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And I’m yet to be convinced that so much impulse purchasing of tat is good for the environment in any way.
Why do you assume that Amazon purchases are impulse purchases of tat?
Most high streets are redundant for this type of shopping, and have been for years.
High Street in the general sense. And is it redundant because retailers are unable or unwilling to accommodate your average 9-5 worker? Would it really kill small businesses to open a couple of hours later and shut a couple later?
As for ebay, my nearest Argos is an hours round trip away and in any case is dependent on them actually allowing the item to be delivered or actually receiving it in the first place. I'm genuinely surprised nobody has ever opened a dedicated parcel receiver shop especially for the likes of small islands or remote communities that pay a premium per delivery.
As for increased tat, yes. Its easy, quick and convenient. A lot of the stuff they sell is landfill fodder, even the quality stuff. BTW nobody has given any evidence of these other retailers that skip perfectly sellable items, is that because the likes of TK Maxx and other outlet shops exist and its THEIR stock rather than a third party that can't afford to have it returned? Besides the print industry, which the proprietors of this site have kicked back against (good on them) I can't think of anyone else that does this.
Just done a Morrison's/Amazon shop on line. Save 10% through my bank too. We're away this weekend, and I've got fuel to get during my lunch break, so no time to go to the supermarket. It's all being delivered within 2 hours of ordering. No delivery charge over £40. It's just handy. The goods are picked by a member of Morrison's staff in your local store, so it's still local employees and a local delivery driver - usually comes in a private car and not an Amazon van.
I hate shopping in shops with a passion (generally the idiots wandering aimlessly in front) - I'm a 'go in and get what I need', don't do browsing - even bike shops !
Yes, it’s a lot in absolute terms what what % is it of total turnover and how does that compare to the industry norm?
Genuine question – who would you compare them to to establish a benchmark? They ARE the industry norm, surely?
Interesting article in the New York Times popped up on my FB feed this morning answering this very question!
Probably pay-walled, but I'll quote some interesting bits below.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/business/retail-returns-liquidation.html
The numbers for returns are just immense - this if for the USA:
In 2021, shoppers returned an average of 16.6 percent of their purchases, up from 10.6 percent in 2020 and more than double the rate in 2019, according to an analysis by the National Retail Federation, a trade group, and Appriss Retail, a software and analytics firm.
Last year’s returns, which retailers are not always able to resell themselves, totaled $761 billion in lost sales. That, the retail federation noted, is more than the annual budget for the U.S. Department of Defense.
The National Retail Federation and Appriss Retail calculate that more than 10 percent of returns last year involved fraud, including people wearing clothing and then sending it back or stealing goods from stores and returning them with fake receipts. But more fundamentally, industry analysts say the increasing returns reflect consumer expectations that everything can be taken back.
“It’s getting worse and worse,” Mr. Johnston said.
Some of the returns and excess inventory will be donated to charities or returned to the manufacturers. Others get recycled, buried in landfills or burned in incinerators that generate electricity.