Returned Kobo ereaders: what happrns to them?

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by graycyn

I guess I didn't realize how much stuff that is returned does NOT go back into inventory. That's rather alarming, the waste!

I try to do my research, so that I get items that are "suitable to the purpose" and that will last me, but one still ends up having to do returns, like it or not.

Ordered a bedside lamp from Amazon recently. It's going back. I ordered black, with a USB socket and got sent a gold color with NO USB socket. It kind of pains me to think of a perfectly good lamp potentially going into landfill.

I guess some items DO get sold as refurb, my Voyage was a refurb model, and there was nothing wrong with it, no uneven lighting, nothing. And because I paid less initially, when I sold it, got back my investment.

If a seller just sent the wrong item by mistake, or if the seller sent the correct item but the person who ordered it just didn't like it for some reason, those items really ought to at least be resold as "open box" rather than going to a landfill.

I know Best Buy sells open box items as well as refurbished items on its website. I always assumed the open box items were functional but were returned for some reason, or maybe store demo models?

Many years ago I worked at a couple different clothing retail jobs and when those stores received clothing returns, as long as the clothing was not obviously damaged or dirty we did just put it back out for sale.

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by 4691mls

If a seller just sent the wrong item by mistake, or if the seller sent the correct item but the person who ordered it just didn't like it for some reason, those items really ought to at least be resold as "open box" rather than going to a landfill.

I certainly hope so! I mean seriously, I never even plugged it in! I did remove the plastic bag, because I couldn't remember the color I'd ordered and thought it might be a silver or nickel tone through the plastic, either of which would have fit in the room, but it wasn't. I'd have likely kept it and just shrugged off the USB part as nice, but not critical if the color had been OK.

I put all the plastic protection back on the way it was and popped it back in the box just as originally packed. So hopefully, it will get resold.