While in some cases there may be other aspects at play, it really is the case that turning rentals into AirBnBs for visitors has dramatically increased rent in towns such as Barcelona, and even in Central Sydney where I used to live. (I say this has someone who has rented in the center of big cities, and also as someone who has taken advantage of accomodation which has been “cheap” for me, as an outsider, in cities such as Barcelona).
One can have zero racist sentiments, but if you suddenly get kicked out of your rental, because it’s more profitable for your landlord to make money from tourists, you will be outraged. (And it’s not an insignificant number if inner city apartments impacted by this). Obviously other cost of living factors have led to increased rents, but this is still a big factor in some cities.
I remember heading to HK on a high school trip and we all ended up in that building, many people grabbing loads of CDs. Felt like Christmas! (I was too worried about customs in my home country checking my bags on arrival though!)
A lot of lower end items are sent to the trash when returned. (Not items like an iPhone, which would be sold as referb models).
The wastefulness comes from the fact that the barrier to purchase is pretty low, given the ease of return, so one is more likely to buy an item which may end up in the trash in 14 days (30 for Amazon).
If I absolutely couldn’t return a product (aside from defects), I’d not buy a lot of items in the first place.
(I say this as someone who is guilty of plenty of “trials”).
I’m actually travelling through Japan right now, where one can visit a Yobadashi or Bic Camera, these stores are great, because all their tech is out and able to be played with, without explicitly getting assistance from a staff member. It’s obviously not the same as bringing a camera etc into the field to test, but it goes a long way in deciding if something works from an ergonomic perspective, before purchasing it.
It may be worth finding out if it’s a motor issue or a power supply issue. I thought my IKEA standing desk was broken for 3 years or so, then Covid hit and I really needed to stand at home.
I’d lost the receipt and couldn’t get help from them. Then I emailed the motor manufacturer and they sent me a free power supply replacement. (I heard a few stories about it being the power supply rather than the motor, of course that may not be the case for you)
One can have zero racist sentiments, but if you suddenly get kicked out of your rental, because it’s more profitable for your landlord to make money from tourists, you will be outraged. (And it’s not an insignificant number if inner city apartments impacted by this). Obviously other cost of living factors have led to increased rents, but this is still a big factor in some cities.