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The SportsDirect rip-off
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I do struggle to see why people are defending them to be honest, yes they are upfront about it if you go looking for their returns policy but it isn't the norm.
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Tesco, Amazon and ASOS, just to name the ones listed here all offer free returns.
People are defending them simply because they are doing nothing wrong.
Their postage costs are made clear before any purchase is completed, as are their returns policies.
Amazon do not offer free returns for unwanted or unsuitable goods. If they are being returned due to being faulty or not as described they do, but postage or courier costs for change of mind returns are at the cost of the customer.0 -
Whether Sports Direct's returns policy is the norm or not, it is their policy and the owner has chosen that policy, not the same as that offered by other online retailers.I do think it's a very strange set-up that sportsdirect have. But then I have trouble getting clothes to fit. Ordering something from them is basically a £10 gamble that it fits. I'm surprised people take this but maybe normal sized people have less issues with clothes not fitting?
I do struggle to see why people are defending them to be honest, yes they are upfront about it if you go looking for their returns policy but it isn't the norm. You can argue that charging for delivery is pretty common. But it's rare, very rare, for a company selling clothes not to offer free returns (and equally rare not to be allowed to return to the store). Tesco, Amazon and ASOS, just to name the ones listed here all offer free returns.
As you say, the returns policy is clearly stated.
Precisely.I think the point is... if you don't like how Sports Direct operates... don't shop there.0 -
shaun_from_Africa wrote: »Amazon do not offer free returns for unwanted or unsuitable goods. If they are being returned due to being faulty or not as described they do, but postage or courier costs for change of mind returns are at the cost of the customer.
I think you'll find that's incorrect for a large amount of clothes that Amazon sell.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=mk_fr_ret_dp_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000491933
Just because a company isn't doing anything wrong legally doesn't mean they aren't being sneaky. I always check returns policies before ordering but last time I considered ordering from SportsDirect their shipping and returns polices were a surprise to me.
And I can sympathise with people who are used to shopping online and having the option of free returns not to expect a company to make it as hard/expensive to return items.0 -
I think you'll find that's incorrect for a large amount of clothes that Amazon sell.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/feature.html/ref=mk_fr_ret_dp_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000491933
Just because a company isn't doing anything wrong legally doesn't mean they aren't being sneaky. I always check returns policies before ordering but last time I considered ordering from SportsDirect their shipping and returns polices were a surprise to me.
And I can sympathise with people who are used to shopping online and having the option of free returns not to expect a company to make it as hard/expensive to return items.
Why were they a surprise to you? Is that because you make assumptions without checking your facts?
I would not assume any retailer offers free delivery or returns without checking first - tends to eliminate the element of surprise, or indeed the need for sympathy from random strangers on the internet
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Why were they a surprise to you? Is that because you make assumptions without checking your facts?
Bayesian argument time - No, it's because the information I had available to me before checking would have given me cause to assume otherwise. Everyone can say it's unwise to make assumptions but that's not how the world, or our brains work. We access the likelihood of something being true based on previous information, and update our beliefs as we acquire new information.
Because it was SportsDirect, my surprise was not as large as it would have been if it had been Burtons. Because of previous knowledge about what the company is like.
The model used by the majority of companies selling clothes is to offer free delivery over a certain amount and free returns. Which makes sense for clothes sales because of the fact that there is a high chance of people wanting to return clothes for one reason or another. And somebody will have worked out that this actually results in the largest number of sales too.
So in my opinion, and it is just my opinion, a company that breaks this model is relying on people expecting them to operate like other online clothes shops, enticing them in by keeping prices just slightly lower than elsewhere and making a little bit extra from people who either keep the items they don't really want or pay return postage they weren't expecting to. And while it's perfectly legal with sound reasoning. I do think it's a bit sneaky.0 -
Bayesian argument time - No, it's because the information I had available to me before checking would have given me cause to assume otherwise. Everyone can say it's unwise to make assumptions but that's not how the world, or our brains work. We access the likelihood of something being true based on previous information, and update our beliefs as we acquire new information.
Because it was SportsDirect, my surprise was not as large as it would have been if it had been Burtons. Because of previous knowledge about what the company is like.
The model used by companies selling clothes is to offer free delivery over a certain amount and free returns. Which makes sense for clothes sales because of the fact that there is a high chance of people wanting to return clothes for one reason or another. And somebody will have worked out that this actually results in the largest number of sales too.
So in my opinion, and it is just my opinion, a company that breaks this model is relying on people expecting them to operate like other online clothes shops, enticing them in by keeping prices just slightly lower than elsewhere and making a little bit extra from people who either keep the items they don't really want or pay return postage they weren't expecting to. And while it's perfectly legal with sound reasoning. I do think it's a bit sneaky.
There is no standard model for clothing retailers, that is something you've made up based on (flawed) assumptions. You can't call a retailer sneaky just because your assumption is wrong.
So now you have this new information, will you continue to make incorrect assumptions, or will you take a few seconds to read individual store policies? 0 -
There is no standard model for clothing retailers, that is something you've made up based on (flawed) assumptions. You can't call a retailer sneaky just because your assumption is wrong.
So now you have this new information, will you continue to make incorrect assumptions, or will you take a few seconds to read individual store policies?
Which assumptions were wrong?
You can't argue that currently most clothing companies offer free delivery over a certain amount and free returns. That's not an assumption, it's based on the fact that I don't even know the last time I paid for delivery or to return on an item of clothing. And the reasons it's common is because that's what they believe makes them the largest profits, you also can't argue with that.
SportsDirect's polices are what they believe will make them the greatest profits.
As I said the rest are purely my thoughts on the matter, and I can say that I think a company is sneaky based on whatever fact or fiction I like. It's simply my opinion.
I do always check individual store policies, but as I say, I do so with expectations based on what I've previously experienced.0 -
I think you'll find that's incorrect for a large amount of clothes that Amazon sell.
Fair enough, they offer free returns on "selected fashion items", but that a bit different to stating "Tesco, Amazon and ASOS, just to name the ones listed here all offer free returns" without specifying that it's only free for some clothing.SportsDirect's polices are what they believe will make them the greatest profits.
How is this any different to the policies of Amazon, Tesco, Asos etc?
Their whole purpose is to make profits and their policies will reflect what for them is the best way to achieve this goal.0 -
shaun_from_Africa wrote: »People are defending them simply because they are doing nothing wrong.
Their postage costs are made clear before any purchase is completed, as are their returns policies.
Amazon do not offer free returns for unwanted or unsuitable goods. If they are being returned due to being faulty or not as described they do, but postage or courier costs for change of mind returns are at the cost of the customer.
But Sports Direct charges returns costs on items that are faulty!0
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