you really never know what Amazon is going to do when there is a return. If the description of the item online says free returns, there should be no charge.

Ye that’s why there is this class action lawsuit being investigated: https://chimicles.com/amazon-photo-id-biometric-information-class-action-investigation/

With Amazon these days, every customer gets a unique shopping experience that's customized just for them. What might be free for me will cost you depending on any number of mythical variables that no one besides the creators of the all mighty algorithm know.

Maybe they're doing A-B testing around policies to see how many of their customers they can disillusion.

Sad, but true, the well of returns has dried up.

Every return I did has been a full refund. Was your item fulfilled by Amazon or by a 3rd party? That might be where the issue lies. If it’s fulfilled and returns handled by Amazon it’s always a full refund (at least in my experience).

Just curious, what/why are you returning so often? I can count on one hand the number of times I've returned things to Amazon in the last decade.

How often are you returning items to Amazon?

I have a $9.99 item. I just did a test return.

It's giving me free return shipping if I dropoff at Whole Foods or UPS. Not sure what you're buying but return shipping depends entirely on whether you buy from "Amazon.com" purchases or third parties.

Either stop buying things, stop returning things, or find a way to get to the whole foods FFS.

Why would Amazon want to keep you as a customer? You are incredibly low value to them and a massive PITA.

We make generous use of their return policy, but always do it via UPS or Whole Foods. We also try very hard to avoid third party shippers, because they make it much more difficult to return.

Their quality has really tanked. If they shipped fewer garbage items, fewer items would need returning.

> Like every other week

Wow. What's going on? Is it damaged packages? That is way too often to simply be an accident every time.

It means that you should not return to Amazon anymore or risk being banned. Probably best to shop elsewhere. It doesn't necessarily means you were abusing returns, but they think you are...

They give conflicting information last I checked, some places and in some categories it needs to be new and unopened or they may deduct some amount from the refund.

If you opened it, it's no longer in the original condition.

It’s not difficult to understand: if you generate revenue for them, you’re in good standing. However, if they incur losses due to a poor ratio of items kept versus items returned, along with associated costs for return shipping and potential losses from unsellable items, you’re not in good standing. You receive a warning first, which you did, and if you carry on doing the same, they will tell you goodbye for life. When that happens is completely up to their discretion, there are no published rules. Your reasons for returns, whether it’s theft, damage, or an incorrect item was sent, are completely irrelevant for their bottom line and hence they aren’t interested hearing you. It’s just business. Wouldn’t you do the same if you owned that business?

This seems to be widespread and fairly recent. I think it's AI generated based on limited input without considering the whole picture. If you get banned, there's no recourse.

I'm pretty sure they make it up as they go....

After being an Amazon customer for many years my account was disabled due to “excessive returns”. I spent days trying to clarify why as I had no returns in the last 6 months. I repeatedly asked for the documentation that they were basing it off on. There was none provided. After spending many hours on the phone and escalating twice to supervisors I was financially told that they could only see 1 return in the past year. They said that it was a decision by the AI algorithm and there was nothing that they could do to override. Mind you, I ordered every week. I was perplexed because I bought so much more than I ever returned. After many attempts to resolve, I cancelled my Prime and I now just use my husband’s account. I am ordering less now due to the fact that I don’t feel I have any protection to return if the item is damaged, has not been delivered on time or is not as described. I’m so disappointed in their business model now.

This is bs- its a scare tactic and lie. Nake sure you return the item witg most or some if orginal parts within 90 days. Do the paperwork the firet 30 in case the thing breaks. Do this on every item you buy even if you dont end up returning it. That way just i case you have a 90 day window now . Once the item is no longer in tour orders screen then unless you saved the qr code your fd. Also try filling out paper wprk then returning within minutes to get super fast refunds or no return refunds . I get a good amoint of those from doing this. Its kinda random but not . Consumables usually do this line air filters and such wink wink

I ordered running shoes recently. First, they were the wrong color and second, they were heavily used. I started a return for them and recently got this pop up. Am I being flagged? I do return quite a bit. I usually buy double of whatever I’m purchasing (jeans, pants usually) because I’m not always positive about sizing.

Is this Amazon USA? Haven’t seen anything like this on my Amazon

searching the sub you will find some have experienced this. its not a new thing for everyone.

This is a good thing for Amazon sellers. It’s mental what disgusting things people send back for refunds. One time I had a block of wood in our box. Worst part is, it got shipped to another customer first and I had to pitch fit to get them to find it and stop recycling it to new customers. The guy who did this stole over $30,000 of merchandise over 5 months with 3 different accounts. They would finally shut his account down and he’d just open a new one and not even bother changing his name (same name, same zip code, same MO) This is as a seller. As a buyer, I’ve received so much used stuff including a razor with hair on it and a new Xbox controller that was registered with Microsoft and used. Never mind the fake knock offs. I stopped buying from Amazon anything not a major name brand because they started cracking down on sellers who are scamming brands. So it happens on both ends. People like this have ruined it for everyone.

I mean, I've returned many things to Amazon, no email. Never returned a single item to Walmart in my life and my online account and any accounts I try to make get banned for return abuse. So it might be rather specific to your case.

I was just at my local Kohl's today and they had a sign explicitly saying that they don't accept Amazon returns.

Just returned something today the same way I always have 🤷‍♂️

I would be glad if they rolled out such a thing for people with a large amount of returns, which currently end up costing EVERYONE more.

Kohl's has stopped taking Amazon returns at some stores as part of a test. If my store stops taking them it will definitely lower how much I buy from Amazon. I'm not one of those people who returns an item often, but taking the ones I do return back to Kohl's and not having to rewrap it was very convenient.

They now let you return amazon items at the goodwill near my house, so convenient no more waiting in line at UPS.

Be wary of Kohls returns. I had 3 separate items scanned in and returned there, and then Amazon charged me for them a month later saying they never received the return. Had to argue with Customer Service proving I returned the items and employees at Kohls lost or stole them.

I have determined that it doesn’t matter anyway since I should have cancelled my Prime membership a few months age.

They have been doing that for decades. I got a warning about 15 years ago for returning 3 pairs of unworn hiking boots (poor fit) witnin 2 months or so.

Kohl's is phasing out Amazon returns at some of their locations. Big article on it. Said that they don't get enough business even with the 15% off coupon to justify the costs of staff.

Account specialist. Their policy hasn’t changed. Having specific stores to return stuff is based on the many things such as the item, account standing, third party seller, fraud at location etc etc. and far as I know in NYC these options are still available

Why, after some very high profile medicine tampering scandals (specifically Tylenol) and the laws that came out of that, would they resell any product like this?

They are playing with fire here, and I am surprised that there hasn't been any incidents associated with selling returned medicines! It would only take one time for Amazon to have a high-profile Billion dollar lawsuit.

Well that person is a jerk for sure, but still, it is Amazon's responsibility to check the returns and not just pass it on to the next customer.

Supplements and other food items are non-returnable due to food safety reasons. It's been that way for a while now.

You missed the key bit out "how reimbursements are calculated for items that are lost or damaged before a customer order"

This is for sellers on Amazon. Its applies to stuff like Sold by "X", fulfilled by Amazon.

Its do with stock that theyve either lost or damaged in the Amazon fulfillment centre before its been shipped out to the customer.

I have a feeling that Amazon probably didnt mean to send it everyone.

It's also Amazon's fault for creating a system that disincentivizes their CRETS(customer returns) employees from doing their jobs properly by basically punishing them for marking too many items as unsellable or damaged, and for taking too long to grade an item.

Yes,

This happened to me in the past. They have lost an expensive item, and refunded the full amount.

Later on, for a similar case, they first refunded, but after a month or so "found" a replacement (probably from another seller), sent that item back to be at cost, and rescinded the refund.

Now, they won't even do that. They will refund the sellers what they think is a good cost. Which is terrible.

(I'm no longer selling there).

Yeah I was really confused by that too. I’m not an Amazon seller but got that email.

Blame all of the assholes who use Amazon and other retailers as a rental service.

You went through their phone nightmare just to set up a return?

I once ordered wallpaper rolls from Flipkart. There I was able to order max 3 medium sized, so we ordered 3 large ones. I decided to measure them, they all were of the almost same size.

Then I measured using a scale, and they were at least 50 cm shorter than the medium size mentioned.

I tried to return it. The guy came and said "ye to khula hua hai, return nhi hoga" (the panni was open).

I talked to the customer support again, ki how am I to measure it without opening it?

They said return nahi hoga... I lost 700rs on that...

Experienced more than once, the seller sent an old, used, broken product and Amazon refused to initiate a return despite pictures and everything. Sellers know of the no-return policy and they hope buyer might keep second hand product to avoid the headache.

Recently got a used, rugged toaster. Amazon said they'll investigate and kept pushing it everytime I called. Took me 2 weeks of trouble to finally return.

As an appreciation for your content contributions to this community, you have been rewarded the following community currency rewards.

💱Learn more about Community Currency!💱

🏅 600.00 AWARD

The 2 day shipping policy has been gone a long time. It gets there when it gets there.

"Is this an indirect admission that Amazon no longer cares to comply with two day shipping policy?"

Jesus, people really reach in this sub.

That's why I check the return policy of every individual item. When I have any doubt I ask amazon customer support.

I had to ship wall lamp I ordered through amazon because it was broken. They issued refund after 15 days because seller didn't confirm he had received the return.

Anyways I don't remember exactly whether they pay back this shipping fees or not..

You can contact any courier service like DTDC.

It’s always the case in foreign countries since it was India and it was some new concept and people are cheap they had to to the returns as well but since Indians are now addicted slowly they are removing this practice and Flipkart too , like they charge amount for return like 50-100 or sometimes more than that, other reason is people used to order use it and then return it next day so to avoid this cheap move that had to take this step

Wtf? When did this happen? Why tf would I incur the cost and inconvenience of sending it back of the seller or amazon fucked up.

Amazon sucks these days

This is the norm in US. They ask you to return it to a shipping company (most of the time UPS) although it’s paid by amazon you still have to drop it off at a store.