Return Whatever, Whenever?

Should a customer be able to return any item that he or she has purchased? And should this "right" be a "forever" right?  This is a question posed in an article about LL Bean. The store famously allows returns from customers at any point....for any reason. In their words, they have " an astonishingly lenient return policy."

Take a moment and read the linked article and then give your input as to the impact (on the business) of this type of policy. Does it benefit the company more than it harms the company? Is it only appropriate for certain types of companies (consumer packaged goods? automobile companies? clothing companies? grocery stores?)? What do you see as the upside for the company that extends this benefit to customers? What are potential downsides? How do you weigh them against each other?