Tracking Amazon returns: Here's where they really go (Marketplace)

The Problem is .STOP BUYING JUNK YOU DON'T NEED

They should open Amazon thrift shops all around the country.

This is definitely true We used to prep, pack and ship for Amazon resellers. Some of them also attempted to buy Amazon’s liquidations. We would get pallets of Amazon returns shipped to our warehouse and then we had to go through all the boxes of returns and keep the good stuff so it could be resold on Amazon. I’ll tell you right now- over 90% of the items we unboxed were complete trash. The worst part of all of it was the fact that people would buy items, use them, put them back in the packaging, return them to Amazon. Those “used” returns were dirty, mildewed , moldy, smelly, ripped, and just plain gross. Food was left in them, underwear had been worn, and pet stuff had pet hair all over it. It’s not so much Amazon’s fault- it’s mostly the consumer’s fault for returning something they bought and used.

I’ve worked for Amazon near Cincinnati. After Christmas there are tons of returns. I worked in the clothing hub. We quickly looked over the piece, removed hair using sticky rollers & repackaged most of the items to be resold. It was disgusting enough to make we quit a few months later. I went back to Amazon just earlier this year. I did large item returns. Everything you can think of is sent back. The return processor takes the item & has just a couple minutes to make a snap determination on if it is salvageable. Damages/torn/holes in boxes is an immediate strike against the item. It was insane crazy! Amazon would much rather take a loss on returns. I lasted there less than a month. Remember- Amazon does not make the product…. Another company does. Those companies have policies on their new items.

Amazon just needs to start a non-profit branch of their company that runs like a Salvation Army/thrift store. They can re-sell their returns to people who don't care if the coffee maker was opened and might not be able to afford the original price.

That's why I hope brick-and-mortar stores never disappear, especially for clothing. Nothing can match physically seeing and touching a potential purchase. Sure, I've found some hard-to-find items online, but I shop at actual stores because it's just not the same online. There's also less packaging waste when you buy in person.

If Amazon allowed their customers to keep the item that they were going to return, customers would catch on and start requesting return/refunds all the time. Amazon needs to sell pallets of returned items to third party sellers at a fixed price per pallet. The problem with that of course is that customers who can meet their needs by shipping at thrift stores or other third party sellers are less likely to order from Amazon again. This is a much bigger problem of consumerism and products being designed for consumption not keeping.

When we return an item we don’t know what’s being done with it. I can’t believe the incredible amount of waste and it just doesn’t have to be this easy.

Suddenly the movie Wall-E seems closer to reality then ever before.

When you shop on Amazon, when your looking at an item for consideration. Look below the listed price you’ll see the used and like new tab. Anything you buy from the used and like new section is return goods. When I shop on Amazon I prefer buying used and like new if it’s available. On a few occasions the item still was still sealed and never open. On the package will be an Amazon sticker saying thanks for giving this item a second chance at life. Cute saying and better for the environment

The fact that they are making all of this happen and get us our products so fast is amazing.

Amazon has got to start a thrift shop!

They should be donating to shelters, the clothes could clothe many children who are homeless!

I'm an American, but I love watching CBC News. Fantastic journalism

I've never been a big Amazon buyer unless it's something I can't find in my city, but now I'm going to be even more conscientious.

I usually only return damaged items. For clothing if it doesn't fit then it gets returned. The sad thing about this is the companies that make these products that could be restocked and resold have their stuff dumped or destroyed. It's too bad there isn't a 2nd hand amazon shop (like other companies did) to resell these returned items (usable) instead of ending up in landfills.

I wish they had asked amazon why tiny products (like a single bottle of nail polish) comes in a box that could easily hold two tennis rackets. Small items that are ordered often come in HUGE boxes creating more waste.

The lady in pink is “truly shocked” but probably went home and ordered something off amazon

oh sick Roy from the show Storage wars. He is my favorite on that show!!! what a legend

The bulk of items being destroyed are bad returns which means the customer returned an item that is not in the Amazon system. It could also be destroyed at the request of the vendor. My best advice, if you want to reduce waste in the return system is to make sure you include a reason for return along with original packaging. I would also suggest returning at a return center to reduce the carbon footprint. Also, I would say that consumers should know that all of these Amazon returns you see in this vid have gone through a return center and processed. The process includes removing customer information(top priority) and grading the item.