Yes. If they feel their policy is being abused, they can do that. I suspect that somewhere in the fine print something gives them that right. Is it good customer relations? No. Our company is extremely customer friendly, but when we are being completely taken advantage of, we pull the plug. I am frequently the one who “fires” a particularly abusive customer…
Am I right to think companies have the right to refuse doing business with anyone as long as it is not due to race, sex, age, religion?
This is correct.
OK! I don’t consider buying and returning shoes, with a receipt, in perfect unworn condition, any abuse or taking advantage of…I was just trying to find a pair of shoes that fit, but apparently multiple returns in a short window of time must be a problem somehow. It’s just good to know that there is a limit to their returns even within their policy. I didn’t save the notice on my receipt, but it almost read like I wouldn’t be allowed to make returns at any other completely different stores!!! I was just so shocked by the whole thing, but now I know!
It isn’t, but there is probably some algorithm that flagged you. I bet if you called customer service and explained, they would understand and remove you from the bad guy list!
Someone close to me had a similar type incident where she received an email from Nordstrom Rack telling her that her return rate was too high. It gave her statistics over the past 5 years and said she returned X%. I don’t really recall the specifics and it didn’t give a specific threat but something vague like she needed to reduce her returns.
I am guilty of purchasing quite a bit from NR and returning a high percentage at the local store myself. Ever since she told me about the email, I’ve cut down even looking at the website. Pretty disappointing…I didn’t realize it was something a store even tracked or discouraged. My friend is actually a large purchaser and spends quite a bit at regular Nordstrom as well as at the Rack so we were both surprised. I really love my bargains so I buy much more at NR than Nordstrom. Right before my friend received the email, I’d gone to N for a specific type of bra and they didn’t have one that worked. I bought 5 from NR online, kept one and returned the other 4 not realizing that there was even anything wrong with what I was doing. I’m not sure I’ve bought anything there since and that was several months ago. It is helping me during my February spending freeze…
I read an article last year about Amazon doing the same thing to customers who they felt were abusing their liberal return policy. I don’t remember what exactly occurrd to flag the customers mentioned in the article but they were banned from shopping on Amazon. It made me paranoid about buying shoes and clothing from them since sizes vary so much. I had just returned a pair of knee high leather boots because they were way too wide for my calves and had two ankle length boots that were in the process of shipping. I ended up keeping one of those booties even though they didn’t fit exactly right. I think I was unconsciously influenced by the article and made the wrong decision because I was afraid of being banned from Amazon, LOL. 
I buy quite a bit from amazon and I was buying shoes from there that weren’t working out. I got that email also, why are you returning is there something going on? So I don’t buy shoes and clothes from there anymore, I found it super annoying because my rate of return from amazon is very low.
I haven’t bought anything from 6pm either or Zappos.
I would have been banned from Zappos while I was trying to find a great pair of walking sandals for our first trip to Europe a few years back.
Amazon does seem to ban people. But Zappos not unless people are committing fraud like wearing stuff and then returning. This is because ( I have heard ) that Amazon is willing to take returns as part of its great customer service policy but for Zappos it’s more than that. Zappos was built on the very concept of having lots of returns. Before Zappos people scoffed st the idea that anyone would buy shoes to be shipped to their homes without trying them on. “But that’s ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE because I have to try on LOTS of shoes to find even one pair that fits me!” And Zappos was like “ hold my beer”
I need three months for return. If less, it is tough around the xmas. I buy gifts early as they announce in October. By the time xmas rolls around and the giftee rejects it and I often a travel plan soon after. If not, the stores are way too crowded until January. I often don’t get around returning until mid January. At any other times, I usually return within the week.
I LOVE Zappos. I don’t think I’ll ever buy shoes from a brick and mortar store again.
If Zappos banned people for returns, I would’ve been banned long ago. Anytime I order shoes from them, I order multiple pairs with the expectation that all but one will be returned.
Amazon owns Zappos. The clock is ticking…
They first tried to buy Zappos in 2005 but were rebuffed. Then, they spent the next few years undercutting Zappos’ prices and the pressure was on. If Amazon hasn’t changed the return policies for Zappos yet, that doesn’t mean they won’t change it as soon as they want to.
I bought dozens of Zappos shoes for my mom to find the 3 pairs that fit her. If they banned me for that, I would never have been able to get her anyway hing that fit—she’s a 9 narrow, which local stores don’t stock! I returned them all promptly after getting mom to try on.
So far, I haven’t been banned but can see why stores may get tired of folks buying and returning. I’ve done that for S—bought 4 Macy’s coats online with free shipping and returned them all locally because none fit well. For my niece’s wedding, bought at least 6 Macy’s dresses online and kept 1, returning the other 5 at local store!
My SisIL would tell me she heard of folks banned from Costco for too many returns. I’ve never had that issue and buy a ton and return from time to time with no compunctions.
“I need three months for return. If less, it is tough around the xmas. I buy gifts early as they announce in October. By the time xmas rolls around and the giftee rejects it and I often a travel plan soon after. If not, the stores are way too crowded until January. I often don’t get around returning until mid January.”
I hope you don’t think this is fair to a retailer! Those goods are pretty worthless after 3 months.
Just to be clear, my Famous Footwear ban was temporary, less than six months. I forgot about it and did another return and it was fine (didn’t remember until I was in line with the return!) I guess for now I need to use Zappos if I am going to do this try-on-at-home way of buying shoes for my son.
S2 wears size 15 shoes. We have no choice but to order online – stores don’t carry those sizes any more.
I order up to 15 pair of shoes from Zappoes and keep none. I do keep any! that fit me. I love them. I also buy clothing from them often. Amazon is another story–, last year and the year before I clocked in to close to 200 purchases. Guessing I return one item in 10. If they ban me I will cry. I buy lots of my clothes on Amazon. It seems like a little known secret that they have great sweaters and shoes. I do a search and start with the “highest priced” to avoid looking at all of the $9.00 items. They use to undercut Zappoes but no longer. Amazon is playing a lot of different games and I no longer really trust them. They have confusing “Prime and free return” notices–this size and color yes and this one no.
Their returns went from simple to confusing. I have had two big battle with them and while I won both times I no longer trust them the way I do Zappoes.
Agreed, I am first and foremost a Zappos customer. Started years ago to get shoes for S1, size 14, because there was almost nothing local. Now, D2 is a zappos customer, size 11 AAA, but have to settle for AA with heel inserts.
Amazon has too many rule changes to their return policies, so if I think I might return something, I think very hard about the purchase.