Shohei Ohtani wins his third MVP and first in the NL following a historic offensive season with the Los Angeles Dodgers
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) A uthor: Huseyn Abdulla , University of Tennessee In 2018, L.L. Bean ended its century-old “lifetime” return policy , limiting returns to one year after purchase and requiring receipts. The demise of this popular policy sparked backlash, with several customers filing lawsuits . It also inspired my team of operations management researchers to study how customers respond when retailers make their return policies more strict. Our key finding : Whether they often or rarely return products they’ve purchased, consumers object – unless those retailers explain why. I work with a group of researchers examining product return policies and how they affect consumers and retailers. As we explained in an article published in the Journal of Operations Management , we designed experiments to study whether and why return policy restrictions irk customers. We also wanted to understand what retailers can do to minimize backlash after making it harder for customers to return stuff. We conducted three experiments in which we presented scenarios to 1,500 U.S. consumers who played the role of loyal customers of a fictional retailer. We examined their reactions to the fictional retailer’s return policy restrictions, such as charging a 15% restocking fee and limiting open-ended return windows to 365, 180 and 30 days. Participants became less willing to buy anything from the fictional retailer after it restricted its long-standing lenient return policy. They also said they would become less willing to recommend the retailer to others. This occurred because the customers began to distrust the retailer and its ability to offer a high-quality service. The backlash was stronger when the restriction was more severe. Even those consumers who said they usually don’t return any products often reacted negatively. When the fictional retailer announced its new, harsher return policy using official communication channels and provided a rationale, there was less backlash. Consumers found the changes more justified if the retailer highlighted increased “ return abuse ,” in which customers return products they’ve already used, or the high cost of processing returns. You might presume that making it harder and more costly to return stuff could drive some shoppers away . Our research shows that the concern is valid and explains why. It also shows how communicating return policy changes directly with customers can help prevent or reduce backlash against retailers. Customers visit Macy’s department store on Nov. 29, 2024, in Chicago for holiday shopping. Kamil Krzaczynski/Getty Images Americans returned products worth an estimated US$890 billion to retailers in 2024. Processing a single item typically costs $21 to $46 . Most of this merchandise ends up in landfills . The rise of e-commerce and other technological changes have contributed to this trend. Another factor is the ease with which consumers may return stuff long after making a purchase and get a full refund. Many other retailers besides L.L. Bean have done away with their long-standing lenient return policies. Over the past decade, for example, Macy’s, a department store chain, and Kohl’s, a big-box clothing store chain, have shortened the time frames for returns. Macy’s restricted its open-ended return window to one year in 2016, further winnowed it to 180 days in 2017, then to 90 days in 2019. It then stopped accepting returns after 30 days in 2023. Kohl’s didn’t have any time limit on returns it would accept until 2019. Then it imposed a 180-day limit. Others, such as fast-fashion giants Zara and H&M, now charge their customers fees when they return merchandise . However, research shows that customers value no-questions-asked return policies and see them as a sign of high-quality service. And when these arrangements become the industry standard, customers can get angry if retailers fail to meet it. Interestingly, most retailers that restricted their policies didn’t tell customers directly. Instead, they quietly updated the new policies on websites, store displays and receipts. Although not drawing attention to bad news might appear prudent – as most customers wouldn’t notice the changes that way – dozens of threads on Reddit about these changes suggest that this isn’t always true. We focused on restrictions on refunds and how long after a purchase customers could return merchandise. Other restrictions, such as retailers making heavily discounted items ineligible for returns, could also be worth investigating. The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/retailers-that-make-it-harder-to-return-stuff-face-backlash-from-their-customers-245239 . More from PennLive Opinion Pursuing Liz Chaney is nothing more than seeking a Jan. 6 scapegoat | Column You can put away your cash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike; they have other ways to make you pay | PennLive Editorial Mandate, shmandate! Trump didn’t even win the majority of the popular vote | Opinion From new commercial Moon landers to asteroid investigations, expect a slate of exciting space missions in 2025is not here for the haters. The 70-year-old mother of fiercely defended her daughter's dazzling halftime performance at the game, addressing critics with a fiery Instagram post. Reposting a fan's comment that read, Tina and delivered a pointed message to trolls. Knowles wrote. She didn't stop there, with Beyoncé. Critics are frustrated fans: Tina Knowles To finish off the haters, the matriarch of the clan said, Houston halftime show, dubbed the lived up to its name . Dressed in a white-feathered gown, cowboy hat, and a striking red, white, and blue sash, . She performed hits like with Shaboozey and alongside Post Malone. In a touching moment, , Blue Ivy, for a mother-daughter duet of The Beyoncé Bowl In view of her daughter's success, Tina offered , suggesting the critics skip Beyoncé's next performance and instead. Drawing strength , Knowles quoted scripture, saying, and praised Beyoncé's The performance , and wasted no time, announcing that the 13-minute show is now streaming as . As for Tina Knowles? She's made it crystal clear: trolls may try, .
SOPHNET. and Luminox are set to kick off 2025 in style, as they’re joining forces for a duo of new takes on the latter’s 3001 model. The parties’ second collaboration after an inaugural effort in March 2022, these two new watches feature bezels that salute a familiar Rolex model — namely the GMT-Master . The 3001 was initially released in 1994, and developed in partnership with the US Navy SEALS, so durability and functionality are paramount to its design ethos. Each style offers a two-tone face, with one switching between black and green while the other swaps between brown and gold. Co-branding is kept to a minimum, with a small, abbreviated SOPHNET. hit on the face, and white markings stand out boldly on a black background. The case is made of a rugged material named Carbonox and sized at 43mm. Both watches offer up a durable black rubber strap. Luminox’s signature light technology ensures that each watch can retain its lume for up to a quarter century, and both also have a water resistance rating of up to 200 meters. A post shared by SOPH. CO.,LTD. (@soph_co_ltd) Each watch is limited to 300 units and is set to be released via the SOPHNET. online store come January 2. The price is set at a tax-included ¥73,700 JPY (approximately $466 USD).John McEntee emerged as a key player in shaping the Republican Party through his influence in the Trump White House, where he served as Director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. As the U.S. looks to a second Trump administration in 2025, McEntee is aptly positioned to make an even bigger impact on the conservative movement. Yet McEntee has found resonance beyond the West Wing on TikTok , an unexpected strategy for the 34-year-old, whose fellow Republicans have fought to ban the platform. But, as McEntee argues, social media is exactly where he, and other emerging voices in right-wing politics, should be. Social media influence shapes public sentiment and action – an adage clearly proven by Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris, thanks to an ingenious social media campaign executed by a scrappy team of young strategists. Through Tiktok, McEntee has a distinct vantage point on the growing Republican voter base, which the election showed is growing formidably as American culture tilts right. He has leveraged the ByteDance-owned app to build a disruptive cultural presence, attracting 3.3 million followers on the platform – and counting. On his @daterightstuff account, McEntee merges humor and political commentary in bite-sized meme jargon to create highly viral content. While the typical conservative might be averse to engaging in the world of TikTok, McEntee has unlocked a golden opportunity to share his vision for the conservative movement, while also receiving real-time feedback from the public. This position gives him unique insight and direct access to the people who will define the next half-century of American politics. With a background in political strategy and media, John McEntee understands the importance of engaging diverse audiences and harnessing the power of media to shift sentiment and drive policy wins. As a passionate advocate for an “America First” agenda, McEntee is committed to addressing pressing issues like immigration, trade, and foreign policy, all while fostering unity within the party. His forward-thinking approach has positioned him as a leader in right-wing politics, ready to guide the Republican party into a new era of conservatism . “We win a lot of elections but don’t actually follow through on the policy piece, and that’s because working in government is hard and bureaucracy is so entrenched,” McEntee said in a recent interview. “We are on a good course, but we need to actually have policy victories when we get in power.” The mood of the country is shifting and voting toward conservatism, McEntee said, attributing the shift to a variety of factors, including dissatisfaction with progressive government, backlash against decades of left-wing dominance in culture and academia, and the ensuing activist movements that exploded on college campuses in 2024. So how does he see Republicans capitalizing on these sentiments to notch more, bigger wins? “When you get a certain politician in a role in the executive branch, you say, ‘Oh, well, this congressman’s really good on this issue, so he should be the head of this agency.’ But when they get into the role, they’re actually not that effective because they don’t really know how to wield power,” McEntee said. “[Policy victories] come down to finding people that can be effective, not just as media surrogates, but as sources of influence and changes. But if the Republican Party can do that, we’ll have tremendous success.” McEntee identifies the immigration crisis, cultural backlash, and political polarization as key policy priorities, or political battlegrounds, for the conservative movement. This chaos, McEntee argues, is what prompted even moderate voters to elect Trump and modify their stance on border security and immigration reform. Then there’s “woke culture.” McEntee believes that progressive media agendas have alienated many Americans, he said, pointing out that excessive political correctness can push people toward conservative viewpoints, as they seek common sense amidst what they perceive as absurdity. “Look at what’s happening on college campuses,” he said. “People that might be a little left-leaning are being pushed to the right.” Such crises and cultural retaliations have led to greater engagement among voters, while simultaneously increasing political polarization. McEntee sees polarization as an opportunity for conservatives to articulate their values more clearly and connect with those who feel disillusioned by mainstream liberal narratives. “The increase in engagement in politics is helpful; when I was growing up, people just didn’t talk about politics this much, but it’s inescapable – which is good,” McEntee said “The more people talk, the more people learn. Then, the truth prevails.” The heart of McEntee’s vision includes three core objectives for the conservative movement during Trump’s second term. The three, which stem from the former President’s 2016 platform, are trade policy, immigration reform, and foreign policy. Advocating for protectionist measures that prioritize American industries and workers, McEntee emphasizes that trade should benefit the Americans, rather than serving global interests. “Republicans for a long time were hard liners on trade. They believed in protecting industry. They weren’t necessarily just free traders. And I think we created the most amazing middle class that’s ever existed through that policy and other policies,” McEntee said. He also calls for a comprehensive examination of both illegal and legal immigration policies, stressing that these should prioritize American citizens’ needs and welfare. Lastly, McEntee champions an “America First” approach, advocating for restraint in international interventions while focusing on protecting American interests abroad. “Republicans were very hawkish in the 2000s, and I think having more restraint actually is a Trumpian view that has been well received,” he said. McEntee’s optimism about recent accomplishments for the conservative party, particularly in media engagement, are a testament to Trump’s 2024 comeback. He notes that conservative voices have gained significant traction across various platforms—television, podcasts, and online news outlets—allowing for more robust discussions around conservative values. “Conservative media is as good as ever. We’re doing great. We have Fox, yes, but we also have the Daily Wire; we have conservative influencers – it’s on a good course,” McEntee said. This media presence not only amplifies conservative messages but also fosters community engagement around shared values . McEntee explains how podcasters and media spokespeople wield considerable influence, even surpassing that of elected officials, when shaping public opinion. Despite the media victories, McEntee is emphatic that cultural victories must translate into tangible policy outcomes – an insight that underscores the need for conservative leaders who not only understand policy but can effectively navigate the intricacies of government to implement change. This translation has come into view recently with Trump’s return to power. “Trump is in a league of his own when it comes to party influence,” McEntee states. “He serves as a rallying point for many Republicans.” This shared loyalty creates a sense of purpose within the party, even amid differing opinions on specific policies, McEntee adds. “Even if you don’t like him, or even if you don’t agree with this or that, we have this thing and this person that’s constantly being attacked, seen as the symbol for our team.” With Trump’s re-election, McEntee’s vision for the conservative movement gains new momentum. His approach, evidenced by his broad appeal among young audiences – long a challenge for the political establishment – symbolizes a new generation of conservatism; one that seeks to unite and engage existing Republicans as well as newcomers. As the political landscape continues to evolve, McEntee’s influence and strategies may play a significant role in shaping the future of the Republican Party and conservative politics in America.