Amazon Is Offering Free Returns on Millions of Items During the Holidays. Here's How to Take Advantage (2024)

FAQs

Are Amazon free returns actually free? ›

All return-eligible items, weighing under 50 lbs and sold by Amazon, have at least one free return option. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition for up to 30 days after purchase.

Returns for most items purchased on Amazon aren't free, contrary to what some shoppers believe. As customers go through the returns process on Amazon's website, the company clearly explains that it will deduct the price of shipping if customers use the provided shipping label.

For the 2022 holiday shopping season, most items purchased between October 11 and December 25, 2022, can be returned through January 31, 2023. That's a whole month into the new year, stretching the standard return period from 30 days to almost three months for some orders!

If you return 5-10 items per month or more than 10% of what you order for no reason other than that you changed your mind, you may receive a warning. If you continue returning items, your account will be suspended or you'll even be banned from Amazon.

“Every item returned to Amazon is carefully inspected through a rigorous process by our trained Associates,” a spokesperson told Nexstar via email. “If it meets our high standards to be resold as new, it's re-listed for sale.” That's the first and most obvious answer: It gets sold again.

Item defective or doesn't work: It could be broken or simply doesn't do what it's designed to do (for example, a power bank with a broken USB-C port). Bought by mistake: You accidentally hit Buy Now or forgot to delete an item from your cart before checking out.

When choosing Amazon return pallets, most of the time you are paying a much lower cost per item than you would get from buying from retail stores and sometimes even wholesale. And even though some items in the pallet turn out to be unsellable, you can still keep them for your own use!

Customers can return items sold and fulfilled by Amazon for free within thirty days of delivery. However, Amazon has no control over returned items bought from third-party sellers. They are only bound to receive returns from their buyers within the same thirty days returns window.

Amazon will start charging sellers with carrier shipping corrections charges on seller-fulfilled orders (Amazon FBM) caused by incorrect return label information.

For the 2022 Holiday Season, most of the items purchased between October 11 and December 25, 2022 can be returned until January 31, 2023.

What items does Amazon not want returned? ›

Now, Amazon has committed to zero product disposal, adding new options for sellers to refurbish, resell and liquidate returns instead of disposing of them.

However, their system analyzes your purchase history and will mark your account as “Concession Abuse”. They will stop accepting returns for all of your future orders and if you somehow keep abusing the policy, your account will be permanently suspended.

Once you have returned a product to Amazon, it processes it and sells it to Amazon warehouses or liquidation retailers. Some returns make their way back to Amazon. However, most are put on pallets and sold in bulk to liquidation companies.

YES, Amazon can reject a return. First off, you are required to submit a return request. IF approved, they will provide you with a Return Authorization Number & provide you with a return label to print out & affix to the package being returned.

Refund abuse (aka. returns abuse) occurs when a customer uses the returns policy of a merchant so much that it becomes unprofitable. Customers may also abuse refunds by faking returns/receipts, or reselling merchandise.

These truckloads contain the most popular items for resale, but in lower quantities. They contain 26 pallets with lower item-counts than the smalls truckloads, but are more likely to contain the strongest retail items, that are particularly sought after by online sellers.

Why Do Customers Return Their Purchases? The most common causes of purchase returns are unmet expectations, damaged or defective products, and incorrect fit. Any of these issues can be caused by failures on the merchant's part or by events the merchant had no control over.

How much do Amazon return pallets cost? Amazon return pallets typically cost between $300 and $400. Prices vary because most of the pallets are sold via an auction. Keep in mind that once you purchase an Amazon pallet, you will most likely have to pay for shipping on top of that price.

Where can I buy Amazon return packages? ›

By offering returnless refunds, Amazon allows sellers to save up on resources and run their stores efficiently. Returnless refunds also enables Amazon to reinforce its vision to be a customer-centric company.

Analysis. Amazon.com's 5 year price total return is 35.2%.

If you return an item using a paid method, we'll deduct the cost of return shipping and restocking fees from your refund. If you choose to ship the item on your own, you'll pay the carrier when you ship your return. For more information about refunds and refund amounts, go to Refunds and Exchanges.

The average return rate on Amazon fluctuates between 5% and 15%. However, in other categories, such as consumer electronics, apparel, and fine jewelry, the return rate can reach 40%.

Several major chains, including Anthropologie, Zara, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch and J. Crew charge $4 to $7.50 to restock merchandise or for a return label.

For one, there's nothing wrong with returning a gift. Also, Amazon doesn't inform the gift giver if you return the gift using either the 17-digit order number or the tracking number. So you can enjoy your refunded Amazon credit without the shame of telling someone you didn't want their gift.

Returned items are put through a detailed inspection process, and if the product meets our high-quality standards, the item is tagged as “new” and is re-listed for sale. Most returned products meet this bar and are put back on our digital shelves for other customers.

1. Shoes. The 10 most returned holiday gifts: Shoes. Shoes are a great present—unless you get the wrong size or style which, according to the survey, is all too common.

Will Amazon take a return without a box? ›

“We understand that finding a box and tape, and printing a label for a return can still be a hassle,” Amazon's blog states. “Now, most Amazon returns are easier than ever with no box required.”

Of the 3.5 billion returned products shipped between retailers, customers, and landfills each year, only an estimated 20% are actually beyond repair. Yet, nearly 10 billion pounds of returned items end up as landfill waste anyway.

Return Shipping Costs

If you return an item using a paid method, we'll deduct the cost of return shipping and restocking fees from your refund. If you choose to ship the item on your own, you'll pay the carrier when you ship your return.

Shipping for change of mind returns

Not eligible for Free Returns, you are responsible for any return shipping costs. If your item is eligible for and is returned using a pre-paid return option, a return shipping fee will be deducted from your refund amount ($7 for Amazon AU orders, $16 for AmazonGlobal orders).

Your return shipment is free of charge in some cases. If you return an item using the return label provided in the Returns Center and the reason for return isn't a result of an Amazon.com error, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

By 2021, Amazon's return policy changed. Restocking fees would no longer be applicable to any returns that were unused, undamaged, and on time. The only exceptions are video games and open software. Also, sellers can only refuse a returned item if the return window has closed.

If a customer hasn't received their goods, they'll receive a refund for the cost by submitting an Amazon Stolen Package Claim. This guarantee also applies to damaged or inferior products received as well.

Important information about return labels

Each return label is assigned to a specific return. To receive the correct refund, don't include items from multiple orders or shipments in the same box.

In general, the prices per pallet can range from $100 to $5,000, depending on the quality and the value of the items. Also, others can be as high as $10,000. Prices of Amazon return pallets from Liquidation.com.