Many happier, easier returns for shoppers
I felt guilty returning a pair of black pants to Amazon. They will probably be dumped, shredded or both.
There’s a name for this: “DIF” or “destroy in field.” Defective gadgets, luxury goods and cheap clothing are all candidates for the shredder. An Amazon spokesman told The New Yorker that nothing goes back on sale after the seal is broken or the wrap is torn.
Returning stuff is part of a growing trend. A century ago, only 2% of stuff was returned to J.C. Penney’s department stores. Today, 40% of clothing on average goes back to U.S. retailers.
Returns are about to get even easier no matter where you do your shopping. A company called Pollen Returns, run by Spencer Kieboom, a former majorleague baseball player, aims to make the process effortless. His company allows small businesses to offer more generous return policies by connecting retailers with FedEx, UPS, Uber and Lyft drivers, so they don’t have to schlep things back to the warehouse themselves.
Besides returning stuff, Pollen reports on the condition of each return. This prevents surprises, like a wad of cardboard inside a box that was supposed to contain a remote control. According to the company, the average retailer saves over $4 per return, or around 34%.
Wi-Fi calling
A friend of mine got a warning that she was exceeding her data plan. How could that be, I wondered, when she’s rarely out of Wi-Fi range?
Android phones come with Wi-Fi calling turned off. But it should be on. Unless you’re on an unlimited data plan, using Wi-Fi calling saves you money.
To check yours, follow these steps: Tap the phone app, then the three vertical dots in the upper right corner, then “Settings,” then “Calls,” and finally “WiFi calling.” If it’s off, turn it on.
An iPhone comes with Wi-Fi calling already turned on. But you can go to “Settings” and tap “Mobile Data” or “Cellular” to check.
Finding stuff on Amazon
The free Amazon app you download from the Google Play store or iPhone App Store helps you find stuff you might otherwise miss, such as an appliance part. This feature is called Amazon Lens.
I used it to find a good barrette. Otherwise, Amazon kept showing me the wrong kind, no matter how I searched for it. To start, I opened the Amazon app on my phone, then tapped the camera icon. Next, I aimed the phone at a similar but broken barrette and snapped a picture. Presto. This time, Amazon presented me with great choices. Before that, I had almost given up.
Good news: The Amazon Lens feature recently got an update. It now lets you add text to your search. For example, after I took a picture of some South African “Blue Train” cuff links in a fancy box, I typed “cuff links.” Otherwise, Amazon thought I was interested in fancy boxes.
Capturing audio
Unless you’re a premium YouTube subscriber for $14 a month, it’s illegal to download YouTube videos. But sometimes you just want the audio portion. For that, I use a free extension called Chrome Audio Capture, which is for computers only. Find it by doing a search on “Chrome Web Store.” Audio Capture only records 20 minutes at a time, but you can pause your video or audio source, then start it up again. I used it for a talk from FoodRevolution.org.
After you install Chrome Audio Capture or any other extension, you may wonder where it went. To find it, click on what looks like a gray blob in the upper right of your computer screen and click the pushpin next to “Chrome Audio Capture” to make it visible. When you’re ready to record, just click the new red circle at the top right of your screen.
Outsmarting Amazon
Almost every time I purchase an ebook on Amazon, I accumulate Kindle points. But for a long time, I wondered why I never got a chance to redeem them. Finally I looked it up. Ka-ching! I got $3 off.
To get started, Google the words “Kindle Rewards” or “Kindle Redeem,” then click “redeem.” But be sure you do that before you buy your next book. The $3 discount will be applied automatically.
Bye-bye WordPad
Why is Microsoft killing WordPad? Who knows, but out it goes.
WordPad is a free program that comes with Windows. It’s handy for note taking, since you can park it just below something you’re reading on your desktop screen. Microsoft hasn’t said when it’s ending it. But even when it no longer comes with Windows, you’ll be able to download it for free from the Microsoft Store.
If enough people complain, Microsoft might even bring it back, like it did the “Paint” program. It wants us to use “Paint 3D,” but I find it confusing.
Coffee grounds for 3D printing
University of Colorado scientist Michael Rivera uses coffee grounds for 3D printing. Unlike the typical plastic used, it won’t be around a thousand years from now.
So far, Rivera has made jewelry, pots, and coffee cups. He’s even got it working with low-cost, consumer-type 3D printers. If he doesn’t like his creation, he tosses it back in the machine, to reuse the grounds. He gets his grounds from lattes and cappuccinos, then dries them in the sun for at least three days.
Returning stuff is part of a growing trend. A century ago, only 2% of stuff was returned to J.C. Penney’s department stores. Today, 40% of clothing on average goes back to U.S. retailers.