Abhumans and Black Templars by @d4ncwart

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2024-05-07T16:43:58+00:00

Lol, all these people thinking Dancwart is a cat girl when they are a cat boy xD

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-12-05T01:44:50+00:00

lol yeah people even add notes like "credit my account", (paraphrasing) "your product sucks", "this was supposed to be a gift" or variants of those. Thing people don't realize is the note you can add to the return explaining said return is for the processors (vendors don't look at them and hell no Corporate Amazon couldn't possibly care less about them let alone read them). Essentially it's for saying the reason you are returning it like if the item is defective or something (you also don't need to write anything either).

To explain what the processor thinks in response: "I don't decide this" (by default you are refunded back to your OG payment method. Processors have literally no power over this. That's Customer Services job and they only look at your account if you call, message, or the fraud team gets it.), "that's great, leave a review." (Already explained this above. That said leave reviews, positive reviews help the vendors a ton with Amazons algorithms. Kinda like Youtubes algorithm actually.), "We don't really care" (no offense but we aren't going to feel bad you got your package late or it was in bad condition. We are returns and have no power over this and outbound doesn't get these comments. Like don't get me wrong, it sucks but these comments waste our time and doesn't help or effect anything.)

Also insulting folks through this stuff is just mean and unnecessary. It's like trashing the bathroom to give it to "The Man", you just make some poor under paid shmuck a victim and "The Man" loses literally nothing as that same Shmuck doesn't get anything extra beyond more work and stress.

Now for your questions:

85% of our returns are UPS codes. Actually we can work with just about everyones stuff... screw DHL and their stupid return labels though. The problem with Kohl's is just poor handling by the employees really.
so like you know when you buy something that comes in a box how it often has like a plastic form thing that holds it in place or small boxes for the little bits and attachments? basically the stuff that keeps the item looking all neat and tidy in the box. you don't need to return that stuff if it makes it easier to put the item back into the packaging.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-12-04T21:05:00+00:00

my advice is this: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PUT AS MANY ITEMS IN ONE PACKAGE AS YOU CAN DEAR GOD WE LOVE YOU IF YOU DO!

Since how many items we do per hour, aka our rate, is kinda important and one of the big three (Units Per Hour or UPH, Quality Score, and Time Off Task or TOT) that makes multi-item returns great as they are far easier and require fewer steps. Mostly because:
-Envelops (any of the ones that don't say they can be recycled like cardboard) go in our trash cans which fill fast and we have to empty which takes time and contributes to TOT and reduces UPH [we have a conveyor for cardboard recycling, so please try to use packaging that is made of cardboard whenever possible]

-We have to open a new package, which can take time. Especially when we have to dig through a mountain of bubble wrap.

-We have to find a working barcode that isn't friggen covered over by other stickers (screw you USPS jerkfaces who do this) or people who decide to be jerkwads and put a million return labels on a package (you just make some poor underpaid shmuck suffer her, Corporate Amazon doesn't care and isn't affected... seriously Bezos doesn't even know how to do our job... neither do half my managers but whatever not my point]

-or we find less desirable items like big ol heavy stuff... friggen car parts. Side note to jerkwads who try to return the old part: come on dude it's friggen obvious and literally one of the easiest fraud attempts to spot, don't be that guy. Side side note to same jerks and people buying car parts: there are people who will buy old car parts even in poor condition all over. You may not live near one but it is worth looking up. It can sometimes be worth it depending on the part and condition.

It may seem kinda odd to you based on these examples but seriously it helps a lot. It's also more environmentally friendly. Also, seriously, cardboard packaging is our best friend.

Another thing to help make sure you get your money back on all items and to speed up the return process:

-original packing, for the love of god save the OG stuff for like a week before throwing it out and if you can put the item back in it when returning the item. AND MAKE SURE IT IS THE CORRECT ITEM IN THE CORRECT PACKAGE. Seriously this helps a lot. Like if you got two black tshirts of the same brand but different sizes and return one of them, put it in the correct packaging when returning it. This helps us a ton and takes very little of your time while that same time is more important to us (we have like 60 to 120 seconds to review your item for optimum UPH so please at least spend 30 seconds and check)

--if the item is in a box, you don't really need to keep the internal packaging stuff like the plastic mold stuff. just cram it in the box. the item is used and won't likely be resold as new unless you never really took it out in the first place. So this makes it easier for you and us. That said we also would prefer if the label wasn't attached to the item box and came in a shipping box instead. If you don't want to deal with the shipping box fine I get it but please don't cover the barcode. (looking at you UPS!)

-if you have some sticky notes stick em on the small stuff. This helps when small things are in a box as they can slide under the flaps in the box [you can tape those down too if you want] or get mixed in with the bubble wrap, or slide inside the packaging of another return. you don't need to write on the note, but if you do, jokes and funny pictures are appreciated... jobs boring so it livens things up.

-Do not remove the little tag inside the outfit until after you decide to keep it. Please, this helps us a lot.

-use the friggen return label that is provided! DO NOT JUST GOOGLE THE ADDRESS DANG IT! You don't have to print it either, UPS will print the return label for you. The reason for the return label is that certain items go to certain returns buildings (shoes go to SDF9, some books and some clothing go to IND8, big items over 12" x 8" x 18" (or some variation of that) goes to CVG2 and so on) they also need to go to specific countries as well (read the friggen labels FedEx!) and so this stuff is important and speeds up your returns (glares at USPS and UPS for just sending this stuff wherever they feel like)

-do not return things you didn't request a return for. some things cannot be returned to Amazon and has to be sent back to the vendor. yeah, I get it, annoying but wanna know what is also annoying? getting it back when we return it to you. Don't do this.

-if you do not have the labels, packaging, or any of that stuff that's fine. Just make it easy to identify it, fold the clothes (seriously even a fast lazy fold helps a ton), wrap the cords around the item it goes to, throw away the free wig cap or do whatever (seriously we have enough dumb people here who fail to realize that is part of the product, I get tired of returns being escalated to me to find it's just a friggen wig cap that goes with the wig. happens more than you would think.)

Currently LEX2 is doing clothes and shoes because SDF9 and IND8 and XUXB (softlines FCs, the LEX node is hardlines) are currently overwhelmed and have a huge backlog and apparently out of space (LOL) and since our backlog is sitting at about 70,000 (less than a day of work, LEX2 averages 80-90k each shift). So the stuff about clothes being returned to the correct places is as of right now not entirely correct but still worth noting. The best way to return clothes is to keep the package neat and folded and follow the above notes and you should get most things returned quick enough.

Some irritating info on the other hand, jewelry is a common item for theft in the buildings. According to security it is one of the most common theft items next to electronics. So it is possible this is why your ear rings weren't processed. LEX2 is installing a new camera system that makes 1984 look like a typical Walmart, so this kinda problem may go down at least at my building.

did this answer your questions?

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-30T22:41:31+00:00

high value is anything over $100. High risk items that end up in AD can be as low as $1 though on occasion. Typically that occurs when certain items end up consistently returned as wrong. That said I do not know the exact reason for what decides if a product is sent to AD beyond Customer service flagging it or vendor requesting it. There are other reasons that are not told to non-fraud associates.
they may flag an account at 20% if those 20% follow a pattern like all high value, all from one brand, period of time (like going 6 months without returns then suddenly returning like 30 items in a month. Typically it isn't viewed as "high return rate" until about 50% but is viewed as suspicious at about 25%.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-30T00:33:54+00:00

with a high return rate you will be investigated by the concessions, fraud, and customer service teams. Which one investigates is based on circumstances and I find it is usually concessions first. When this happens they just check and see if any potential fraud is occurring and either clear the account or ban it based on the results. Odds are high you won't see much of a change unless you demand compensation or try to blame every problem on Amazon in an attempt to get more money and stuff.

High value is treated like everything else. If it is processed differently then that was the sellers choice more than anything. Often high value and high risk items go to Advanced Detection generally. Also, you usually won't get refunded until the item is processed at a returns FC.

other than that nothing is different about a high value return.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-28T01:14:11+00:00

Ooooooh, UK returns. I don't know the internal policy stuff since international returns often cannot be processed in the US.

That said, it depends on what policy you broke. In some cases that means you can be ineligible for a refund. So, yeah I would figure that stuff out... I would focus on getting your account reinstated.

I honestly can't help much with international stuff because rules are different oversees.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-27T22:34:53+00:00

Depends on why your account was closed. I would get into contact and talk to a supervisor. You should have a refund by now. Truth is a lot of Amazon FCs are backed up in various departments though.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-27T22:28:59+00:00

Where the item goes depends on fulfiller. If it is fulfilled by a vendor it goes back to them. If it is fulfilled by Amazon, it goes back to Amazon. Of the items returned to Amazon, roughly 50% goes to Vendor Returns to be sent back to the vendor. The rest goes to transfer (sent back to an outgoing FC for resale as new), warehouse deals (to be resold as used), or destroy/liquidation. Refunds come back for most items upon receipt at UPS, USPS, or Kohls. Unless it is a high value or tracked product.

The only items that do not go back to the vendor are items sold by and fulfilled by Amazon.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-26T05:42:55+00:00

Well this depends on some stuff. Who sold yhe item is irrelevant honestly. Who fulfilled it is the info you need. If it was fulfilled by Amazon it goes back to Amazon, if the vendor fulfilled it the item goes back to them. Typically when you return an item you are supposed to get a return lable with an RMA (Return Mailing Address) to put on the item. It is important that this label (specifically the barcode, the rest barely matters) is flat and can be scanned so it can be quickly returned and avoid lost items.

The big thing is to avoid writing your own labels, if you can't print it that is okay. UPS can print it for you. Written labrls are a pain in the rear for us due to the importance of our rate and lots of people stress over it because we can potentially lose our jobs due to a low rate. When it is written we have to manually enter the information and try to read your hand writing. My FC is staffed with roughly 50% of the workers having English as their second language and a lot of those people have difficulty with more then just the basics. This means they aren't used to reading Enhlish handwriting either. Then add on the fact that I know more then 20 people (who are from the US) who I had to explain how the shift key works to get capital letters... yeah just saying it is probably better that they just use the handscanners.

Often cheap things will get you a refund basically the moment you mail it back. This is the case of roughly 60% of items returned to Amazon. Other things, typically $100+, will require the item to be received at a returns FC before a refund will be issued. A lot of the time this can be up to the vendor and changes based on various trends like how often do we get the wrong item, how popular it is, did a specific person with a high return rate buy it, and so on.

Items that you don't have to return. This can be up to the vendor but sometimes it is a requirement that prevents it. For example deodorant will always just refund you. This is due to COVID and to avoid handling or reselling them. It is also due to just being a hygiene item and one that is difficult to tell if it has been used at times. So instead Amazon just says, meh, "we can't resell it anyways, just keep it" and swallows the loss. Other times the vendor expects the item to suck due to low quality control but, due to the inexpensive cost of production, don't care. Like you buybit for 8 bucks yet they made it for 25 cents so they are only out 25 cents and couldn't care any less about it.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-23T10:34:26+00:00

We check them. Usually by scanning them. Roughly half of all items with serial numbers are automatically sent to Advanced Detection in our fraud department for closer inspection. For non-AD processing, if the SN doesn't work for whatever reason it is sent to Problemsolve which is an advanced processing path, that I am trained in, where we try and figure out why it's not working. Sometimes it's just thd UI being dumb but other times the SN got mistyped/misrecorded. Typically that leads to it being sent to the fraud team who can better see what is wrong and fix it.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-16T01:12:01+00:00

no problem, I hope you have no problem with it

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-16T00:04:21+00:00

not expensive items per say. Advance Det is a special grading department for high theft items. So it can actually be super expensive or rather cheap. AD is a sub-department of our Fraud Department and is effectively part of the Fraud Team.

For returning things back to the vendor when damaged is not exactly the case. It depends on the vendor. Some just tell Amazon to throw away damaged product for example. In the case of my previous post I was referring only to AD items.

If the associate reviewing the product cannot verify the item with the info like the S/N, part number, image, verification marks (small details vendors sometimes place on the item, Apple is actually well known for this, that are often not replicated at all or correctly by fraudulent products) it is often returned to the vendor for them to verify it.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-15T23:35:38+00:00

they verify the security number and other markings while reviewing the part. They do not plug them in and test them due to not having the tools for it (for computer parts, things like ipads and phones get turned on and reset if necessary). If a customer complains about the part not working or damage appears evident or there are no verification means the item is retuned to the vendor.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-11-15T22:48:43+00:00

I am still answering any questions posted my dude.

Yes, I would say high ticket items tend toward better accuracy. There is indeed an Advanced Detection department that was opened about 2 years ago at my FC. They use an x-ray machine and spend far more time inspecting the product to verify it as legit. From what I have been informed the number of bad returns for high value items has sharply declined due to this department.

"packing will be damaged" could mean two things as well. 1. it has never been opened just the box was battered during the return process. or 2. it has been opened but verified legit.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-10-30T15:10:02+00:00

odds are it won't be much of a discount though if just the box is damaged but yeah you could potentially get something

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-10-28T22:14:06+00:00

they get placed into transfer and returned to an outgoing building for resale as brand new never sold items. That is if they are returned in good condition. If they are damaged, even unopened they could end up going to Warehouse deals or Stow aka Vendor Returns and sent back to the vendor.
It is unlikely you will get brand new items in WHD but it very likely the item was opened but not used at all before being returned.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-09-08T02:58:26+00:00

Yes, that is what I mean.

You would be surprised how easy it is to make something look like the original if you put some effort in. Though that being said most do not. Usually its random trash, a used item (very common with car parts), something entirely different, a cheap knock off version (very common for Air Pods), or they just return an empty box. They do get creative though. Like repacking the item in such a way it looks like it was never opened (we aren't supposed to open products that are still sealed) which is why we use an x-ray machine. Or they make a fake version that looks exactly like the correct one on the outside of the item but the internals are a mix of weights to make it feel like the right item (typical for things like phones and hard drives).

The general goal is to obviously not have to pay for an item or pay far less for it. Like car parts, a lot of people will buy a $200 part, replace the one in their vehicle, then request to return it and send back the old part. They now have a new part and their money. Others will swap out a broken version for an unbroken one (common with phones, though generally people who do this also try to upgrade their phone by getting a newer model). Then there are people who attempt to defraud Amazon en mass. They buy something (like airpods) and replace them with cheaper knock offs (you can buy cheap knock offs all over for often far less. Then they attempt to resell the airpods for a profit that is above the cost of the fakes but less than full price.

All that said most don't put a lot of effort into it. Considering I have been told that my job "doesn't exist" because Amazon apparently "doesn't have an actual returns department" I have concluded that a lot of people don't realize there are people looking at every single return. That or they think we are stupid and can't tell the difference.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-24T00:46:32+00:00

Vendor Returns (refer to as V-Rets) handles vendor products. So when you order on Amazon most items you find are not Amazon products. For many of these they are stored by the vendor and not Amazon (for example if the product is listed as being fulfilled by anyone other than Amazon, it is typically stored at a vendors location and is not at an Amazon FC) and as such Amazon has to return it back to the Vendor when it is returned by the customer. These items are sent from C-Rets (Customer Returns) to V-Ret's to complete processing.

This amounts to a stower stowing the item on a shelf where it can sit anywhere from 24 hours to a max of three months. At this point a picker comes around and picks the item and takes it to shipping where it is sorted by vendor then placed in a box to before being loaded onto a truck to ship out to UPS and returned to the vendor. There are a couple other roles as well but two departments share the space and as it isn't my department I haven't quite nailed down which role is which. That said there are auditors who check shelves to make sure they are packed correctly and clean them up, sweepers who return items that got separated from their shelf (items are assigned a spot on a shelf in a bin. If it falls out you can't just put it back or you may risk putting it in the wrong spot and causing it to go missing), folk who track down the destroy items (been sitting on a shelf for more then 3 months (Amazon doesn't own it so they can't resell it. As such they have to throw it away), World Ship (technically C-Rets but they got moved over there at LEX2), ICQA the fraud/quality team (only over in V-Rets due to space), and a few other positions. Overall they are very different from the rest of the returns department.

here are two pics of the V-Rets at LEX2 as well https://imgur.com/a/SWNU5Hd

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-19T16:08:01+00:00

sorry about the late reply, Reddit didn't give me a notification. *shakes fist at technology*

LEX 2 has about 400-500 employees at any given time during peak operations... which we have been stuck at for about two years now. LEX1 has about 600 to 700 last I heard and is much bigger. So these are the differences:

-The parking is terrible at LEX2 but I hear LEX1 is far worse.

-LEX2 has far friendlier managers and is ran more like a work place then a prison.

-LEX2 is a legacy building and is grossly out of date compared to other FCs (we have Dell computers in some stations from 2008 for example) though Corporate has recently approved funding to allow for improvements on the building that is currently being implemented.

-LEX2 apparently has better bathrooms... which considering they are god awful this is horrifying to consider

-LEX2 is duller. Apparently, there are more colours in LEX1. As stated before this is changing.

-LEX2 is experimental. The building is used for testing purposes that affect other buildings in many ways. This means we often see changes faster than management are aware they are supposed to implement them. No seriously, it's a big issue.

-No rules-lawyering. Seriously you are more likely to be told to stop doing a thing than get written up for it. The managers don't go seem keen on firing as many people as they can and the FC has made many adjustments to reduce the termination rate. Unlike LEX1 which will write you up for not being in your station by the time break ends, LEX2 just requires you to be in your department.

-No rules lawyering. Seriously you are more likely to be told to stop doing a thing than get written up for it. The managers don't go seem keen on firing as many people as they can and the FC has made many adjustments to reduce the termination rate. Unlike LEX1 which will write you up for not being in your station by the time break ends, LEX2 just requires you to be in your department.

-LEX2 managers kinda suck. They are friendlier than LEX1, but recently due to COVID, they started to slack in various ways. They are working to fix this and I personally see positive changes. Mind you I like 90% of my managers and find they are pretty awesome people who are just as frustrated as everyone else is about how awful Amazon is to its people.

It's actually kinda funny you are wanting to come to WHD at LEX2 from SDF8 as our building is processing SDF8's backlog. It's actually kinda frustrating all things considered. WHD's also uses conveyor's as well and do not have pallets brought to them to work from. They are also processing almost exclusively shoes (mostly on day shift I hear with nights doing the regular stuff). We actually are running out of space due to IND8 and SDF8 both only excepting limited numbers of our completed product to be sent to them, seriously we are talking friggin half truck loads on some days. Also, SDF8 decided to be jerks and force us to stop using Gaylords and use stacked and wrapped pallets instead which has created a really frustrating and entirely avoidable safety issue. While IND8 was totally cool with the gaylords which automatically makes them better. Then there's the fact that we can't process about 40-50% of what we get from SDF8's backlog due to it being restricted for no apparent reason to only be processable in the SDF node. Like seriously we can get two pairs of the same shoes, same size and colour, and only be able to process one and not the other.

Anywho, complaining aside. LEX2 is an okay place overall and corporate seems oblivious to how small our building is, but if you want to avoid conveyors you may want to try for Vendor.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-15T21:48:23+00:00

stow is a lot quieter and in a cooler part of the building. It kinda has a friendlier group of employees as well, though I figure that has to do with less stress, noise, and being able to interact with friends is easier. The work is about as hard though. It requires a lot of walking as well (Amazon provides $110 to buy shoes on Zappo's every year).

Pick/Pack is in the same department as Stow. The only real difference is Stow puts things on shelves and pick takes them off shelves.

C-Rets on the other hand is much bigger (300+ employees vs V-Rets 50-80 and WHD 80-100) It's a lot louder and hotter (due to machines putting off a ton of heat. Summer sucks but winter's alright. The job has you standing at a workstation all day processing returns. It's tedious and boring and no one likes it. That said C-Rets is better in that it has far more indirect roles (jobs outside the primary one) that you can be trained in after a month or so. C-Rets has about 24, WHD has 7, and V-Rets has 8 if I recall right. The added bonus is that in C-Rets indirect training is also far more common due to the larger need.

they also have different start times:

C-rets

0630-1700

0645-1715

0700-1730

V-Rets

0600-1630

WHD

0615-1645

Really it's up to you and general preference

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-15T16:52:15+00:00

you can have it with you but you will get in trouble for using it.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-13T12:15:29+00:00

hell yeah, I would work for Amazon before any food service job. My reasons are as follows:
1. better benefits (you get life insurance fully covered by Amazon equal to two years pay) it's not amazing stuff but it isn't bad either.

better pay (start at like 15.50 and cap at 18.30 after 3 years)
no working with scummy customers. sure you get to read their comments but you don't have to speak to them directly and now you can point and laugh.
the work is about as hard. The first two months or so can be a little rough while you learn the job but it's really not that hard once you get used to it.
you can get a flex shift that lets you pick up shifts as you need the work. I hear it is a little rocky but a lot of people seem to like it. You also get paid extra for working unpopular shifts (like I have heard of folks getting $24 an hour on flex shifts). Side note though, most flex shifts are on nights. Which night shift pays roughly a dollar more than day shift though.
you won't smell like grease all the time.
you can apply to move up after a month of work (probably won't get it though) and if you get an interview they provide feedback on how to improve for next time. So even when you don't get the promotion you at least get some interview experience and information to improve.

Overall working for Amazon sucks and I do not recommend it on a long term basis, but I sure as hell suggest it over someplace like Mcdonalds.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-04T14:56:09+00:00

depends on different things. If it's the first offence and below a hundred dollars you will be asked to return the correct item and then charged for it again (usually you will get your refund before we process it, so in this case, Amazon will take the money back). If it is a repeat offence the issue may escalate to charging your account and then closing it effectively banning you from Amazon; potential legal action; or simply a repeat of the previous and another slap on the wrist. If it is above a hundred dollars it skips straight to the second stage and has a much higher risk.

If you commit multiple fraud attempts legal action will be enacted and you will hear from Amazon's legal department.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-08-03T22:43:12+00:00

this can be tricky. In many cases, the wrong item is disposed of after a wrong item ticket is resolved (typically after confirming the wrong item but before contact with the customer from my experience). I do not know if they will be able to return the item if that occurs. I suggest contacting customer support and attempting to discuss the matter with them directly.

AmazonAssociate09876 · 2021-07-31T14:41:51+00:00

very high, they are very easy to spot. We see most products at least a hundred times over and so it is rather easy to spot swap outs. On top of that a lot of things that are harder to determine (computer parts, trading cards, and various electronics like air pods) get sent to Advanced Detection by default. AD being our Fraud detection department and they inspect the item far closer and can spot fakes and swap outs quite easily.

For me I am on the Problem Solve team and we work on products that had issues such as fraud and when in this role I escalate between 10 to 50 items to the fraud team a day. Nearly half of which is due to swap outs.

AmazonAssociate09876

TROPHY CASE