Amazon Return Policy: A Deep Dive into Restocking Fees and Exceptions

Whether you're just starting in online sales or you run a big business, handling customer returns is something every ecommerce store has to deal with. Getting a return request can be pretty disappointing because it's not just about the lost sale — it means a customer wasn't happy with what they bought from you. But dealing with returns is just part of running an online shop or selling on Amazon, so don't worry too much if you get one. Look at Amazon's return policy, recent changes, and how these impact sellers. We'll also give you tips on best practices in handling returns to keep more customers satisfied. Amazon Return Policy for FBA Through Amazon's FBA service, Amazon looks after delivery and customer care for sellers, which covers dealing with returned items. Regarding returns, Amazon follows its own rules to decide if a product can be returned. Sellers don’t have the power to decide if a return is allowed, even when the product is damaged or defective due to the customer’s fault. Usually, customers have up to 30 days after they get their order to ask for a refund. However, sometimes Amazon allows more than 30 days on special occasions. If a customer wants to return something and sends it back, Amazon will tell the seller by email that a return has started, and they'll take the order's cost from what the seller has earned. Amazon Return Policy for FBM Sellers who send out their orders have a different return process than those using Amazon's Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA) service. In FBM (Fulfilled by Merchant), sellers must accept returns up to 30 days after purchase. Any returned item comes to the address on the seller profile, not to Amazon, and sellers have to give the customer their money back within two business days.  Professional sellers on Amazon are signed up automatically for the Amazon Prepaid Returns Label service. If a buyer wants to return something within the time allowed, Amazon will send them a prepaid label to ship it back, and they use the seller account.  If a return is covered by something other than the Amazon return policy in India or in case of return exceptions, sellers get to check it out themselves. So, FBM sellers need the opportunity to talk to the buyer and sort things out before they get their refund. Amazon Restocking Fees The Amazon restocking fee is a charge sellers put on items that buyers return. It is calculated based on how much the product was originally, the reason for return, and its state when it returned. The amount gets taken off the refund given to customers when it's only a partial refund.   Amazon's restocking fee helps cover the costs of checking and repackaging the item and any loss in its worth after shipping or coming back. It also stops people from sending things back for no good reason. Remember, the Amazon restocking fee doesn't cover the postage costs, and sellers can't make customers pay this – it's up to you to handle these costs. For all sellers using Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA), Amazon sorts out the restocking charge for you. But, if you're a seller who manages your shipping (FBM), you must deal with returns by yourself through your Seller Central account. Amazon Restocking Fee Rules for Sellers Return RequestRestocking FeesReturns an item in the original condition within the return window period.No restocking fee.Returns an item in the original condition outside of the return window period.Yes. Up to 20% of the item's price.The buyer refuses delivery due to visible damage incurred during shipping or caused by the carrier.No restocking fee. The seller pays for return shipping, but can file a claim with the carrier or insurance company, if they purchased insurance.The buyer receives a used or damaged item.No restocking fee. The seller can file a claim with the carrier or insurance company, if they purchased insurance.Items with damage, missing parts, not in original condition, or that have obvious signs of use for reasons not due to an Amazon.com or seller fault.Yes. Up to 50% of the item's price.The buyer returns a book within the return window with obvious signs of use.Yes. Up to 50% of the item's price.Opened CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, cassette tapes, or vinyl records (taken out of its plastic wrap)Yes. Up to 50% of the item's price.Open software or video games for reasons not due to an Amazon or seller faultYes. Up to 100% of item’s priceOpen Collectible Cards, Board Games, Table Top Games, Toy figurines (Ex: Funko Pops, Pokémon Cards, Magic Cards, etc.)Yes. Up to 100% of item’s priceThe buyer returns an item they received materially different from what they ordered.No restocking fee. *Visit the Refund Rules page for conditions not listed here. Returnable Items on Amazon The returnable items on amazon India are: Activity Trackers Air Conditioner Air Coolers Air purifiers Airflow & air quality metres Alexa All home improvement supplies (drilling machines & accessories) All Plumbing Amazon Accessories for these devices and Accessories and Lights Apparel & Leashes Aquarium Supplies such as Pumps Baby Apparel Baby furniture Baby Toys Baby Utensils & Feeding Sets Backpacks Bath hardware Bicycles Bike Parts & Accessories Blenders Books Building materials Camera Accessories Camera Lenses Camping furniture Car Parts & Accessories Carriers Clothing Computer Accessories Computing Components Coolers Cooling Devices Cord & power management CPU Desktops Diaper Bags Digital Cameras Digital Watches Dimmer & Lighting controls Dishwasher Door locks) Echo Ellipticals Exercise Bikes Eyewear and Analog Fans Fashion /Imitation Jewellery Fasteners fasteners & hooks Faucets Filters Fire TV Stick Fitness and Outdoors Food Processors Food Service Equipment & Supplies Furniture Gadget Accessories Gaming Consoles Graphic Cards Hair Dryers Handbags Hard Drives Headphones Helmets & other Protective Gear Home Gyms Home security systems Hot water dispensers Humidifiers Induction Industrial adhesive tapes & sealants Industrial Electrical Industrial Hardware Industrial Power & Hand Tools Internet Devices Irons Joint Supports Juicers Kindle Books Kindle E-Readers Kitchen & Bath fixtures (like Taps Lab & Scientific Products Ladders (step & telescopic) Laptops Material Handling Products Measure & Inspect Products Medical equipment Memory Cards Microwave Mixer grinders Mobiles Mobility and Disability Aids Monitors Mopping supplies Motherboards Multi Gyms Nail care Networking Devices Nursery Decor Office & Stationery Supplies Oven toaster grills Packaging & Shipping Supplies Pen Drives Pet – Habitats & Supplies Power Supplies Prams Precious Jewellery Printers Professional Medical Supplies Refrigerator Rice Cookers Rims Safety & Security systems (Safes Security cameras Shavers shoes Silver jewelry sinks) Skincare Smartwatches/ Activity Tracker Speakers & Home Theaters Sports Sports Nutrition (Whey Protein Powders and related Diet Supplements) Straighteners Strollers Sweeping cloths & wipes Tablets Tapes Televisions Toasters Toys Training & Behavior Aids Travel Luggage Treadmills Trimmers TV cards Used books Vacuums Vehicle Electronics Wallets & Travel Accessories Washing Machine Water Heaters Wheelchairs Work Space Non Returnable Items Amazon These are the non returnable items on amazon India: Adult Diapers Amazon Pantry AMCs Aquarium supplies Ayurveda Products Baby Hair & Skin Care Products Baby Personal Care Beard Oil Beard Serum Beauty products Blades Breastfeeding products Brooms Brushes Brushes Car Care Car Tires Chemicals & Fluids Contact Lenses and related products Core Letter Vitamins Covers Creams Customizable Products Detergents Diapering Pads Dustpans Engine Oils Extended Warranty cards Fabric Conditioners Feeding Bottles Fertilisers Floor Cleaners Flutes Gels Gloves Gold Bars Gold Chips Gold Coins Gold Vedhanis Gourmet Grocery Guards Gym supporters Gym vouchers Hand washes Harmonicas Harnesses Herbal Supplements Infant Baby Food Lead-acid Batteries Live Plants Masks Medical Supplies Medicines Men & Women innerwear Menstrual Cups Men’s Vests Mops Mouthwashes Movies Multi-Vitamins Music Nappy Liners Pain Relief Products Paints Panty Liners Pest Control Pet Food Pet Grooming Aids Pet Shampoos and Conditioners Rakhi Razors Razors Safety glasses Sanitary Pads Screen guards Screen protectors Seeds Shaving Foams Silver Bars Silver Bullion Silver Chips Silver Coins Socks Socks & Hosiery Software Sprays Subscription packs Swimsuits Swimwear Teethers Tempered glasses Tissues Toddlers' and Kids' Health Drinks Toilet Cleaners Toothbrushes Toothpaste TV Shows Video Games Vouchers Wall paintings Wall stickers Wallpapers Wax candles Wax Strips Wet Wipes Women’s Lingerie Rules for Sellers to Levy Amazon Restocking Fees According to Amazon, sellers can charge up to 100% restocking fees only in the following instances: Change of buyer mind or remorse on purchasing the item. When buyers find the item for a better price elsewhere. Accidental purchases or items you no longer require. On the other hand, no restocking fees are applicable in the following cases: The received product differs from the Amazon listing. Customers report receiving broken or flawed goods.  The product has missing parts. Incorrect product delivered. Best Ways to Handle Restocking Fees Amazon's return policy is highly customer-centric, yet a restocking fee can save sellers from needless return costs. Implement these top tips to dodge A-to-Z guarantee complaints when applying Amazon restocking fees on refunds. Include a Note to the Buyer: Always explain why you're refunding less than the total amount by adding a note for the buyer to keep things clear and show them why they've been charged a restocking fee.  Take Photos And Videos: Take pictures or record videos of items returned damaged or used within Amazon's 30-day return period. This evidence supports your side in case any sneaky customers make false complaints.  Keep a Seller Record: It's helpful to note what you've done for an order. For instance, if you decide to reduce the restocking fee or agree to something else with the buyer, add these details in a seller memo for later reference.  Skip Restocking Fees: For cheap purchases or frequent shoppers, consider not charging a restocking fee and giving a refund without a return. It keeps customers happy and your reputation as a seller intact.  Handle Returns Quickly: Pay attention to return requests in your Seller Central. Check each one when it comes in and talk to the customer to sort things out. No matter how well you deal with return requests, you'll still need help with disputes related to restocking fees. But don't feel threatened.  Handling disputes related to Amazon's restocking fees is straightforward if you quickly get Amazon's customer service involved and provide all necessary documents to back up your claim. Just be sure to apply the correct restocking fee that covers your costs for processing and placing the items back in stock. Related read: Amazon’s SAFE-T Program Conclusion To sell on Amazon, sellers must adhere to their guidelines, regardless of personal views. Returns are common in retail, including online ones like Amazon. Every seller should thoroughly familiarise themselves with Amazon return policy and related information. To reduce returns, ensure your product is top-notch and your listing is thorough and informative. Related read: Mastering E-commerce Return Policies: Strategies to Navigate Returns and Refunds FAQs 1. How to return amazon item without replacement?FBA (Fulfilled by Amazon) items, Prime and some seller-fulfilled products can get a free replacement. But if the item is out-of-stock, you'll just get a refund instead. So, amazon items that are eligible for “only replacement” will not get any refund back.2. How to return product on amazon and get money back?For FBA items:Sign in to your Amazon account.Go to Your Orders.Select the item you want to return/replace.Select a reason from the menu and proceed to return.For FBM items:Sign in to your Amazon account.Go to Your Orders.Select the item you want to return/replace.Choose Contact Seller to redirect to Seller Messaging Assistant.Start a conversation with the seller.3. Can we return Amazon product without bill?Yes. You don't need the bill to send something back to Amazon, but having your order details can make it easier.4. What is Amazon return policy for cash on delivery?If customers paid with Cash on Delivery and are due a refund, Amazon sends the money back to their bank through NEFT or adds it to their Amazon Pay as a balance. To get the refund in the bank, add your bank information in 'Your Account' or via the return process. The refund has to go to an account with the same name as on your Amazon profile, not someone else's.5. What are some amazon return exceptions?Typically, shoppers have 30 days to return items to Amazon, but sometimes they may allow returns after this period, case by case:Gifts from the wedding list can be returned within 180 days of delivery.Baby Registry Gifts bought from your registry can be returned within 365 days.

February 23, 2024