Am I overthinking this? (I doubt anyone is awake right now which is ok!)

[max2]

Is it ok to buy several projectors from Amazon or anywhere compare them then return the ones you don't like with the not needed anymore option ? (That way you pay for return shipping)

For some odd reason I have a feeling this will get you banned from Amazon or any other retailer. I am curious about other people's experiences ?

Is there a better way ?


P.S. don't get me wrong I am not trying to cheat. It is just difficult to see some things around here before buying them.

If you think selling them instead is a better way just say.

 

[juanm]

Yes, it works. But if you abuse it (ie do that repeatedly or with too many items at once), Amazon will eventually ban you

You’re better off doing more research and/or visiting a showroom.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Is it ok to buy several projectors from Amazon or anywhere compare them then return the ones you don't like with the not needed anymore option ? (That way you pay for return shipping)

For some odd reason I have a feeling this will get you banned from Amazon or any other retailer. I am curious about other people's experiences ?

Is there a better way ?


P.S. don't get me wrong I am not trying to cheat. It is just difficult to see some things around here before buying them.

If you think selling them instead is a better way just say.

You have the time, and bottomless energy to want to do such a thing?

Gosh.

 

[scubachap]

You have the time, and bottomless energy to want to do such a thing?

Gosh.

Oh, you'd be surprised by what people will do.

At least the OP is taking the trouble to canvas other peoples views on the etiquette of it. Which can't be a bad thing I guess.

I have a relative who used work in a specialist retailer. He now has a very, very low opinion of the general customer. One example he mentioned sticks with me ... they had one who phoned up and said he wanted to buy an expensive Motor Cycle helmet online and wanted the store to send him a selection to try on and choose from rather than come in to try the display ones. Apparently he was too busy to swing by. They said they couldn't really do that and the customer got quite annoyed that they wouldn't. The call ended and they didn't think much more about it until an hour or so later they had a flurry of separate online orders for 8 helmets all to the same address! Since the distance selling regulations(?) they get it all the time now.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

You have the time, and bottomless energy to want to do such a thing?

Gosh.

This reply sounds more than a bit dismissive.

 

[yaxomoxay]

Oh, you'd be surprised by what people will do.

I participated at a Black Friday only twice probably more than 10 years ago. I was lucky both times, as the refrigerator first and the washer broke just a few days before black Friday and the offers were good. Most people went for TV's or Wii's anyway so I virtually had no problem replacing my appliances for a very competitive price.
At any rate, the most surprising thing I saw in the sub-human mess and aggressiveness was this Asian lady that... bought a toaster. Yes, a regular toaster. She seemed very happy and peaceful about it.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

This reply sounds more than a bit dismissive.

Yes, it probably is.

I cannot conceive of why anyone would want to waste - or expend - time, money and energy in such an activity.

Oh, you'd be surprised by what people will do.

At least the OP is taking the trouble to canvas other peoples views on the etiquette of it. Which can't be a bad thing I guess.

I have a relative who used work in a specialist retailer. He now has a very, very low opinion of the general customer. One example he mentioned sticks with me ... they had one who phoned up and said he wanted to buy an expensive Motor Cycle helmet online and wanted the store to send him a selection to try on and choose from rather than come in to try the display ones. Apparently he was too busy to swing by. They said they couldn't really do that and the customer got quite annoyed that they wouldn't. The call ended and they didn't think much more about it until an hour or so later they had a flurry of separate online orders for 8 helmets all to the same address! Since the distance selling regulations(?) they get it all the time now.

Astonishing.

 

[AngerDanger]

Yes, it probably is.

I cannot conceive of why anyone would want to waste - or expend - time, money and energy in such an activity.

Perhaps the projector is a large expense and they want to be sure they're getting one that entirely meets their requirements.

People spend their time differently; some compare expensive products hoping to save money in the long run, and others spend so much time on a tech forum that they're one of the top posters, averaging a new comment ever 40 or so minutes for yeeeeeeears.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

Perhaps the projector is a large expense and they want to be sure they're getting one that entirely meets their requirements.

People spend their time differently; some compare expensive products hoping to save money in the long run, and others spend so much time on a tech forum that they're one of the top posters, averaging a new comment ever 40 or so minutes for yeeeeeeears.

Exactly. Though I may not understand it, I've learned it doesn't make sense to criticize how people spend their time or their money, as long as it isn't affecting anyone else negatively. Everyone has something different they are interested in or wish to spend money on. Very few people understand why I have 40+ USA soccer jerseys, half of them unworn, hanging on a rack in my unfinished basement. *Shrug* Me neither.

 

[Gregg2]

No, it's not ok to do what is proposed in the OP. This costs retailers and manufacturers money. This leads to higher prices for everyone. But, it's a fact of life that people do this. February is the month that the most televisions are returned. People "borrow" them to watch the Super Bowl, then send them back. They cannot be resold for the original price. Resellers buy them at a steep discount, then sell them for a profit. As I said, this hurts everyone. So, if you don't care about others, go ahead and do it. If you do care, then find out if you can go to a retail store and see a demonstration of various models. Really, isn't it the features that will distinguish one from another? Is your vision that good that you can tell a big difference in one that is not side-by-side with another one?

 

[keysofanxiety]

You have the time, and bottomless energy to want to do such a thing?

Gosh.

I pit beers against each other. I buy a couple of crates, lob the bottles in the freezer for a bit, then take them out and put them in the middle of a circle of chicken wings to resemble a colosseum.

As they bay for blood, I wait for the perspiration from the first beer to hit the table. That beer is the loser, so I crack it open and chug it on the spot. I then eat a chicken wing to symbolise the crowd cheering.

I then repeat this throughout the evening until all but 3 of our 20 champions remain. They’ll stay in the fridge for tomorrow’s fight.

Now let me guess, I’m full of “bottomless energy” as well?

 

[velocityg4]

Will they ban you for this one instance? Probably not, although so many items returned from one order may get you flagged for at least a warning. Such as this.

"Hello,

We’re writing to apologize for the number of issues you’ve experienced with your shipments. Your correspondences with us indicate you’ve required refunds on a majority of orders for a number of reasons.

Through the normal course of business, the occasional problem is inevitable. However, you seem to have had an unusually high rate of problems in your account history.

When unusual account activity such as this comes to our attention, we’ll evaluate each account on a case-by-case basis to determine if additional action is necessary, including closing the account. We’d prefer to work with you to avoid that inconvenience, as we do value your business.

Continued failure to comply with our policies may result in the removal of both your Amazon.com buying and selling privileges."

Which is a warning I came across looking up unusual return activity for Amazon. Although it is no guarantee. If you order ten $2,000 projectors and return nine. That may get you an instant ban.

@max2 Is there a better way ?

Read reviews. Customer reviews and professional reviews (good quality professional reviews which delve into measurements of color accuracy, contrast, &c. Not those which are not backed by thorough testing). Skip products with no reliable pro reviews. That way you can see how it compares in professional reviews and how it holds up in the real world. You'll get a good idea as to what is good and what is not. I can't think of a time where something did not meet my expectations. After doing my due diligence. Perhaps something else would have been slightly better. But you'll never know any better. All that matters is that it meets your requirements and delivers a good experience.

As far as no retailers having a demo unit. That's a good thing. I'd consider pro and user reviews better than any demo. TV's are often poorly calibrated in retailers, lighting is too bright for projectors, audio gets washed out in background noise or enhanced in specially designed sound rooms. Plus you have no idea about reliability.

 

[tobefirst ⚽️]

I pit beers against each other. I buy a couple of crates, lob the bottles in the freezer for a bit, then take them out and put them in the middle of a circle of chicken wings to resemble a colosseum.

As they bay for blood, I wait for the perspiration from the first beer to hit the table. That beer is the loser, so I crack it open and chug it on the spot. I then eat a chicken wing to symbolise the crowd cheering.

I then repeat this throughout the evening until all but 3 of our 20 champions remain. They’ll stay in the fridge for tomorrow’s fight.

Now let me guess, I’m full of “bottomless energy” as well?

I don't drink, but this sounds AMAZING!

 

[keysofanxiety]

I don't drink, but this sounds AMAZING!

I feel like a tyrannical despot when I belch words and the bottles quiver in fear as I loom over them. Or a wrathful God-of-old.

Depends on how thirsty I am.

 

[arkitect]

I pit beers against each other. I buy a couple of crates, lob the bottles in the freezer for a bit, then take them out and put them in the middle of a circle of chicken wings to resemble a colosseum.

As they bay for blood, I wait for the perspiration from the first beer to hit the table. That beer is the loser, so I crack it open and chug it on the spot. I then eat a chicken wing to symbolise the crowd cheering.

I then repeat this throughout the evening until all but 3 of our 20 champions remain. They’ll stay in the fridge for tomorrow’s fight.

Now let me guess, I’m full of “bottomless energy” as well?

That is quite a picture you have painted.

“Iugula! Iugula!” or should that be "Glug! Glug! Glug!"?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I pit beers against each other. I buy a couple of crates, lob the bottles in the freezer for a bit, then take them out and put them in the middle of a circle of chicken wings to resemble a colosseum.

As they bay for blood, I wait for the perspiration from the first beer to hit the table. That beer is the loser, so I crack it open and chug it on the spot. I then eat a chicken wing to symbolise the crowd cheering.

I then repeat this throughout the evening until all but 3 of our 20 champions remain. They’ll stay in the fridge for tomorrow’s fight.

Now let me guess, I’m full of “bottomless energy” as well?

An invalid comparison, to my mind.

In essence, you do not seek to return the beers to the vendor if you find you don't like them, or prefer the price of quality of another product.

Now, as should be clear from the beer and wine thread, I buy beers, as well, compare and contrast and taste them, (and drink them); I do not waste the time and good will of vendors by seeing to return them, even if I don't like them.

In any case, the OP started a thread by using a question whether what he was doing "is okay"?

To my mind, it isn't.

Not by a long shot, and not only because he is time wasting (yes, his time is his own to waste, - as is your time yours to waste, or do with as you wish, but he did seek opinions on whether what he is doing "is okay").

More to the point, I agree entirely with @Gregg2, quoted below:

No, it's not ok to do what is proposed in the OP. This costs retailers and manufacturers money. This leads to higher prices for everyone. But, it's a fact of life that people do this. February is the month that the most televisions are returned. People "borrow" them to watch the Super Bowl, then send them back. They cannot be resold for the original price. Resellers buy them at a steep discount, then sell them for a profit. As I said, this hurts everyone. So, if you don't care about others, go ahead and do it. If you do care, then find out if you can go to a retail store and see a demonstration of various models. Really, isn't it the features that will distinguish one from another? Is your vision that good that you can tell a big difference in one that is not side-by-side with another one?

Well said.
[doublepost=1553722237][/doublepost]

I feel like a tyrannical despot when I belch words and the bottles quiver in fear as I loom over them. Or a wrathful God-of-old.

Depends on how thirsty I am.

I seek to win my beers over, as they seek to win me.

None of this wrath-of-god stuff.

 

[keysofanxiety]

An invalid comparison, to my mind.

In essence, you do not seek to return the beers to the vendor if you find you don't like them, or prefer the price of quality of another product.

Now, as should be clear from the beer and wine thread, I buy beers, as well, compare and contrast and taste them, (and drink them); I do not waste the time and good will of vendors by seeing to rerun them, even if I don't like them.

In any case, the OP started a thread by using a question whether what he was doing "is okay"?

To my mind, it isn't.

Not by a long shot, and not only because he is time wasting (yes, his time is his own to waste, - as is your time yours to waste, or do with as you wish, but he did seek opinions on whether what he is doing "is okay").

More to the point, I agree entirely with @Gregg2, quoted below:



Well said.
[doublepost=1553722237][/doublepost]

I seek to win my beers over, as they seek to win me.

None of this wrath-of-god stuff.

Oh boy that was a wretched read. I’m gonna need another beer.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh boy that was a wretched read. I’m gonna need another beer.

It seems to me that you may be something of a glutton for punishment.

But do enjoy (rather than threaten) your beer.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I thought you were supposed to take beer or wine you didn’t like to a party or dinner party?

I wonder if that’s why I never get invited out anymore?

 

[decafjava]

I thought you were supposed to take beer or wine you didn’t like to a party or dinner party?

I wonder if that’s why I never get invited out anymore?

Well I've stopped inviting you.

Well I never started but I guess I'll keep doing that.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well I've stopped inviting you.

Well I never started but I guess I'll keep doing that.

It’s okay. I’m not very sociable (just check my post count!).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It’s okay. I’m not very sociable (just check my post count!).

I know exactly what you mean.

Even if our lives were brimful of the oxygen of extraversion, I think you'd find us still huddled in the introverts' corner.