I'm sure they also go with the same philosophy as the mail in rebate: many people will buy several pairs with the intention to return the shoes they don't like, but won't want to deal with the hassle when the time comes around.

Anonymous wrote:They mark up their prices so it probably works out given the number of expected returns plus mark up.

+1.

I look at Zappos, but usually find the shoes cheaper elsewhere.

Anonymous wrote:Yes -- the shipping is still free both ways, but the overnight thing will end if you return a sufficient percentage of what you order.

It happened to me. Not a big deal, because the stuff I ordered would sit in the Zappos Staging Area of our house for a few days before I got around to trying it on anyway.

you have a Zappos staging area in your house?

Anonymous wrote:With data analysis as sophisticated as it is, zappos will continue to reward the customers that are profitable, and dump the returners, if it comes down to it. They have the ability to slice and segment. Remember the ISPs and the super downloaders? Like gigs of downloads? They narrowed their bandwidth. Sometimes it was identified as just a handful of users.

This is a zombie thread from 2012. Five years on, it seems like Zappos is unlikely to change its return policy!

With data analysis as sophisticated as it is, zappos will continue to reward the customers that are profitable, and dump the returners, if it comes down to it. They have the ability to slice and segment. Remember the ISPs and the super downloaders? Like gigs of downloads? They narrowed their bandwidth. Sometimes it was identified as just a handful of users.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's like insurance. A minority of people return a lot but that's counterbalanced by the many people who order things and don't return them. Plus they build the cost into their business model. How hard is that to understand?

I'm saying that may be true, but posting it snottily on DCUM is different from proving it. Any proof for these assertions about profitability, deals with UPS and the rest? can read an annual report (can you?) but the proof of your assertions is on you, sweetie. How hard is that to understand?

NP here. And while I agree that proof of any specific assertions is on the asserter, it's not wildly ridiculous to suggest that a company wouldn't have/continue a policy that was hurting them or that it's unnecessarily rude to fling insults at someone who takes advantage of a business's stated policy.

I'm glad OP asked the question, because I'm a shameless returner. I don't get the virtue signaling of suggesting that people who never return are somehow better shoppers/customers. Let me guess, you guys also brag about your unused vacation days?

I don't think zappos ups prices in order to cover free ship/return. Full price is the same I see in the stores and on other websites. The difference is I never have gotten a bargain on Zappos. This is not a complaint -- just what appears factual to me. I'm difficult to fit if I want a shoe to be comfortable. And I do wear a popular size, but I would have more successful choices if I could get shoes in Wide width. There are styles and shoes that will work without getting the extra width, but often there is more trial and error than I would like -- and therefore more returns! I do check Zappos first, then I search sometimes for a cheaper price--but after paying up to $20 to return a single pair of shoes I usually stick with Zappos because of the free ship/returns.