Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up • Hacker News Board

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#301

Post by ummonk » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 2:35 AM UTC

kennywinker wrote: post #42

whoisjuan wrote: post #39

While this may seem shocking, logistically it makes sense. It’s potentially easier to destroy or dump a returned product than re-preparing it for sale. I went out on a date with a program manager for one of Amazon’s return programs and she told me her job was basically finding out ways to repurpose returns as cheaply as possible. Apparently destroying and dumping it’s the easiest and least resource consuming way to d…

> Apparently destroying and dumping it’s the easiest and less resource consuming way to deal with returns. Not the least resource consuming - the least costly to amazon . There is a massive environmental cost to the practice - it's just externalized. If the companies involved (amazon, the manufacturer) had to bare the full environmental cost, the calculation would often come out different.

There is a significant environmental cost to the logistics of refurbishing, storing, repackaging, and reshipping returned goods though.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#302

Post by ummonk » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 2:36 AM UTC

kennywinker wrote: post #67

lotu wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the environmental cost is dominated by shipping I could see destruction as more environmentally friendly. This is likely the for many small cheap items.

Fine, but two things are happenings: 1. It’s being hidden from consumers, who might adapt their behavior if they knew a return meant the trash. 2. Stuff is shipped back to amazon and then disposed of.

I imagine most consumers who return items would be throwing them away instead.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#303

Post by ummonk » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 2:38 AM UTC

malcolmgreaves wrote: post #150

canada_dry wrote: post #135

Everyone in the chain is complicit... people who carelessly order things, suppliers who decide it's cheaper to just let Amazon handle their returns, and Amazon who is stuck dealing with returns. If we're going to fix something, it really aught to be food waste! The amount of food that gets disposed of daily - while millions go hungry - is humanities greatest issue - not unwanted coveralls.

How long does it take food to decompose versus a pair of coveralls? This is one of those situations where saying "this problem isn't important, look at X," isn't the best strategy. We have to solve _waste_ in general. Different types will have different solutions.

A lot of food ends up in the landfill where it doesn't decompose, which is truly a waste.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#304

Post by ummonk » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 2:43 AM UTC

cbanek wrote: post #212

humaniania wrote: post #208

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bean bag chairs, punching bags, who knows what else.

I'm reminded of the Simpson's lunch lady: "There's very little meat in these gym mats" as she's grinding them into meatloaf. I'm more concerned now since who knows with the virus what the right way of possibly sanitizing a mattress would take that nobody will be taking them for a while.

I mean bedbugs are gonna live in the mattress far longer than a virus.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#305

Post by Spooky23 » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 3:29 AM UTC

eigenvector wrote: post #268

inopinatus wrote: post #265

Let's take a moment to look at how disingenuous this article is: * Out of twelve returned trackers, one of them went to landfill. The article focuses on that item and does not itemise the fate of the others. * Adding a tracking device to a returned new product is tantamount to damage. If such a device is detected during returns processing, anyone with half a brain should immediately presume a malicious actor and have…

I completely agree that their methodology is not robust. But Amazon also refused to state what fraction of items go to landfill, despite making subjective claims that it's "on occasion" and the "vast majority" are liquidated or resold. If that was true, Amazon would have the data to back it up and would only benefit them to say so. If we want to know the actual number of items that go to landfill, we don't need to se…

In fairness, they outsource and sell returns by the pound. It’s a big business - they have no idea what happens to it.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#306

Post by cal5k » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 4:00 AM UTC

refurb wrote: post #296

inopinatus wrote: post #265

Let's take a moment to look at how disingenuous this article is: * Out of twelve returned trackers, one of them went to landfill. The article focuses on that item and does not itemise the fate of the others. * Adding a tracking device to a returned new product is tantamount to damage. If such a device is detected during returns processing, anyone with half a brain should immediately presume a malicious actor and have…

This crap is why journalism is in such disrepute. And this is from the Canadian Broadcasting Company - Canada's gov't funded TV/radio/print news service, not some fly by night organization focused on spitting out content to maximize ad impressions. Doesn't give you much hope for quality reporting if they can't get it right.

The CBC is not considered to be particularly reputable even within Canada, which is extremely irritating given that our tax dollars are paying for it.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#307

Post by yjftsjthsd-h » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 4:12 AM UTC

eigenvector wrote: post #268

inopinatus wrote: post #265

Let's take a moment to look at how disingenuous this article is: * Out of twelve returned trackers, one of them went to landfill. The article focuses on that item and does not itemise the fate of the others. * Adding a tracking device to a returned new product is tantamount to damage. If such a device is detected during returns processing, anyone with half a brain should immediately presume a malicious actor and have…

I completely agree that their methodology is not robust. But Amazon also refused to state what fraction of items go to landfill, despite making subjective claims that it's "on occasion" and the "vast majority" are liquidated or resold. If that was true, Amazon would have the data to back it up and would only benefit them to say so. If we want to know the actual number of items that go to landfill, we don't need to se…

> If that was true, Amazon would have the data to back it up

Absolutely.

> and would only benefit them to say so.

Not nearly as obvious. It might have some PR benefits (this week, until later when public opinion shifts), but it also provides information about their business that they may prefer to not share (off the top of my head, it probably leaks something about defect rates and their quality controls).

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#308

Post by xyzzyz » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 4:13 AM UTC

hermanradtke wrote: post #298

inopinatus wrote: post #265

Let's take a moment to look at how disingenuous this article is: * Out of twelve returned trackers, one of them went to landfill. The article focuses on that item and does not itemise the fate of the others. * Adding a tracking device to a returned new product is tantamount to damage. If such a device is detected during returns processing, anyone with half a brain should immediately presume a malicious actor and have…

I don't disagree with your assertion that the article is disingenuous. However, > "30-40 percent of online purchases are returned" what absolute hoopsla. I've worked in online commerce and this is off by an order of magnitude. A very few segments (e.g. shoes) may approach such return rates. In the online retail world, a 30-40% return rate is common for apparel (clothes), shoes and accessory purchases. Certain categor…

You're supporting his point: apparel is one of the segments where such return rate is plausible, but it is completely off the mark for general merchandise.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#309

Post by jolux » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 4:22 AM UTC

9HZZRfNlpR wrote: post #297

jolux wrote: post #267

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What part of "I have experienced both sides of this issue" don't you understand? My best friend is a man and I lived as a man for 20 years. I think I'm at least somewhat qualified to compare the experience of buying clothes as a man vs buying clothes as a woman.

You're not qualified to make such broad, sexist statements just because you have a husband. Get yourself together and do better.

I’m trans, moron.

Re: Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

#310

Post by lstamour » Sun, Oct 11, 2020, 4:51 AM UTC

eigenvector wrote: post #256

gambiting wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm always shocked when I read these comments on HN. I swear it must be just the American Amazon that's so shit, because I literally never had any problems nor know anyone with these problems here in UK. Just this year I'm on 108 orders and counting, every single one of them was fine, working, definitely not used, definitely not counterfeit and delivered within 1 day as promised with Prime. Last year I've had 140 ord…

Anecdotally, Canada & US Amazon used to be like you described when they first started becoming the "everything" store but things have really declined lately. 6 or 7 years ago there was a much higher proportion of items actually sold by Amazon. Now it's a morass of third-party sellers with inaccurate listings to the point that even just finding an item is quite a choice. I recently gave up trying to buy kitchen knives…

In Amazon’s defence, the item sold should have been packaged better by the original seller. A number of my recent Amazon purchases have arrived in original boxes/packaging.

And Amazon in Canada does not stock or sell food items at competitive prices if at all. They barely sell a small number of Whole Foods items online. I generally buy local for most food items, except maybe bulk supplements or household items. Some things, especially now under lockdown, you can only find easily on Amazon...