There's a good chance your holiday returns will end up in a landfill

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Our neighbor had that happen with a computer.

They sent her a replacement, and said they would send her a letter on how to return the original. They never did. The "defective" original sat around for months, until she couldn't even remember what was in that box and opened it up to check. Since I've repaired/upgraded a few computers, she gave it to me, not knowing what was wrong with it, and it seems to work just fine. Will become my mom's next upgrade.

I've ordered refurbs online, and yes, shipping is comparable to purchase price, and probably much more than vendor's cost.

Interesting variation: sell a very heavy, known defective product, with the terms of purchase including "buyer pays return shipping". Anvils* from Russia are the textbook example.









*actually known as ASOs (Anvil-Shaped Objects) which resemble anvils in no other respect.