Understanding how our consumer behavior matters
Modern life certainly has its perks. We turn the faucet—clean hot water comes out. We flip a switch—let there be light! We need something—we find it online and have it shipped to our door.
Unfortunately, that last one can cause some trouble. Online shopping is undoubtedly convenient and helpful, but our planet pays a heavy price for our habit. The last decade has seen some cultural shifts, from the Amazonification of online shopping expectations, to the pandemic that further normalized online shopping for everything. Between the shipping emissions and the packaging waste, both plastic and paper based, the global cost of all that back-and-forth is steep. And that’s not even counting what happens when a product is returned and must be inspected, cleaned, repaired, and repackaged.
But there’s a dirty secret. Companies will lure shoppers in with promises of free and easy returns, but these days, it’s far more likely that the returned item will be sent straight to the landfill. This is especially true for clothing (have you seen the Great Fashion Garbage Patch in Chile’s Atacama Desert?). One estimate puts the emissions from US clothing returns alone as equivalent to 3 million cars per year. Meanwhile, other perfectly good product returns go straight to a warehouse, where they sit on a shelf until they are deliberately destroyed and then trashed.
Phew! What’s a modern shopper to do? Let’s get educated and explore some helpful tips.
The Special Case of Mattresses and Bedding
Product returns are a challenge in the bedding industry. First and foremost—and not that we ever would—federal law prohibits the sale of used mattresses and bedding. If we receive a return with any sign of use, from dog hair to dust to odors, we cannot resell it. We do our best to donate items to local charities.
Additionally, mattresses are often shipped via freight, so returning them is very difficult (and expensive!) to do. If you’re thinking of buying one of our mattresses online, but you’re unsure, please get in touch with us so we can help!
We totally understand that bedding items like mattresses and pillows are deeply personal and that every shopper has different needs. Most of our products are handmade to order, and are built to last for decades. We do our best to make sure our customers are happy, working with you to make sure you’ve got just the right item.
An Ounce of Prevention
You know what they say…and when it comes to online shopping, many returns can be prevented before you even hit the “Buy” button.
Buy Intentionally. Are you shopping for something you need, or are you just…shopping? Get in touch with your true values, and do the internal work to align your shopping habits with those. Most people find that they enjoy buying fewer things and even get into a more minimalist consumer lifestyle when they get a peek at the benefits. Plus, who doesn’t like saving money?!
Do Your Research. When you identify a product that would make life wonderful, be sure to check customer reviews, consumer reports, and online forums. This can go a long way toward helping you buy the right thing the first time.
Shop Small and Local. Your dollars go so much further when you do. Supporting sustainability- and ethically-minded small businesses is the best vote for keeping good people doing the good work. Plus, returns are easy when the store is in your town. Is it really worth saving a dollar by ordering it on Amazon when you can keep your local community thriving?
Gifting Economy
Share Wish Lists for Holidays and Birthdays. The Christmas holidays unleash a flood of returns. Check in with loved ones first about what’s truly needed and desired before sending anything to reduce the risk of returns. Or don’t give stuff at all—aim for experiences.
Regift! If something doesn’t work for you, it might be the perfect thing for someone you know.
Try Your Local Buy Nothing Group. Check Facebook for existing Buy Nothing groups in your community, where you can find enthusiastic homes for your unwanted items.
Resell, Recoup
Try Consignment or Second-hand Stores. We recommend supporting your local brick-and-mortar stores first to prevent more shipping, but there are several viable online options as well. This helps keep perfectly good items in circulation and out of landfills.
Resell. If you’re wanting to recoup as much of your original purchase price as possible and you feel comfortable with direct sales, then Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or eBay is a possibility. Again, local options keep shipping waste down.
We’re Doing Our Part
Here are some of the measures we take everyday:
Shipping. We do our best to package and ship plastic free, weather permitting. Check out our Zero Waste Ewe-nitiative!
Customer Education. Wool bedding requires a different touch than conventional bedding, so we share our expertise and do our best to ensure our customers make the right product choices upfront. We’re always happy to help!
Great Customer Service. When returns are necessary, we guide customers through that process and try to make it as simple as possible.
Thanks for stopping by! We hope your online purchases are always well-informed and well-loved. If you’re looking for more information about how to choose the best wool bedding for you and your family, check out these Counting Sheep blog posts:
- Trying Out Our Goods With a Sample Bedding Kit
- The Ultimate Wool Comforter Guide
- 6 Reasons to Choose a Wool Topper Over a Featherbed
- Finding Your Perfect Pillow
Until next time, check us out on Instagram and sweet dreams!