Goodbye, free returns | CNN Business
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If you’re thinking of sending back a disappointing gift you just received over the holidays, the return may bring even more disappointment.

If you’re thinking of sending back a disappointing gift you just received over the holidays, the return may bring even more disappointment.

Americans have grown accustomed to free returns, but a growing number of retailers are charging fees as returns squeeze retailers’ bottom lines.

Macy’s, Abercrombie, J. Crew, H&M and other companies have all added shipping fees for mail-in returns.

And it’s not just the big mall brands, either. Eighty-one precent of merchants are now charging a fee for at least some methods of returns, according to Happy Returns, a logistics company that specializes in returns.

  • Tony N
    41•1 year ago

    We started shopping AliExpress instead of Amazon. At least you don’t pay the high Amazon prices and are pleasantly surprised when something of decent quality arrives. Got the kids some flying spacemen drones. $1.99 each. They’ve been playing with them all day long. No complaints. AliExpress even refunded me on a few things that arrived broken, without having to return anything.

    • @margaritox
      15•1 year ago

      That’s exactly what I do because amazon basically sells the same stuff as aliexpress, only amazon insists on selling stuff in higher quantities to jack up prices.

      • @jaybone
        4•1 year ago

        Bigger quantities to up prices?

        • @margaritox
          4•1 year ago

          For example, let’s say I needed a clear container tube for something like lotion. And I only need one, or two. But definitely no more than 5.

          Amazon will only sell something like 12 pieces for over $10, whereas on aliexpress, I’ll be able to purchase 1 or 2 for $0.33.

          • @jaybone
            1•1 year ago

            $1 each. 3 for $5.

            “I’ll take 3, but I want them individually.”

            • @margaritox
              2•1 year ago

              I understand that the cost per item is the same, but I simply don’t need that many bottles (or whatever it is).  So if I get the bundle, I’m spending more money to have more junk in my household. 

              So basically, I’m paying more for the three items that I do need and end up with a bunch of leftover crap. This is not hypothetical. I still have a bunch of leftover stuff that I’m not using in my drawers from scenarios like these.