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Free returns seems like a greedy and arrogant policy. I wish more people were surprised by the free return option; and refuse to buy relying on free returns. My state is that I end up buying very little. I even donate stuff I order without enough thought instead of free returns.

Good point also about how various online ordering pushed brick-and-mortar beyond recovery; with many such loss-leading and predatory practices.

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Free returns is kind of necessary when you're buying things sight unseen. Clothes may not fit; electronics may not be compatible; parts may not be appropriate.

Obviously that's not everything. It may not even be most things. But it's way easier and more attractive to just say "order it first, then return what doesn't work". It works as long as most people aren't assholes about it.

(It didn't help that there were assholes on the seller side, too. Yet another reason to return stuff was fakes, and Amazon decided it was easier to accept returns without complaint than to guarantee that you got what you ordered. Especially since many customers wouldn't notice.)

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