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The Return Policy That’s Returning Nothing to Us

The Return Policy That’s Returning Nothing to Us
A line of shoppers snakes around a Costco store in Novato, Calif., on March 14, 2020. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images
Mollie Engelhart
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Commentary

As I was leaving Costco the other day, I noticed the line for returns snaking around the corner. But these weren’t people bringing back a pair of pants that didn’t fit or a blender that broke after one use. It was the end of summer, and the line was full of people returning above-ground pools, vacuum cleaners that had clearly seen months of use, and even mattresses.

Mollie Engelhart
Mollie Engelhart
Author
Mollie Engelhart, regenerative farmer and rancher at Sovereignty Ranch, is committed to food sovereignty, soil regeneration, and educating on homesteading and self-sufficiency. She is the author of “Debunked by Nature”: Debunk Everything You Thought You Knew About Food, Farming, and Freedom—a raw, riveting account of her journey from vegan chef and LA restaurateur to hands-in-the-dirt farmer, and how nature shattered her cultural programming.