L.L. Bean dropping its unlimited returns policy

[lloydsteventaylor]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/whats-hot/ll-bean-dropping-its-unlimited-returns-policy/ar-BBIV1...

[lookng2015]

Meanwhile eBay charges forwards touting free returns for ANY reason.

[ittybitnot]

Someone needs to clue in ebay to this new "industry standard." 

[lloydsteventaylor]

LLBean also is changing their Free shipping to:

Free standard shipping is valid on orders of $50 or more 

[partial*eclipse]

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wrote:
Meanwhile eBay charges forwards touting free returns for ANY reason.

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Did you read the story?  Bean's policy is changing from "Any return for any reason, any time" to "Any return for any reason, within a year of purchase."

[lookng2015]

Yes, with a verified receipt. Here eBay expects us to accept ANYTHING returned (even if it's not the item sent)

[jobs-7]

There was fraud and abuse?  Shocking, I tell ya!

[the*dog*ate*my*tablecloth]

LLBean only has to deal with buyers who may be liars. Ebay has to deal with buyers AND sellers who may be liars.

[ittybitnot]

Did you read the story?  Bean's policy is changing from "Any return for any reason, any time" to "Any return for any reason, within a year of purchase."

I think "proof of puchase" is required as well.  

[castlemagicmemories]

The point is, they are changing that policy.

I worked for a company once that sold watches.  When the battery would die, customers would return it, get a new watch, then do it all over again.

Finally the company rescinded this policy.  

There was a recent thread about the woman who returned her dead Christmas tree to Costco in Jan.; and they took it back.  

[lookng2015]

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wrote:

There was fraud and abuse?  Shocking, I tell ya!

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Actually it said INCREASING fraud and abuse (imagine that)

[orangehound]

Notice the reason for the restriction?  Because customers are abusing the generous offer beyond what is reasonable ... Americans are becoming far less honorable.

... I have an LL Bean Barn Jacket that I've worn so much that it is falling apart.  I have joked that if I were a total jerk, I could take that coat back to the store and get a brand new one with simply the comment "I'm not satisfied".

But I would never do that because it abuses the intent of their returns policy.  Unfortunately, a growing number of Americans don't agree - if there is a path to get something for free, then off they go to get it.  As eBay sellers, we know this dance all too well ...

[duggmills]

And they have done the right thing. 

REI has or did have an "all reasons returns"  A friend worked there in customer service and some beeping bleep returned a pair of hiking shoes after three years because they were worn out.  I would have throw the bleeping bleep out of the store.

The first rule of politics and retail is: The Masses are bleep-es. 

 Winston Churchill said it best: "It doesn't take all kinds, there just are all kinds."

[hioctane62]

LL Bean did this because it was costing THEM money. With ebay, they have no skin in the game, it costs SELLERS money. Ebay will only change direction when it is affecting THEIR bottom line, and they have it set up to where that's not going to happen.

[emerald40]

You cannot compare  a situation where there are 2 parties involved - Seller and buyer - You bring something back to a B&M store.  If it is theirs they take it back.  If not, they don't.  It is a face to face transaction.

With ebay they is a non seeing 3rd party.  They have no clue what the seller sent or the buyer returned.

So it is not as cut and  dried for them.