Amazon Customers Can Now Return Things For Free At Kohl's Or Whole Foods (mashable.com) 47
In addition to any of the hundreds of Whole Foods supermarkets across the country, certain Kohl's stores will now accept returns of "eligible items" as part of a retail partnership between the two companies that began earlier this summer. Mashable reports: Starting next month, more than 80 Kohl's locations in the Chicago and Los Angeles area will begin packing and shipping returns back to the online shopping giant's warehouses free of charge. The stores will even have specially designated parking spots for Amazon returns customers. In exchange, Kohl's is hoping that some of the people this program draws into its stores will be tempted to buy something there along the way. One recent UPS survey found that around 70 percent of consumers tend to make new purchases in the course of returning items in stores. The new array of return options will also help Amazon undercut its arch-rival Walmart, which has staked its big push to catch up with Amazon on the idea that its thousands of stores can serve as waypoints for pick-ups, returns, and more convenient delivery.
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Not in here mister, this is a Whole Foods.
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Yeah, here is whole food we only sell artisanal barf.
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Banker Approved Refund Form?
Is this new? (Score:2)
I've only done one return to Amazon, a wrong model phone. The return was free for me. I just had to go to a UPS place instead of a Kohls to ship it off. What returns are not free?
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That depends on where you live. There are no Kohl's anywhere near me, and there is only one Whole Foods in town. But you're always within a mile or two of a UPS store.
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What returns are not free?
Returns where there isn't a problem with the item and you want to return it because you don't like it, no longer need it, ordered by mistake, etc.? Returns that are Amazon's/the seller's fault are comped, but other returns (most of which are allowed, subject to the item's/category's return policy) are not.
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Amazon partnering with a big box store is new. Try on some clothes while you're there, order from amazon.
I have some KSS stock for the dividend, and I'm encouraged about store traffic, but Amazon could turn them into a zombie USPS with tangible floor models.
It's new and dangerous.
Dividend is over 6%, which might last till bankruptcy.
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Why would you pay for fidget spinners when you can go to a trade show and literally every single vendor is handing them out as swag?
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Salvage the bearings out for something else?
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That depends on living in a city with a lot of trade shows that admit the public.
Easier to drop it off at UPS (Score:2)
Scan a label, tape it to the box, drop it off at UPS, profit... errr, get a refund shortly after it's scanned. You just have to keep a few Amazon boxes around.
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You just have to keep a few Amazon boxes around.
You don't even have to do that. I've only done a return to Amazon once, but the UPS store provided the box and packing material for me at no cost when I did.
so the whole Whole Foods thing (Score:2)
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and I expect they will use them as a base to expand AmazonFresh
I suspect this is the major thing in their minds. It will be interesting to see how that works out. I still have a hard time believing that many people would be willing to buy meat and produce sight unseen, but you never know.
Really? (Score:3)
One recent UPS survey found that around 70 percent of consumers tend to make new purchases in the course of returning items in stores.
And many other surveys find that people go to brick and mortar stores to browse and see product in person and then go online to buy it from a cheaper source. The only time I buy something else from a brick and mortar after a return is if I am returning something THEY sold me and I am getting store credit.
Either Kohls is expecting that their super fantastic sale prices on loss-leaders will get Amazon customers to buy (which means a loss overall), or they have ignored the fact that the customers they are counting on to buy from them after returning an Amazon product are well aware of how to buy things from online stores and already have a purchasing account with at least one of them.
Did UPSs surveys take into account that Amazon customers have Amazon accounts already and know how to check out prices online, or were they biased because they included online-phobes who only buy from B&M?
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And many other surveys find that people go to brick and mortar stores to browse and see product in person and then go online to buy it from a cheaper source.
That does happen. But for me it is very rarely. More commonly, I do all my research online. Much easier to do, much more useful information readily available, and much larger inventory. Coincidentally, 80% of my research happens on Amazon. Their website is really good for that.
When I am done researching, I decide whether I need the item right away; and then I'll pop over to my local Target, Walgreens, or Costco. If it can wait, I'll order it with Amazon Prime and it'll show up in the next two to four days (
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If there is a prohibition against taking pictures of merchandise it is really just a way of intimidating people into putting their phones away.
They had no problem with people using their phones to chat, so no, this wasn't just a way to get people to put them away.
Women respond to that type of coercion.
Yeah, whatever.
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I'm more like you. Actually going to a physical store eliminates most of the advantages of online shopping, so if I'm going to all the hassle to go to a store, I'm going to be buying it from that store.
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Then why make the trip? Why not save $12 and some time instead of saving just $10?
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people go to brick and mortar stores to browse and see product in person and then go online to buy it from a cheaper source
I don't get it. Spend an hour to go fuck around at Best Buy touching shit covered with the sweat of countless strangers, then head back home to order the same thing online from Amazon (which will probably be a refurb), then wait a couple days, and either be home to receive the package or head to the UPS dump with a delivery notice to get your stuff.
Your time isn't worth much if you do that. But again, some people make their own deodorant and toothpaste to save money so maybe it does happen.
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To me at least, it's pretty obvious... Most people prefer to buy clothes in-store, whereas they will buy most other things online. When they go to return a toaster they bought on Amazon to Kohls, they might buy a shirt at the Kohls. Additionally, people will likely do exactly what they do now at Kohls - buy the "loss-leaders" as you mention, but, also buy their overpriced items as well. Overall, smart move at Kohls assuming my anecdotal experience is right that most (many?) people prefer to buy clothes in s
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if I am returning something THEY sold me and I am getting store credit.
If all I'm getting is store credit, then I don't do the return (and am less likely to shop at the store in the future). I sell the item myself. At least I'll get some cash for it that way.
UPS (Score:1)
trashy (Score:2)
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I dunno about that. I share your disdain for Wal-Mart, but they always look busy when I drive by one.