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this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
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I got a cordless vacuum like this. You could tell it was slightly used. Vacuum company said send it back to Amazon. I wrote in the booklet something along the lines of “this vacuum came to me used and broken via Amazon but sold as new” I then sent it back into amazon, got a refund. I probably won’t get any major purchases off Amazon anymore.
I'm curious: why did you call amazon for a return?
Playing devils advocate here but.. I suspect what is happening here is a previous purchaser bought it (broke it?), returned it under a different reason (eg. I dint like it) and Amazon decided it is not worth the hassle of rechecking every return labeled as such.
Mind you this is no consolation for someone like you who has go to through this return process, but I cant believe Amazon is "winning" by keeping a defective product like this in rotation long enough for someone to "eat the cost". Defective products hurt Amazon as well and I'm sure they'd rather take the hit if they could pin point which products are defective.
You could argue that they should bear the cost of validating every return, but clearly someone has crunched the numbers and the program is likely not cost effective.
Here I agree with you. They either got a retun reason like "never used, changed my mind" or simply figured out that for a vast majority of purchases with return codes like this, it is safe to reshelf the object and ship it as new.
Whether the object is to be considered "new" or "like new / used" is probably a gray area. I'm not aware of where most other retailers draw the line on this one (walmart, target, costco, etc.). I'm sure the problem is even harder for online retailers, mostly because its much easier for people to lie on an online return form.
Regardless, my only gripe was people in this thread assuming a conspiracy where they intentionally rotate and peddle defective items hoping someone eats the cost.
I can assue you they do not open and check returns, at least not with any regularity. I bought a 3d printer, used, off of amazon, via sold by/shipped by amazon, and the previous owner/returnee had simply dumped it in a box with some inadequate padding. Amazon never opened the box, and when it arrived on my doorstep it had broken glass, bent frame parts, missing screws, etc.
Some amazon returns require an explanation while others dont. My guess, they took the default or went through the drop down to one that didnt require any actual reasoning.
It is for this reason I have stopped buying some things like Hard Drives (almost always get sold as new but are refurbs or used), or computers. Even when labeled as used amazon allows certain things, like glittery dbrand skins to still quality as "pristine". Also there is a new thing where they will come wiped, but had been registered in Azure/Intune/Apple MDM and thus will still be locked or reporting in.
I had the same with Amazon and an Espresso machine. Got the box, it was beat up, missing Styrofoam, missing manual and damage to the appliance itself. But I also paid full price. Sent it back directly, got my money back and never ordering from them again.
Im an Amazon seller and this frustrates me to no end. A customer returns something and amazon puts it back into circulation. You cant do anything to stop it. I really wish there was a way i could have them send all returns back to me so i can do the proper thing. Amazon seller forums are filled with sellers wishing they could select to have returned inventory sent back.
I've had a similar experience with some monitor backlights. I was sent a "new" product that, when I opened it, I found it had been cut up (which breaks it), adhesive backing removed, parts removed from packaging, etc. Clearly used, returned, and sold back to me unchecked as new.
Almost as frustrating would be the third party sellers who intentionally send me something other than what I order, claim a mistake and that stock is out on the original order, and then try to convince me to keep it with a discount (price less than what I paid but equal to what I ended up getting), like some sort of shipping shell game. This has happened to me multiple times, from clothing to computer parts.