Posted on 06/07/24
One of the hardest and scariest things to do is to purchase something from the Final Sale section. Why? Simple. Because there are no returns on Final Sale items!
Although most of us probably don’t fall under the criteria to be labeled as a “serial returner” – which is considered to be the lesser-known flip side to compulsive shopping – we can all agree that returning (or at least the option for it) items has become part and parcel of the shopping experience.
As ironic as it may be, the first remark regarding a prospective purchase is generally not, “Oh wow, I really like this item!” Rather, the first remark is usually, “What is the return policy?”
Most retail stores allow you to return things you buy within a reasonable time for a full refund, credit, or an exchange. According to Forbes, a recent RetailWire article shared stats and findings about returns. The numbers are surprisingly large – in a bad way – and retailers are having a hard time ignoring them.
According to the National Retail Federation, 2022’s online returns accounted for approximately $212 billion, which is 16.5% of all online sales. If you do the math, that is one sixth of all purchases, indeed a huge number that may be hard for some retailers to swallow.
Of course, practically speaking, I get it, you need to know if the purchased item can be sent back if the item does not suit your needs or does not fit, or whatever. I totally get that, and I respect that. However, there is a prevalent fad to buy and return, buy and return, buy and return. It has become a little out of hand. People are less committed to their purchases because they know they can (and likely will) return the item.
HaRav Zalman Sorotzkin zt”l, in his Sefer Oznayim L’Torah, explains the juxtaposition between the end of last week’s Parshah – which discusses Temurah (laws of exchanges and substitutions of korbanos) – and the beginning of this week’s Parshah – which discusses the counting of the Jewish people. The Torah is teaching us that the Jewish people are governed by a “No Return Policy” and a “No Exchange Policy.” We are the nation of Hashem, and we belong to Him, no matter what.
When we are acting “bad” and another nation is acting “good,” Hashem does not perform Temurah. The juxtaposition of Hilchos Temurah (end of Bechukosai) and the account of the Jewish people (beginning of Bamidbar) shows us that Hashem will never exchange us, His children, for another nation. Hashem chose us as the עם הנבחר, and for the rest of history, that remains the case.
No returns. No refunds. No exchanges.
Just a strong commitment and lifelong connection.
Have a holy Shabbos!