...have those smart people come out of the room yet?

"If you could change any aspect of children's publishing what would it be?"

"Returns, without a doubt.

I believe that some day 

some very smart people 

are going to lock themselves in a room

and figure out 

how to eliminate the monumental waste

 brought on by returns."  

Doug Whiteman, of Penguin Young Readers Group, on childrensillustrators.com (c. 2004?) 

Just stumbled upon this quote, and think that it may--still--be pertinent.  Which seems a little odd, in this day and age.  Do you suppose a locked room would really work?  Has it?  I wonder.

{Illustration, above, is the magical "Eloise," by the marvelous Hilary Knight.}