The Shocking Truth of Holiday Returns - Where Your “Stuff” Really Ends Up!

The Eco-Consequences, Why We Overconsume and Deceptive Costs! If you’ve returned holiday gifts or things you bought but didn’t need or the pants you bought in multiple sizes that didn’t fit…you are part of what’s being called the “return tsunami” - which costs the planet about a trillion dollars annually. Really, no really! With free shipping and easy return policies, American’s are over-consuming and then sending stuff back in record numbers. But most buyers are completely unaware of what really happens to their returned items. When Jason and Peter discovered that many essentially ‘brand-new’ items end up in a pile so enormous that it can be seen from space…they had to find the expert who could break down the issues like a huge pile of Amazon boxes. Dr. Dale Rogers is a supply chain guru. He is the recipient of the Academic Giant Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame. He is currently the Director of the Frontier Economies Logistics Lab and the Director of the Internet Edge Supply Chain Lab at Arizona State University.  IN THIS EPISODE: If returns are resold…how is there a giant pile you can see from space? Residue, stains, & nasty scents: Who’s sniffing and smelling your returned clothing? Retail secrets that allow the retailers of the last century to dominate. The unseen salvage dealers that making a fortune from your returns. How did 39,000 tons of unsold clothing end up in Chile? The real story behind Expiration Dates. Post-COVID, are American supply chains still dependent on China? The non-political reason why inflation has gone down. Walmart’s attempt to diminish sensory overload for shoppers. Explained: Why a huge box contains your tiny item? Googleheim: The top 5 returns in history! FOLLOW DR. DALE ROGERS: X/Twitter: @CariscaProf   FOLLOW REALLY NO REALLY: www.reallynoreally.com Instagram YouTube TikTok Facebook Threads X (Twitter) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices