Free returns may soon be a thing of the past as retailers roll stricter policies

Likely not in the EU:

If you bought a product or a service online or outside of a shop (by telephone, mail order, from a door-to-door salesperson), you also have the right to cancel and return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without a justification.

(source:https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/gua...)

Free returns are the only thing overcoming my reluctance to shop online. Retailers that discontinue it will see massive sales drops. Hell, even with returns I am sick of having to return so many counterfiet and damaged items. Arguing with someone who is not even speaking their born language is unduly frusturating each time amzn borks my order.