Purchasing from Amazon.com

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Unregistered

Guest

• Oct 12, 2010

• #1

It is just me, or is anyone else a little disturbed that you can return car seats within 365 days from amazon.com? I love their prices, but am a little leery to buy a seat from them in fear that it could very well be a "returned" item. Any thoughts? Good/bad experiences?

 

CarSeatPoncho

New member

• Oct 12, 2010

• #2

Hmmmmm.... I actually never thought of that. That would not be good, nope, I would not like that at all.

Maybe they returned the "returns" to the manufacturer, who inspects it and repackages it? And orange oompa loompas spill chocolate down an indoor waterfall?

 

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Athena

Well-known member

• Oct 12, 2010

• #3

I think about these things too. Diapers.com has the same policy and many retailers accept returns for 90 days. And what about if your seat has been sitting around the store or warehouse for a year, lots of things could have happened to it, although in those cases one hopes it will show by the condition of the box. When I received a seat in a box that was so bashed up it was literally held together by tape, I refused it because it was my feeling that it had been in the equivalent of a collision and I was not comfortable using that seat. Fortunately, the delivery driver was very nice and understanding about it. The only time I've bought a seat from Amazon, it was manufactured the same month I received it, so I figured it was fairly unlikely to be a return. But I got really lucky with that.

 

msg221

Well-known member

• Oct 12, 2010

• #4

Well, according to Amazon's website, the return policy on baby items states:

"Eligible baby items fulfilled by Amazon are easily returned to Amazon.com within 365 days of delivery via our online Returns Center. Returns should be in new and unopened condition.You won't be charged return shipping costs for your return."

If they hold to this, then you couldn't use a car seat and return it a year later. Which I guess is good and bad, since you couldn't buy a seat from them to try in your vehicle just to see if it fits.

 

scariestone

New member

• Oct 14, 2010

• #5

Both seats I've bought from amazon were very new as they go through stock like crazy. I'm doubtful they sell the returned seats themselves as regular items that get returned they sell in their online "warehouse deals". They don't just reseal them and sell them. Especially with a safety item, I don't think they'd risk it.

 

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poohbear

New member

• Oct 15, 2010

• #6

They are doing this to compete with diapers.com. Everything must be in new, unused condition to return it or they won't accept the return. You can take it out of the box and try it in your car, I'm sure, but obviously they can tell if it's been used. (Think about it like ordering a pair of shoes from a site that has 365 day returns)
The biggest risk they face with carseats is losing a year on their DOM, and honestly, I don't think they much care about that (and sadly, most consumers don't know or realize about DOM).

FWIW - I have ordered car seats and strollers from diapers.com and I order lots from both amazon and diapers.com. I have returned items to diapers.com (never a car seat though) and I think the longest I've ever taken to return anything is maybe 2 months. I can't imagine many people wait a year to return anything. It's just part of their customer service pledge

 

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Neatfreak

New member

• Oct 15, 2010

• #7

I had no idea they even had that policy! I actually ordered DD1's GN from Amazon, and didn't think that I had any reason to worry about it as it was a brand new version ...

 

Admin

Admin - Webmaster

• Oct 15, 2010

• #8

Amazon has a "Refurbished & Used Electronics" and "Warehouse Deals" area for returned merchandise. They are pretty clearly indicated as such, along with the condition of the item and a reduced price. I've never noticed this for a carseat, but it is a possibility. I used to sometimes see these refurbished items in the "More Buying Choices" area, but I haven't noticed that lately so maybe they are separated now. I would highly doubt they would resell any opened return item as new. I suppose if someone was really clever and repackaged it perfectly maybe it could slip through, though you run the risk of that anywhere you buy anything.

 

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Eresh

New member

• Oct 18, 2010

• #9

I bought a Blvd 65 TSIP in Aug on clearance from Amazon. It was new/unopened but the DOM was 3/23/10 so I "lost" 5 months.

 

SafeDad

CPSDarren - Admin

Staff member

• Oct 18, 2010

• #10

Of course, that may have been related to why it was on clearance;-)

 

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Athena

Well-known member

• Oct 18, 2010

• #11

Eresh said:

I bought a Blvd 65 TSIP in Aug on clearance from Amazon. It was new/unopened but the DOM was 3/23/10 so I "lost" 5 months.

Click to expand...

I don't think that's an unusual amount of time between DOM and purchase. My seats have ranged between that month and almost a year later and that's when they were not on clearance or close out.

 

jsmom

New member

• Oct 18, 2010

• #12

They sell some of the car seats that are returned in bulk lots I believe. There is a company on Ebay that had some seats listed and I asked about one of them and how they got it since it was open box. It was an Amazon return, so the seats are being resold just not on Amazon itself.

 

momtoo3

Well-known member

• Oct 20, 2010

• #13

I had to return a booster car seat to diapers.com. It had to be in new condition with the tags still attached. It also had to be in the original box. They said the seats are checked inch by inch to make sure they have not been used or they will send it back to you. Their customer service was great. I just tried my son in the seat, he didn't fit properly and called them. They explained the return process and I had my credit 5 days later. They will not accept a return on a used seat.