a walmart+ account and have been ordering a lot from there. Shipping is also free and fast, and they're very nice about returns. Most of the time they let me keep my product and get a refund w/o making me schlep down to the ups store.

amother

↑ Obsidian

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 6:39 pm

amother Antiquewhite wrote:

I already pay for prime for convenience knowing ups is down the block.

Ema of 5 ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 6:43 pm

A_Mother_First wrote:

I am an Amazon prime member for many years. I purchase almost everything on Amazon due to the convenience and great customer service. But things have been going downhill with customer service and returns, and it is a huge hassle and waste of time to return items recently.

When I try to return a product, after I write the reason etc. it often only gives me the option to replace the defective item with an identical one, instead of giving me the option to return it. In order to return it, I have t o request additional help and either chat with an associate or request a phone call. Who has time for that? Even after I get an associate online, they start asking questions about why I am returning the item, and then attempt to charge me for the return of an item that is sold AND shipped by Amazon, and is stated as returnable! what a nerve. I would take my business elsewhere but I don't think that there is a true alternative with such diverse merchandise.

Have you had similar experiences? Any thoughts?

The last many items that I wanted to return only had QR codes, which my drop off site doesn’t take. Every time, I need to chat and get a printed label. I keep telling them I can’t use QR codes and they keep telling me it won’t happen again, but it does. It’s very frustrating.

↑ Ema of 5 ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 6:45 pm

NewStart wrote:

Shopping in real stores is better for society.
Supporting Jewish stores is even better.
Consider putting real life errands back into your schedule.

Not everyone has time for all the real-time errands that they can get done on Amazon. And very often brick and mortar stores (and even more so Jewish ones) are more expensive than Amazon, and/or have very hard return policies.

↑ Ema of 5 ↓

Sun, Nov 24 2024, 6:48 pm

tweety1 wrote:

If you want ups pickup it's $6.99 or something. I just initiated a return for an ups dropff. No label needed just qr code. No charge. Item arrived too late. No issues whatsoever.

My ups drop off site doesn’t take QR codes.