‘Lady wanted to charge me $20 for a box’: Broke college student shows a condescending courier how far they're willing to go for a free Amazon return, maliciously complying with their boxing policy to save $20

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Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Mar 17, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

To a broke college student, $20 goes a long way—and this clever student wasn't about to let their cash go to waste without a fight. 

Amazon returns used to be super simple. You could drop them off at a nearby affiliated store, get your money back, and be on your way. However, in recent times, it seems the affiliate stores are no longer complying with the extra work for no pay. Fairly enough, they're fighting back, except their fight for more cashflow is getting taken out on the customers. Lo and behold, instead of going after the mega corp for their piece of the pie, they're taking out their frustrations on the little guy, charging for packaging materials and requiring customers to do more work. But that's not the case with every package, as the college kid in this next story pointed out to their cashier. 

And after dealing with the attitude of a lazy courier, she decided to give them a lot more work by maliciously complying to their demands. You want it boxed? You'll get it boxed. 

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  • "UPS Refused to take return"

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    via Brothers91

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • TL;DR UPS lady wouldn't take an Amazon return w/out a box and wanted to charge me $20 for a box, even though I was told multiple times that it was supposed to be packed and shipped for free, so I complied and boxed the package up.
    via pynkhoneyy
  • Okay so I ordered a faulty walking treadmill from amazon that had a broken 3 prong plug. When I contacted Amazon they told me I was past the return window and that I had to contact the manufacturer,
    via pynkhoneyy
  • I had to contact the manufacturer, mind you I was only two days past the return window and I kindly asked to speak to a supervisor to see if a one time exception could be made as I am Prime customer and doesn't Amazon pride itself on
    via pynkhoneyy
  • customer service so after Amazon refused to return the item, I contacted the manufacturer. They also gave me the runaround and did not want to replace it either. So I contacted Amazon again and I
    via pynkhoneyy
  • explained the situation to them and now magically I am offered a "one time exception" and they appreciate my business so much and they are soooo thankful for me being a prime customer. Now Amazon told me to
    via pynkhoneyy
  • take it to any UPS store and they would package and return it for me for free. This was also confirmed via telephone with UPS. Now for those wondering, I opened this package in February soon after I opened it and
    via pynkhoneyy
  • as I just moved I threw away all of the boxes and everything after cleaning up. I get to the UPS store and I lug this 50 pound contraption to the front desk and hand them my return label. The lady immediately
    via pynkhoneyy
  • looks at me and tells me I need a box, I politely explain to her that I was informed by both Amazon and UPS that the return packaging is free. The woman then tells me at least 5 times that no it is not and that I will need a box. I am a college
    via pynkhoneyy
  • student who has 31 cents to my name. She tells me the box is $20. I just spent my last $30 on medication so I do not have $20 and I was told by multiple people that this was free of charge. She then rudely and loudly tells me I need a
    via pynkhoneyy
  • box and thats the policy embarrassing me in front of multiple customers Okay. Fine. A UPS driver tells me he will borrow some tape from the store and a box cutter and will help me tape up
    via pynkhoneyy
  • some boxes to return it. Now he goes back into the store and asks for tape to help me and the lady at the counter tells him no. Surprise, Surprise! I go outside to the dumpster and proceed to tape up multiple boxes
    via pynkhoneyy
  • with the help of the kind UPS driver and get some painters tape from a nearby little caesar's and somehow get it into a box . Now they will have to repackage and re tape the box. The UPS driver thought it was hilarious. Picture of box
    via pynkhoneyy
  • สากing 05 30034 Tapa Larie Caesar 2-15 LB SHREDDE CHEESE BLEND Lit A EN urs 515231 9922-200405128 2-15 LBS CHEESE BL
    via pynkhoneyy
  • CoderJoe1 If someone challenged you to pick the worst type of tape to ship something heavy, I'd say that challenge was well met.
    via CoderJoe1
  • Wild Butterscotch... Great MC. What a nice UPS driver. In my experience they're either really kind or complete
    via Wild_Butterscotch
  • Meancvar We had a couple of unofficial UPS stores in Chicago, no joke, I guess the owner stopped paying franchise fees but still they were able to ship stuff, just no supplies.
    via Meancvar
  • pakrat1967 All The UPS Stores are franchises and not under direct control of UPS. When the UPS rep on the phone told you that packaging was free. They lied cuz they have no way to ensure compliance.
    via pakrat1967
  • ThinkBlueberry515 Sorry, I just choked on my Timmy's coffee looking at your box attempt. That's how I wrap, the blind leading the blind. No offense to people with vision deficits.
    via ThinkBlueberry515

  • Ordering things online is my guilty pleasure. I know it's bad for the environment and it's funding an insatiable corporate machine built on greed and shortened bathroom breaks, but I can't help it. It's just so convenient to have things shipped right to your door! Although, I think a lot of these online e-sales companies rely on the fact that people will simply keep an item if it's too inconvenient to return, thus doubling their sales performance. But they don't take into account the tenacity of broke college students, willing to fight tooth and nail for that simple refund.

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customer service amazon returns relatable memes malicious compliance customers reddit thread Reddit return funny errands
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