Hi guys.
I hope many of you have been able to obtain a freebie from my deal posts or comments :)
Ummm, so I legitimately have this question so please don't punish me :P
Have made over 1500 orders over the past 5 years over several accounts, and not once have I returned an item back to Amazon.
Any input? If there is a cost, how much do they charge?
Cheers
-ISP
Yep! Given the scale of OP's purchases they should be fine. Amazon tend to accept pretty much any excuse. There's allegedly a restocking fee on computer parts but a half decent reason should get you out of that.
When they first came to Australia, some people complained about being charged a restocking fee but they sorted that quick-smart. Today Amazon is very accomodating.
Thought of trying your friend google? Searching perhaps… Amazon Returns Free for Prime Members
I tried, couldn’t find anything that explicitly confirms my question
Returns are done by taking the item to a ParcelPoint or Australia Post (Amazon keeps changing to whoever gives them the better deal). You print the label and must repack the goods (in the existing box or whatever you have lying around).
In your case, given the scale of your purchases and your return rate (mine would be woefully high compared to your's), Amazon will almost certainly preauthorize the return so the refund will begin to process the moment you drop the parcel off.
The only real complaint people have about Amazon nowadays (see my comment above), is they don't do exchanges. Perhaps most frustratingly, if you want a price match, Amazon will usually advise customers to return the item and then re-buy it. Otherwise the experience should be pretty sweet, regardless of if you have Prime or not.
Thank you! Veryful helpful answer!
Perhaps most frustratingly, if you want a price match, Amazon will usually advise customers to return the item and then re-buy it.
That sucks. They used to just instantly credit the difference.
just make sure you select the correct reason to get free returns.
i do ~2-3 returns per fortnight.
current order tally for the year is 277 orders placed in 2023
Why so many returns?
What does this even mean?
I too, would like clarification of what this means. What the hell are you ordering that can be handled incorrectly in a "dirty" manner with such regularity you need to return approximately 50 orders so far this year?
Free returns, they give you a QR code that you scan at the post office. You'll need to package it though.
Free even for change of mind?
Yes. I bought a keyboard recently and returned it. I wrote in the notes…"Bad quality"
Not always, you may need to pay for postage for some particular returns. Especially the ones that are NOT SOLD AND FULFILLED BY amazon.
But I think if you chat with amazon and ask them for returning item, they can probably get you one Free return for change of mind (given you have not made returns in that long long time).
Although to be honest most of the people just select something like Not upto expectations or like that reason to avoid paying for returns
Just tick 'product does not meet expectations' and it is free. If you tick 'change of mind' they can take 30% off you.
This! If you select other reasons you may be charged. Always select product does not meet expectations.
I have never had to return a ‘local’ item, but I had to return a book one time, that was shipped Internationally.
As far as I am aware, for International Shipping, we have to pay for postage if it’s a change-of-mind return. If it’s a faulty item, like it was in my case, the seller has to cough up.
I see, thank you
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=…
Then there's My personal experience only
Generally free and they send you postage details how to do this, but its for items they sell. This is for product issues and change of mind.
Faulty products under warranty. eg power tool that wont charge, will often be replaced with new item and you send old one back.
Third party change of mind only if listing says its ok.
Best to call rather than submit via email.
Only had to do a few returns but they send you a barcode to stick on your package when you lodge the return and then you just take it to the post office.
And the refund doesn’t deduct any return fee?
Only if it's a change of mind thing and then there is a restocking fee IIRC.
It depends on the reason you provide for the return.
Generally if you go with “Item doesn’t meet expectation” or the likes then return is free.
If you go with “change of mind” you have to pay ~$7 return postage.
Obviously don’t abuse the system as there’re plenty of accounts of people getting banned for next to no communication from Amazon after too many returns. YMMV.
Oh I see. I’ll just go with that reason then.
With 1500+ orders and 0 returns so far, I think I got a good track record
never been charged but 99.9% of my orders are logistically handled by amazon or amazon commercial
The item that I want to return was shipped and sold by Amazon
I have done a few. If sold and shipped by Amazon, return is free.
You can go to order section, click on your order then select return. You get options on how. I usually select the option where AusPost prints the label for me. This will give you a barcode that AusPost can scan.
You just need to package it and take it to AusPost. I usually get the refund on the same day
Thank you!!! Perfect reply
No worries. Forgot to tell you the reason why matters. Some will not give you option to continue the return. Just select Product does not meet expectations
I use the same method & reason as @Brakus for returns, by the time you come back from the post office your refund email is sitting there in your inbox.
Why do you have multiple Amazon accounts? And how have you ordered so many things? Is your house full of Amazon products or are a lot of them consumables?
A lot of it is just food. Amazon allows multiple accounts just like eBay so I’m not doing anything wrong. It’s good for many things, like buying limits, freebies, etc. And by multiple I mean two, I don’t have like 50 accounts.
Have made over 1500 orders over the past 5 years over several accounts, and not once have I returned an item back to Amazon.
I did a literal jaw drop at this. Wow.
Anyway, I have made one return. Printed out a barcode, took it to my local pickup point (chemist around the corner) and they just took it. No cost involved.
Thanks for your input :)
Forgot to add: Have Prime. And the return was last week.
I was in another country before and made 3-4 returns (which needed to be shipped straight back to Amazon US). No cost each time- I had to take the packages down to the local DHL office, though iirc one time they sent a courier. Didn't have Prime then.
Amazon might be a horrible company in many ways, but they do make things as easy as possible for the consumer.
Have returned a few (a faulty office chair etc).
A trick with returning, have a chat with Amazon support first, and tell them that you don't want it (not working item, broken, change of mind, seller sent wrong item, short dated etc) and most time if it's not too expensive, they will offer refund and tell you to keep it.
If you try to do it yourself, it will certainly direct you on post-office-return path, but Amazon support has been easier with no-return-yes-refunds for me many times
Thanks!
Have done about 5 in the past in like 4 years at no cost. But felt a bit guilty about it knowing that it was most likely just going to be binned and not resold. Had genuine reasons though, product didn't fit or was faulty
If it says 'Free Return Shipping' on the top right in yellow on the item page then you can return for free. If it doesn't have that then you might have to pay, depending on the reason you give for returning it. The better the 'reason' for returning it the better the chance you won't have to pay in most cases. However, I think Amazon has a 30 day change of mind policy for many items anyway.
Return is free. You can even get them to come over to your address to pick the stuff off from you.
That's new to me, wow!
I havent seen that as an option for a while actually. My previous 2 returns past 2 months doesnt even have an Auspost choice, just Parcelpoint
Mostly free. Even if not, if you're a prime member with such large number of orders, they will waive most fees. I find it useful to call through the app so there is no verification, and they quickly sort it all out for me
Thank you for the tip
Depends on the reason.
Change of mind attracts partial refund (less $7.95)
Problem attracts full refund.
You choose the reason.
Cheers
So to answer OP question, no, return is not free with prime. Instead, it only depends on the item and the reason for return.
Clear and simple. Thanks for the summary
We return like 1 item every 2 months, just return to post office.
We order maybe 5 items a week? joys of children & cheap subscription items
My experience has been :
Change of mind returns require you to pay for postage. Returns because item is faulty or incorrect description etc are free.
As such, my returns have all been the latter reason.
Had to pay $7 to return a large Yamaha speaker earlier this year.
I’ve had an occasional item where I’ve needed to pay but these have been very few and if more than a a few dollars, I’ve disputed why.
Free returns easily the norm.
I think it depends if it ships from Amazon or a 3rd party seller
I’ve returned something bought and fulfilled via Amazon US without charge
But I tried to return something from an Aus based 3rd party and they insisted I paid return shipping
Been an an Amazon customer for about 20 years, started with books and now most things. I've probably returned a dozen or so things, damaged, didn't match description, etc.
I'm a Prime subscriber. The only time I attempted to return something for change of mind was these Sistema lunch boxes. There was a min order of 2, ordered two, but then realised that we got sick of the children breaking them at school and constantly ordering new ones. Attempted to return and no matter the reason (testing), other then faulty or broken (which would be a lie) it wanted me to pay return postage which was about $6.95.
We ended up keeping them.
I think the listing needs to state free returns, or else you may be slugged, but I guess it depends on the reason.
Honestly half the time they just tell me to keep it and give my money back.
Talking about items sold by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon, I've returned several items it depends on what choice you pick.
When returning jeans or shirts I've picked the real reason of too large / too small etc and there have been no costs.
I believe if you pick change of mind they might sometimes charge a return delivery, however you can see this before accepting and uhh.. go back a page giving a different reason.
My favorite is item does not meet my expectations, I do try to not abuse the returns system as it is quite nice.
I bought defected 1TB NVME driver from amazone before.
I think I used the app to send a replacement.
So amazon will issue the replacement immediately, and you need to post the defective item (they will provide label, so no cost to you).
Then amazon will mark the item as returned when they receive it, and it will be done.
Very painless. I assume that's the same for return/refund.
I've made a few returns, no charge if you say damaged item instead of change of mind.
Couple of times I went to the parcel point and they had an issue where the staff member that does the scanning wasn't available (yes, seriously) or they didn't find the return details when scanned. Went on the chat and they refunded me and said I can keep the item. Low value items <$15
Never had anything questioned.
Bought a fitbit that was meant to have 2 wire ECG function as a present (they wanted this specifically), look it up on fitbits website on the Au site says that it supports it, which it does but it's not enabled for Au as they need TGA(i think) approval first.
I'd taken it out the box set it up, paired it and everything and was trying to get the ECG function working and realized it was just missing. Returned it to amazon at a local TSG, refund no questions asked.
Returned some clothes and small bits and pieces also and they've never questioned it.
I have only ever returned 2 items to Amazon
one was a faulty PSU that was stuffed straight of the the box and the other a vertical GPU mount that the cable dies after 3 months
How long does the refund take place after you sent it off to auspost?
it is free for anything, even for change of mind, sent one back about 2 weeks ago
I am pretty sure if its shipped and fulfilled by amazon au you will never get a charge
There has never been one when I've had to return