I don&#x27;t know the the number of customers who abused the return policy, but I have a feeling a strict return policy it&#x27;s counter productive?<p>I don&#x27;t know if REI, or even Costco realized just how much crap we bought from them that was only bought, because in the back of, at least my mind; I thought I would use the item.  Of course, I never used the impulse purchase, but bought it.<p>Now--I only buy the essentials.  (By the way, all those high end watches at Costco are not covered by any manufacture&#x27;s warranty.  Costco has someone, somewhere that services the watches.  I bought a watch there, and found this out later.  I will return the watch if it ever fails--just on principle.  It&#x27;s still keeping perfect time a decade later.  Gotta love Omega Seamasters.  Actually, all high end watches are not bought, they are rented.  It breaks--you need to send it back to the factory.  They all stopped selling parts to 3rd party watch repairers.)<p>These stores must have done studies on consumer buying habits?  I&#x27;m just assuming they are making more profits with strict return policies?