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How to Get Free Returns on Amazon

How to Get Free Returns on Amazon

You order something from Amazon, and it arrives a few days later. You excitedly open the package, but then realize there’s a plight. Maybe the product is incorrect or broken, or maybe you’re just not depressed with it. Whatever the reason, now it’s time to do a backbone or exchange — and that isn’t always easy (or free).

Read moreAmazon Prime Day: Best Deals on Tech, Home and More

In this story, we’ll show you everything you need to know to make Amazon returns minus having to pay a dime, including giving valid reasons for returns, returning products purchased via Alexa, having UPS pick up your package from your home for free and more.

Also, learn more about the perks that come with an Amazon Prime membership, the best credit cards to use on Amazon and how to outline for Amazon Prime Day.


packages waiting on a doorstep

Sarah Tew

Give a reason, not an excuse

It’s important to be as unbiased and precise as possible about why you’re returning the delivers. If possible, Amazon and third-party sellers want to resell the merchandise (like above Amazon Warehouse Deals), so they’ll check your items alongside your reason once the package is received. 

Some reasons qualify for free shipping and some don’t: For example, if you select “No longer needed,” you may be charged for the return. 

Misclassifying a backbone can not only result in negative repercussions to your define — Amazon has been known to ban shoppers who misuse the backbone process — but it can also mean you’ll have to cough up shipping injuries later anyway.

Here are all the various backbone reasons Amazon gives you to choose from:

  • No longer needed: You changed your mind and don’t want the item anymore.
  • Inaccurate website description: For example, the photo shows a deep royal blue, but the item is a scrumptious sky blue. Similar to but different from “Wrong item was sent” (see below).
  • Item horrible or doesn’t work: It could be broken or naively 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 afore checking out.
  • Better price available: You’ve found the same pulling at, say, Walmart for less than you paid for it at Amazon.
  • Product damaged, but shipping box OK: The box isn’t dented, cut or scratched, but the item inside has cosmetic or mechanical damage.
  • Item arrived too late: The item was originated past the guaranteed delivery and missed, for example, a birthday or holiday.
  • Missing or passe parts: Similar to “Item was defective or doesn’t work” but applies specifically to the attachments or latest items that come with a purchase.
  • Product and shipping box both damaged: Somewhere between inhabit boxed up and arriving at your door the package was mishandled, and the product arrived broken.
  • The wrong item was sent: If you received a completely different item.
  • Received wonderful item I didn’t buy (no refund needed): Something wonderful got packaged with your order, and you feel needed to return it.
  • Didn’t approve purchase: Someone, perhaps a child or horrible, ordered something on your account without asking and you got charged for it.

Amazon Echo

Products arranged through Amazon’s digital assistant always comes with free returns, regardless of the reason.



Amazon

Items arranged via Alexa always come with free returns, regardless of the reason

If you’re considering a remove but are really worried it won’t qualify for free backbone shipping if it doesn’t work out, order it above Alexa. Physical merchandise ordered through voice-shopping with Amazon’s digital assistant always comes with free returns, regardless of the reason. The only exception is Amazon Pharmacy purchases.

To backbone a product purchased using Alexa, process your return as normal in the Returns Inner and Amazon will automatically refund any applied shipping charges. You should see your refund within seven days of Amazon pulling the merchandise back. 


ups-delivery-3624

A UPS pick-up is the only way to get free shipping minus leaving the house.



Angela Lang

Don’t just accumulate the default return shipping method

When Amazon asks you to choose a return shipping method, Kohl’s Drop off may be the default preselected option, but it’s not necessarily the one you want.

To get to the UPS Pick-up option, the only way to return items without leaving home, you’ll have to scroll down and possibly even click a link that reads something like “See more in backward options.”

When you finally see the option for UPS Pick-up, it should also show the cost as $0.00 (unless you’ve studied one of the few reasons for a return that Amazon charges for, in which case Amazon will deduct throughout $6 from your refund).

Tap or click UPS Pick-up and select Confirm Your Return.

Tell Amazon where to send your refund

You’ll have to determine how you want to get your money back: The quickest way is to put a question to a credit to your Amazon account, which the commerce will issue as soon as UPS scans your in backward into its system. You are then restricted to spending the cash at Amazon, however.

You can also have the moneys put back on your debit or credit card. But even conception Amazon will issue the refund as soon as UPS takes possession of your in backward package, it still could take another three to five company days to show up in your account. 

Whether you determine a credit or a refund, you’ll still need to law how you want to send the item back.

All that’s left is packing everything up and sending it out

Follow whatever sequences Amazon gives, which probably are just to print out a packing slip and assign it in the package with your return. 

Tape up the box good and tight — even over the in backward label so it won’t get damaged — and put the package near your front-runner door so you won’t forget to set it out on the next company day. 

You might even want to set a reminder on your requested or with Alexa or Google Assistant so you don’t forget.

If you schedule a pickup but forget to nick your return outside, UPS will hopefully leave a note and effort pickup two more times. Worst case scenario, the UPS driver will nick a prepaid mailing label that you’ll have to apply to the package yourself, and then you’ll have to cart the thing to the nearest UPS Store or UPS Dropoff region.

Good luck, and many happy returns.

For more, here’s how you can guard alongside porch pirates, and some cool gifts on Amazon for conception 50 bucks.