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Cameras and secret trackers reveal where Amazon returns end up

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

#41

Post by shiftpgdn »

glitchcrab wrote: post #13
searchableguy wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Few people probably abuse the system too much. There are scamming forums and services for Amazon refunds. Scammers take 10-20% of the item cost for refunding it without giving the original. A trend I observed here among college students is buying clothes for a party or instagram selfie and then returning it. Small sellers get screwed pretty hard. You should check their forums.

Wait, people genuinely buy clothes (although this is more like borrowing) just for the purpose of taking a selfie? I can't even begin to comprehend how desperate they must be to look good and fit in.

Wait until you hear how much food foodie influencers throw away after they get their money shot (it's all of it.)

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

#42

Post by kennywinker »

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.

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

#43

Post by chaboud »

azinman2 wrote: post #18

So this was a lot about Amazon, but it leaves out comparisons to any other store. What do others do? Is this the common practice?

I don't know what it's like now, but, when I worked at Best Buy in the 90s, we had a couple of shoulder height palletized bins in the back. If a customer brought something back with a "didn't work" reason, it went in the bin.

We threw items in the bin from a distance, so they were definitely unsellable. I'm sure that lots of merchandise that would have been functional/sellable ended up being thrown out.

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

#44

Post by post_break »

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…

I got a $350 Japanese made pump for my koi pond for $100 from warehouse. It was brand new but it leaked the oil from inside into the box so that’s why it was returned. I don’t even think it was turned on. Replaced the oil and works perfectly.

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

#45

Post by x87678r »

withinrafael wrote: post #37
x87678r wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have friends who send back nearly everything. Not sure about shoe size? Order 3 sizes, keep the one you like and send back the other two (or return all 3 if you dont like it). Want a shirt? Order 5 and keep the ones you like, if any.

I do this and Amazon even encourages this pattern via its Prime Wardrobe and other past offerings.

Agreed, I think Zappo encouraged it too. It isn't abuse its a feature.

I personally never send anything back, if I dont like it I just make do and complain.

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

#46

Post by ocdtrekkie »

henvic wrote: post #40

Am I the only one worried about: * The privacy of consumers who might eventually buy some of the stuff stuffed with their trackers. * The scene at 1:49 where it appears they put a tracker in a plastic bag inside something like a coffee kettle. * Sticking a tracker to a kid's toy. What the hell is wrong with these people? I get they wanted to do a great investigation, but this seems so wrong to me...

Journalists tend to get a little more leeway for investigative purposes. And presumably they followed up and retrieved these trackers in some way. And will get rid of any personal information about the people who received the items.

Also, note they were expecting most or all of them to end up in landfills, them finding homes is an ideal outcome, but maybe not expected.

It also says something about the quality of returned merchandise and inspection of it: Amazon didn't find and remove the tracking devices, the products "looked fine" and were sent on their way. Perhaps that's one reason Amazon prefers to just toss stuff.

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

#47

Post by whoisjuan »

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.

Totally! That’s what I was going for. Least resource consuming but I’m talking about economic resources. Like man hours, packaging, transportation, etc.

The environmental impact is big! I hope this is being considered in their Climate Pledge.

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

#48

Post by throwaheyy »

henvic wrote: post #40

Am I the only one worried about: * The privacy of consumers who might eventually buy some of the stuff stuffed with their trackers. * The scene at 1:49 where it appears they put a tracker in a plastic bag inside something like a coffee kettle. * Sticking a tracker to a kid's toy. What the hell is wrong with these people? I get they wanted to do a great investigation, but this seems so wrong to me...

Yes, you’re the only one. Anybody could put a tracker inside items they’re returning, it’s on Amazon to inspect returned items, which any brick-and-mortar store would do.

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

#49

Post by lotu »

copperx wrote: post #35
jhbadger wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Back in the days of brick-and-mortar shopping there used to be people who bought a large screen TV shortly before a big sports game and then returned it afterwards. A lot of stores revised their return policies because of this.

I'm curious about the policy. "You can't return a TV if there has been a sports game on TV".

Just like the super bowl or World Series or whatever.

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

#50

Post by ardy42 »

chrisseaton wrote: post #26

How do these trackers read a GPS signal from inside these bulky items, plus packaged, plus inside a building?

I have some GPS data loggers that can do that. The fix isn't great or very accurate indoors, but it's probably good enough for this purpose.
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