The OP in her post says she received Free Shipping; however we all know Free Shipping is just the cost of shipping being rolled into the price of the item which is no different than what eBay sellers do when they offer free shipping.
The OP said Wayfair simply allowed her to keep the product and gave her a full refund when they were at fault. Now, there are eBay sellers when discovered they have sent their buyer a defectiive item , they too have allowed the buyer to keep the item and provide a full refund, so this is no different than what some eBay sellers have done/ or do.
The OP subject Title: Re: About those free returns. suggests that Wayfair offers free returns in all circumstances, as you could see from their return policy that is untrue, it only if they made a mistake like in the OP's case that she was not forced to return the item and got a full refund.
Wafair Return Policy:
Return Policy
You can return most items for a refund within 30 days of delivery. You choose from two refund options:
1.) Receive a full refund in store credit (store credit never expires!)
You’ll receive your store credit about 24 hours after we receive the item back at our warehouse. If you want to upgrade to our 3 attempt pick-up option, we will deduct the cost of the pick-up from the refund.
2.) Receive a refund to your original payment method of the product total minus shipping costs
For all return shipping methods, the cost will be deducted from your total refund. You can also choose to ship the item back to us via your own method and pay to ship it yourself. In all cases, you will receive your refund in 3 to 5 business days after we receive your item.
Once you’ve selected your refund method, you have a few options to ship your item back. You can print your return label at home, request that we mail you a return label, or select 3-Attempt Pickup (the carrier will pick up your return within one business day). You can also choose to get your own mailing label and pay to ship it yourself.
For some larger items, once you initiate the return, you will get a phone call to schedule a pickup of the item.
If your item arrive damaged or defective, we’re happy to help! Click here to report the damage/defect.
Items must be in new condition and in the original packaging to qualify for a refund (please do not assemble or modify the product in any way). However, there are a few items that cannot be returned, including:
- Items Marked “Non-Returnable” (clearly indicated on the sale page before placing your order)
- Items purchased as part of a bundle at a discounted rate, ex. "5 for $25” (unless the entire bundle is returned)
*If you receive a Clearance item and find there is substantial damage or some other issue, please get in touch with us.
We believe in great sleep, guaranteed. That’s why every mattress you purchase from Wayfair comes with a 100-night free trial. Adjusting to a new mattress takes time, so try yours for up to 100 nights. If you’re still not in love, just call our mattress experts to return or exchange it for a full refund. We’ll take care of the return shipping cost. If you exchange it for a more expensive mattress, you need only pay the difference in price. Please note that you may return or exchange a mattress once per order.
Large Appliance Return Policy
You can return a large appliance for a refund within 30 days of delivery as long as it hasn't been installed and it is returned in its original packaging.
When you receive your package, we advise you to:
- Inspect the box for damage
- Make sure the product name and model number match up with your order confirmation.
- Inspect the appliance upon removal of all packaging. If you received the wrong item or it arrived damaged, do not accept delivery. Alert your delivery representatives and contact Wayfair immediately so we can arrange for a prompt replacement.
Return credits will be issued within 3-5 business days of the returned appliance being received. Wayfair’s standard return options apply.
Please note that if you choose to receive your refund through your original payment method (as opposed to store credit), return shipping costs will be deducted from your total refund amount. In some cases, a manufacturer’s restocking fee may apply.
Extended Holiday Return Policy
Enjoy extra time during the busy holiday season! You have until January 31 to return items purchased between November 1 and December 31. Wayfair’s standard refund options apply.
Wedding Registry Return Policy
You can return gifts purchased from your wedding registry within 90 days of delivery. Wedding registry returns are free in exchange for Wayfair store credit. Once your return is received, we’ll apply store credit for the item’s original purchase price to your account.
If you’d like to make a return, please contact a Registry Specialist and provide them with the product name or registry order number (found in Gift Tracker) along with the reason for return (found in Gift Tracker). Please note that registry purchases may not be returned through the Wayfair Returns Center at this time.
This policy does not apply to registry purchases made by registrants themselves, which are subject to Wayfair's standard return policies.
In the end, Wayfair has a more stricter return policy than eBay...............because they have skin in the game, its their product and they want to be around long term.
