Free returns aren't free.

I love free returns. Large vendors, whether Amazon, Target, or some other massive retailer, have made it as easy as possible to return most items.

But there's a trap in the "free return" game. When returning things requires a series of steps — going online to set up the return, generating a QR code, packing the item, heading to the store, waiting in line, and finalizing the exchange — ask yourself: how much is your time worth? If you're returning a $10 item, is all that time and energy worth it?

My inner bargainer would advise batching returns: only tackle all the steps, particularly the drop-off, when you have enough items to make it worthwhile. Fair enough.

However, there are other pitfalls to watch out for. Take Amazon’s return process, for example. Here’s how it typically works:

• Go online to initialize the return flow.
• State your reason for the return.
• Select a store to drop off the item.
• Physically drop off your return.
• Receive an "advanced refund" for your return (pending the item's receipt).
• Confirm the refund once the return is processed.

Seems straightforward, right? But here’s where it gets nasty: Amazon often issues that "advanced refund" only to send a follow-up email saying they didn’t receive your item. You may have packed it, tracked it, and done everything correctly, but they claim it’s missing.

Now you’re stuck in a customer service loop. You’ll need to chat with a rep, verify your identity, explain the situation, and endure endless holds while they “look up your file.” The whole ordeal can take 30 minutes or more.

I can’t help but feel this process is a deliberate corporate tactic to wear people down, discouraging them from pursuing refunds that are rightfully theirs. Who wants to spend an hour fighting for a $10 return? For many, it’s not worth the hassle.

Even when Amazon issues an "advanced refund," the loop isn’t closed until you confirm the return’s completion. This requires constant vigilance. I don’t have the time or energy to track every return — and I know I’m not alone.

My frustration with these so-called "free returns" speaks to a larger issue: corporations impose bureaucratic structures that favor their interests, not ours. Consumers face a David-and-Goliath problem, where pursuing justice for minor financial losses isn’t feasible. Even class action lawsuits, while helpful in some cases, primarily benefit the lawyers — not the customers.

So while I love "free returns," they’re not free. They cost time, energy, and often require more effort than they’re worth. They’re also part of a broader strategy corporations use to take and keep money, even when they don’t hold up their end of the bargain.

Next time you’re preparing to return something, ask yourself: Is this really worth my time?