jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Two semi-related items -

Did you ever wonder what happens to all the things that get returned to Amazon? I saw a bit on YouTube last night that shed some light on the situation. Amazon doesn't tell, but an investigative team looked into it. Much of what gets returned is brought to a building where it is put through a large industrial shredder. Then it goes to a landfill

Items that are in good condition are sealed onto pallets and offered to liquidators. As one liquidator said, they put all the good items on the outside, but in the center is generally junk. The liquidators either have stores, or they sell the items online.

The video was critical of Amazon for putting so much material into landfills, but what's the alternative? If an item is broken or not useful, does it matter if Amazon or the customer discards it? At least Amazon grinds it up into smaller pieces, and it offers customers a chance to get a refund on items they don't want.

Shipping charges. I wanted a set of Kreg levelers for my Kreg router plate. Lots of places sell them, but I couldn't find anyone offering free shipping. Kreg offered the lowest shipping price of $5.95, so I ordered from them. Although we all like free shipping, it isn't always available, but shopping around could save you some money on that.

Repeat: Yesterday, I posted that the reviews on Amazon are virtually worthless. There are many businesses whose sole purpose is to manipulate an item's review up or down. I now look for independent tests, comparisons, and reviews. If you haven't seen Project Farm on YouTube, it's worth a look. Very interesting.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

This was very interesting. Just a response to the Amazon returns, I have had them send me a replacement and not want me to return the defective item but I just figured no one would want to pay shipping to get a defective item back.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I think that happened with me only once. That would be an easy way for cheaters to get two for the price of one. My last return did not get a return label. I had to drive the item half an hour into town and leave it at the UPS office. That's a nuisance.

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

"Project Farm" tests a lot of stuff and answers a lot of questions. What I like is that they show their methodology for testing.
For example AA battery testing: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=project+farm+aa+rechargeable+batteries
General search: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2rzsm1Qi6N1X-wuOg_p0Ng
Thanks Jerry
Smile,
JimmyT Sends

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, he certainly puts a lot of work into his tests - money, too. He's very consistent - with the opening, the closing, and that silver ballpoint he uses as a pointer. I like that he doesn't begin with, "Hi, guys, what's goin' on?"

I've seen them all, and I look forward to new ones.

Tomcat5133 Loc: Gladwyne PA

Talk about returns waste. My daughter has been buying wayfair beds and furniture for her place.
I was their when a wrong size bed had been sent and they were picking it up. I asked the gentlemen
what happens to the wrong bed sent. He said they dump all the wrong sized or returns. It is more expensive
to handle. I thought of all the people that could use these beds and furniture.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

A few years back I ordered a 17 foot square back canoe from SAMS. It was shipped FedEx from Coleman in Canada. FedEx damaged it while loading it but mostly cosmetic. I called SAMS once I unwrapped it and they said they would replace it. They sent a second one and I checked it before I would accept it from FedEx and it was also damaged. I refused it but I could never get SAMS or FedEx to take back the first one. They both said forget it, it is too much trouble for a damaged item. The retail on it was $899.99 and I caught some nice fish from it.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

A few years ago we bought a Purple mattress and it was just not what we wanted. We called to return it within their 90 day (night) trial period and they gave us the option of arranging a return or donating the mattress to a charity and sending a copy of the receipt. We opted for the latter solution, sent them the receipt and they gave us the full refund.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I've watched Project Farm and gotten some useful information from it, but the guy speaks way too fast which I find irritating.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

That's understandable.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

FREE SHIPPING is BS it's covered in the price. On TV --$19.95 and Free Shipping (it's in the $19.95) Shipping cost if you pay it or they pay it. They pay less than you as they get a bulk deal, but some one pays it's not free.

tcthome Loc: NJ

Uhh, maybe recycle , depending on the item.

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

So Jerry, what about all those Amazon "used" items I see for sale? Don't you think they may be returns to Amazon that have nothing wrong with them that were simply returned because someone ordered the wrong item, or color, or it's a gift someone didn't want?

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

I reviewed a crappy company badly. They called me and offered to return the fee I had to pay the tech for determining the model of my HVAC unit if I removed the review. $95 Did in fast enough to make your head spin😎

bwilliams

There was an Amazon return liquidator in my area but had to close because covid.