Interesting, new (to me) procedure for returning AMAHZON items (not allowed to pack'em yourself)

[anneecakes]

I guess the following is Amazon's solution to the "send-back-a-tracked-box-of-rocks" return scam that we all hear about (or worse, experience as sellers).   

I had to return something to A recently and rather than let me print a label and drop at a UPS box right by my house, there was absolutely NO option to print any kind of label... I was merely instructed to to capture a QR code and then was told I had to visit a UPS counter in person with the loose item. "For my convenience," they would take it from me, scan the QR code Amazon had generated for me, and wrap it, send it, etc.

I was feeling cranky about it when I realized that they probably have to do it this way now (at least in my town, where we don't have a Kohl's) to counter all the fake/deceitful returns going on in the 2020's.  All those buyers who intended to send back an old item, a broken item, rocks, whatever, are probably pretty bummed to be outsmarted in this one little way!

[lightlily_arts]

Not sure about the relevance in posting about Amazon returns on eBay community discussion board.  However I recently had a return to Amazon and there definitely was a change.   Most of them was bring it there with their QR code and they would handle the return.   I kept looking at the list and still found the option to repackage and print out a label.  Of course I also had to go to a UPS counter to send it back.

[lamber9347]

@anneecakes Well let's hope this is something eBay will look into....

[mama_583368]

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@anneecakes wrote:

All those buyers who intended to send back an old item, a broken item, rocks, whatever, are probably pretty bummed to be outsmarted in this one little way!

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Um, who is at the other end of the return to Amazon when you pack and label the package yourself?

A return to Amazon, and a return to an eBay seller, are two different animals.

[readabouthorses]

That's interesting. I wonder if Amazon would send me a fancy smartphone so I can capture their little QR code since I don't have one. I don't even know where the nearest UPS store is so do they provide an address for that?

[lja440]

It might be a good solution, except for taking it to UPS or FedEx. I rarely have time to take anything to either. UPS store is fairly close but I would loose several hours taking something to FedEx. And USPS does not pack.

[lja440]

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@lightlily_arts wrote:

Not sure about the relevance in posting about Amazon returns on eBay community discussion board.  However I recently had a return to Amazon and there definitely was a change.   Most of them was bring it there with their QR code and they would handle the return.   I kept looking at the list and still found the option to repackage and print out a label.  Of course I also had to go to a UPS counter to send it back.

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I do find it odd as Amazon packages are uniformly poorly packed by Amazon.

[tdrake]

Most places like Kohls, UPS center etc. where you bring in unboxed/wrapped items put them in a pallet (gaylord) box and they go back like that.   Amazon gets 100's of thousands  of returns daily, can you imagine having to unbox every one of those ?  

[lightlily_arts]

Packaging by Amazon is terrible.  They throw it in a box with a few air pillows and sometimes brown paper. Haphazard taping too.  But most items I order are in a retail package still.  The ones you have to be careful with are the so called open box items which are customer returns.  If the previous customer didn't return with all the original packaging  materials that's what you will get.   Amazon does not use any bubble wrap or Styrofoam peanuts.

For example when you purchase a vacuum cleaner it has to be assembled.  If the customer returns it will Amazon  require the customer to disassemble and put it back in the box with the original packaging?

I purchased a open box toaster convection oven.  The first one I received the oven was thrown into the original box  with nothing else, and the box was in bad shape.  Then put in a much larger box with no other packaging.  It arrived broken and  I returned it.  The next one was fine as it still had the original Styrofoam protective inserts.

[anneecakes]

Thanks everyone (OP here). I guess it was indeed weird to bring this up on an eBay board-- I just thought it was interesting to ponder "developments" in returns and the return process in the general e-commerce space.

In my 60K person town, Amazon doesn't give the choice of a free return if you want to package it yourself and just drop it in a UPS box.  You have to pay $5.99 ( or higher, depending on size) to do that.  If you want it free, you HAVE to bring it to UPS where they put them all in a giant crate (together--accumulated for several days, etc.).  If you have a Kohl's in your town, they may have you go there to do it (we don't have one). And if you live far from a UPS counter or a Kohl's, apparently you will still see the option to pack it yourself and return it by UPS for free. (But the Amazon system has decided that everyone in my town lives close enough to our UPS store that we HAVE to go in and use this service if we don't want to pay to send it back.)

So-- I was wrong that this is to prevent switcheroo returns-- it is to save Amazon from having to receive and unbox thousands of returns hourly. I guess they just sell the return crates to (you guessed it) resellers as "unexamined returns."

[monster-deals]

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@mama_583368 wrote:

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A return to Amazon, and a return to an eBay seller, are two different animals.

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Sometimes and sometimes not.

[no_zero369]

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@anneecakes wrote:

So-- I was wrong that this is to prevent switcheroo returns-- it is to save Amazon from having to receive and unbox thousands of returns hourly. I guess they just sell the return crates to (you guessed it) resellers as "unexamined returns."

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That could be one way, but increasingly I am seeing "open Box" items on Amazon from the "Amazon Warehouse" seller.  Maybe  Amazon figured out there was profit in returns and is now selling them for a higher margin, rather than bulk sales to eBay resellers.

[myangelandmyprincess]

Yes this has irritated me because it keeps requiring I take items to a ups store.  The closest which is a 90 mile round trip.  Beyond frustrating.   I've been able to complain the last time and be provided with ups pick up but who knows if it they will keep letting me.  

[lightlily_arts]

Amazon has offered open box i.e. customer returns through their fulfillment warehouses for quite sometime.  Although I had a packaging problem with my first toaster convection oven the replacement they sent me was great.   You have to read the descriptions the same way you do when purchasing used books.  You can still opt for warranties too.  You still have the same return privileges.  The actual retail price new was $89.99 and I got the open box item with a bonus coupon for $40.  I was happy as I was replacing an item that was stolen from my house.

[lightlily_arts]

I can't even begin to ponder the logistical nightmare of eBay being involved in providing centralized or regional return locations.  First, they would find a way to charge sellers additional fees for returns well over and above the item and return shipping costs already incurred.  Imagine the manpower it would require.   Just read the anecdotal reports of Amazon sellers of return issues.   We all know that fraud is a two way street.  If there was way to prevent both seller and buyer fraud that would be great but I suspect the whole process just wouldn't be cost effective for the average small seller.