Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications
    • Networking

    Returns Survey: The Good, the Bad and the Complicated

    By
    Evan Schuman
    -
    December 17, 2007
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      In its annual survey of major retail return policies, ConsumerWorld made its list and checked it twice of return policies that are naughty and nice.

      Sports Authority, some Staples stores, KB Toys, The Limited and Express got on the naughty list because of their use of The Return Exchange’s database to limit customer returns.

      “Some stores’ posted policies do not warn shoppers of a cap on frequent returns,” the ConsumerWorld report said. “Last year, Express and The Limited for the first time explicitly disclosed return limits albeit on inconspicuous signs and receipt backs: five returns within any 90 day period with a receipt or only up to $300 without a receipt.”

      On the good list, Costco—which historically has had some of the most consumer-friendly return policies among the major retail chains—is still near the top, but has slightly tightened its policies, with no deadline for most merchandise, but a generous 90-day policy “for TVs, computers, cameras, portable music players, cell phones and projectors.”

      Macys.com also was on the good list, with a 180-day limit (the longest in the survey) for returns, but it also has a 25 percent restocking fee for furniture.

      JC Penney this year is trying to address “wardrobing” with a requirement that “special occasion dresses to be returned with the return tag still in place,” the store said.

      ConsumerWorld also noted some policies it dubbed “novel,” such as Amazon.com allowing returns after 30 days but deducting as much as 50 percent for them. Office Max offers no returns on opened digital cameras at all, but will allow for digital camera exchanges if the products are defective.

      Our favorite line from the report: “Buy.com’s ‘Easy Returns’ policy is over 1,500 words long.”

      “There may be many unhappy returns this year if consumers are slapped with unexpected restocking fees or find themselves erroneously placed on a returns blacklist,” said Consumer World founder Edgar Dworsky. “There is also no excuse for retailers’ continued failure to clearly disclose their return policies to shoppers in advance.”

      Retail Center Editor Evan Schuman can be reached at [email protected].

      Check out eWEEK.com’s Retail Center for the latest news, views and analysis on technology’s impact on retail.

      Evan Schuman
      Evan Schuman is the editor of CIOInsight.com's Retail industry center. He has covered retail technology issues since 1988 for Ziff-Davis, CMP Media, IDG, Penton, Lebhar-Friedman, VNU, BusinessWeek, Business 2.0 and United Press International, among others. He can be reached by e-mail at [email protected]

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×