does it bother you to purchase something that was already returned?

You can say "amazon" here. No reason not to. I've only gotten items from amazon that I could tell were used on rare occasion, and no, it doesn't bother me if the item is really Like New. Many people try something once and return it because it just isn't for them--maybe they misunderstood the item description--or they couldn't figure out how to get it to work (RTFM), but I can. Of course I don't want to receive an item somebody returned because it truly doesn't work. I think that's only happened once to me with amazon.

At least in 2019, amazon would usually not restock (and then reship as new) returned inexpensive items. Who knows what counts as "inexpensive." Under $10, sure, but maybe $25 or higher. It's just not worth it to them, because it takes too much time to get the returned item back into inventory, and the risk of a re-return is high. They usually resell these by the mystery-pallet-load as is, final sale, to people who understand they're buying returned items that could be a great deal or may not: https://www.reveelgroup.com/what-happens-after-consumers-ret...

Keep in mind though, that it may be a totally different game with items shipped by third-party sellers on amazon. Those should always be identified as such on the amazon website to buyers who are paying attention, and the experiences in ordering those are not always but are more likely to be very disappointing, so study the third-party seller reviews (different from the item reviews--the item may have been shipped by somebody else) very carefully before ordering.

from the store with the bullseye logo. Opened it up at the house and it had caked-on pasta dough in it. Was miffed to say the least but at least i got an exchange after driving back to the store.

Amazon sells the same product from many vendors, and the ordering system handles the sale. So let's say I give Amazon 100 pair of Jockey brand men’s underwear, style XYZ 36 inch waist to sell for me. Amazon also buys direct from Jockey 100 copies of the exact same product for sell under the conditions “filled and shipped by Amazon”. All the underwear I supplied as a vendor are placed in the same stock bin where Jockey’s are kept and a computer handles who made the purchase and a robot (most likely) draws the product from the bin. That robot doesn’t know which packages in the bin are sourced from me or from Jockey. But in this example, you have 50/50 chance of getting something from me or Jockey. Those from Jockey are likely new in sealed packages. From me, they could be overstock items, returns, etc.

Amazon regards the products as “fungible”, meaning that Jockey underwear style XYZ 36 inch waist is the same regardless of who is selling it. Further, if a warehouse in Brooklyn runs out of stock of the Jockey brand XYZ 36 inch waist, the order may be filled from a warehouse in Harrisburg PA regardless of where the products in any given bin come from.

In the end the computer that handles the order figures out who gets credit for the sale and an appropriate transfer of funds is made.

I sometimes buy the Amazon Warehouse offering. It seems likely most of these are returns which incoming acceptance set aside as NOT good enough to just ship out again "as if new", and expensive enough to warrant the effort of a separate listing.

Their own ad mentions, "pre-owned, used, and open box items". In my experience, the offering listing usually makes some representation of the condition of the item. I've not found that representation terribly accurate. But the savings are enough that I've tried it several times.

I've also gotten flat the wrong item from that source once (a different model of soap dispenser than the one listed and pictured). Also, I got a weather instrument shelter that was missing a quite crucial part not readily sourced in an ordinary hardware store.

Stepping back to the general view, I shop a lot at Amazon, and am generally quite pleased with the condition in which things arrive. The packing is pretty slapdash at times, and I've much more often seen a somewhat marred package I think happened in transit than one sold as new I thought got the damage from a previous buyer.

Bought a GPS from the club of Sam’s a number of years ago. Took it out of the box and turned it on. It had two locations plugged into it. One was labeled “Me” and the other was labeled “You.” Both locations were within a few miles of my home. I kept it, but always wondered about whether I should have taken it back and demanded a new one, but it worked okay and I never had any problems with it till I replaced it with a newer one a few years later.

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it’s the dog’s fault

I routinely buy from Amazon Warehouse and or used/returned items when the price is right and for items that it should not make a difference. So in that respect I am ok with used/returned. If I am paying full price I expect it to be new and unopened, especially electronics or items that come with a seal on the box. Even on the used items from Amazon if the description does not match the merchandise I contact their support to either return it to negotiate a discount. I got a piece of furniture and it was missing a few screws, had to buy them at the hardware store for under a buck. I asked to be reimbursed for my time and the cost, I would have accepted $5 credit, they offered $20...

I agree and do the same.

I'm not talking about Amazon warehouse etc. I'm talking about brand new.

OK, so why don't I be more specific?

I bought $120 worth of furnace filters, the factory label says these are sold in a set, do not separate.

the end was torn off, and it was like an end of a box packaging taped back on. The end was in two pieces but the fact that the label was crooked was a clue. My guess? They tore this open to sell individually as it's like 4 for $120 and 1 for $40. Probably they were able to take a return, and make it 4 again, then ship it out.

Got 3 SharkBite slip shut off valves. These come in plastic bags where it's like a ziploc that can be resealed, but the top has to be torn off or cut off to use that. So instead? The bottoms were slit off. Now these parts come with an orange adapter tool and a theft control tag. Those were missing indicating these have been opened and put back. One part had no factory bag at all and was put in bubble wrap.

Even as a shareholder I don't approve of the above. If it were a "warehouse deal" then maybe. But the SharkBite is one time use, if someone slipped it on, and off? The oring is compromised. my .02

you could say hey buddy you owned the stock since 1998 what are you worried for on $60? Well, good point lol as you can imagine I did not keep all the shares I bought in 1998, my mom said don't be greedy. Bad advice. What did I know I was a kid.

In the last few years, amazon has become the new online junk yard to ebay. You really don't know what you're getting until it's in hand.

All that crap from china and elsewhere peddled with fake reviews. They need that generous return policy given the junk they sell.

It was mentioned earlier, but product comingling really is a problem. If I'm paying more for an item sold by amazon (not FBA - fulfilled by amazon), then I expect to get amazon's product, not some third party's version. This is especially annoying with (expensive) electronics. Issues arise with serial numbers, registration and warranty.

My most recent amz order was for garden hose quick release couplers - B07FMTZ25Y . Can't imagine that getting screwed up.

If I want used, I'll aim to buy used. Even lightly. I want to be the first to peel off all the protective films.

If the item is new I expect a sealed box with all items sealed, new and unopened. If it is used,refurbished or open it should be discounted and clearly stated.

My first GPS device was something that stuck to the windshield. I was staying in New Jersey at the time and I didn't bother to remove it when I wasn't in the car. That arrangement was short lived ending with my window being busted out. I decided to upgrade to an in-dash stereo Nav. I was invested my Discover Card rebate credits into a Kenwood-Garmin DNX8120 from Crutchfield. To save a little money, I chose the open box discount of a few hundred dollars. As an electrical engineer, I chose to install it myself and discovered the GPS didn't work. I called them up and they agreed to replace it with a new one. It worked great for 5 years and I could have had it fixed but instead I chose to upgrade to DNX997XR.

is a really good way to put it. Two words that you used. Online junkyard, and comingling. Well that's three words but I think it hit the nail on the head.

When I was a waiter at 20 y.o., we would set the creamers out, and whatever wasn't used, back in it went. Now this wasn't Upton Sinclair The Jungle, but chefs did smoke while cooking back then. So our coffee creamers went out, in, out, in, out, in, until customers shreiked, "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwww!" They had curdled half and half in their coffee. Yeah, back then, a device existed where maybe 5 or 6 Heinz bottles could be turned upside down, and all the ketchup ran back into one waiting bottle underneath. Maybe this is amazon now!