For a long time it allowed clients to send back their purchases at zero costs within 30 days. Yet, Amazon has now decided to modify its return policy by cutting the timeline in half (14 days). The new rules are only being applied to electronics, for now, but fashion may soon become part of it. If on one end Amazon tries to discipline returns, Chinese e-commerce platform Temu continues to push to increase its user base. How? By gifting new members a pair of cheap fake-fur boots.
Amazon’s policy
The American giant founded by Jeff Bezos has recently announced its return policy will be updates. To convince clients to buy without remorse it was offering free returns within 30 days. Starting March 25th it will no longer be so, as it decided to cut it to 14 days. The reason? Educating “smart” clients buying something and returning it to then buy an updated version. The provision should protect minor sellers using the platforms, but it’s for now ties to cameras, laptops and videogames. But it could also be extended to fashion, says La Repubblica, following the policies set by H&M, Zara and Yoox, companies now associating a cost to return goods. Free shipping would otherwise result as unsustainable on the economic scale (and environmental).
Temu’s latest strategy
On one end, Western e-tailers have for long used the lever of advantageous treatment to acquire clients. On the other, they continue to cut prices, make continuous offerings, and pay little attention to sustainability. The latest strategy by Chinese Temu is to offer 0 USD “Fluffy Boots” when making other purchases. It’s a completely synthetic boot that imitates fur and is “inspired” by the FW 24 collection of Moncler Grenoble.
Nothing bad, if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s using cheap materials and giving it away for free. It’s just another marketing move, because before they were given away for free, the retail price was 20 USD, as shown by viral Tik Tok videos. After clients grow, the platform decided to further expand by giving away Fluffy Boots to new users reaching a minimum spending sum. Something that will likely increase traffic, by giving away a product we didn’t need.
Photo from Shutterstock
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