Ask Online retailers issuing "returnless refunds

[sandbox]

There is a cost to returning items to the retailer. Suppose the retailer pays the price, which endears them to the customer and increases the likelihood the customer will shop there again. In that case, the retailer must weigh the actual cost of the item against the cost of postage, handling, etc. I purchased two medical-grade step stools from Amazon, which required better skills than I possessed to put them together. I did not realize how complicated putting together the step stool would be before the package arrived. I contacted Amazon and told them I did not have the technical expertise to assemble the product and would like to return it. I received an email from Amazon telling me to keep or donate the product to someone who could use it; Amazon would credit my account for the refund. I did not have to ship the stepstools back to Amazon. I assume this is what you refer to as a returnless refund. Amazon retains my future business, and I have not lost money.

 

[Medusa_p]

Yes, you are correct. Online retailers are increasingly implementing returnless refunds to streamline the return process, reduce costs associated with returns, and improve customer satisfaction. In your case with Amazon, they chose to issue a returnless refund for the medical-grade step stools you found challenging to assemble.

 

[Brajet]

Some online stores now offer "returnless refunds": you get your money back but keep the item. Sounds crazy, right? It's actually a smart move for sellers. For cheap or bulky products shipping it back costs more than the item's worth. So they just refund you and move on.

Of course, some people might abuse it, but most retailers track returns. For the rest of us, it's a rare instance where doing less actually gets you more. Just don't expect it on a TV or a designer dress. But for small stuff? It's a pretty sweet deal.

 

[Ahmedo24]

In my opinion, return-less refunds shows a trust signal, not a loophole. This works well when you value customer lifetime value over a single transaction. It is favourable to e-commerce store if it for low-cost items, it's cheaper to keep the buyer happy than to pay for reverse logistics.