@mitzywhite The big difference is when you put your name on Waitlist for an item, you are receiving someone else's reject/return. It may never have been used but it's not an item fresh off the shelf from a vendor.
HOWEVER, it may ALSO be an item that was on Check-hold or a Cancelled item; in that case, it never left the warehouse so it IS a fresh off the shelf item.
Often I have received obviously USED items when I've placed myself on Waitlist for something. In that case, I mark and report it as DEFECTIVE, QVC pays for the return and has credited my CC my card without issue.