How long does it take for an Amazon refund? (Instant refunds, credits, and more!)
Shopping online makes everything so convenient, even returns! But how long does it take for an Amazon return?
Are they instant or does Amazon take the time to check returns before crediting your account? Find out….
How long does it take for an Amazon refund?
After Amazon receives your returned item, its refund process takes approximately 3-5 business days. If your refund is made without any returns, it will be processed within 5-6 hours. After the refund is processed, it may take approximately 2-3 business days for the payment to appear in your account.
Amazon also offers some “instant” refunds where they credit your Amazon account instead of returning the money to your credit/debit card. Once they receive the returned item, the amount will be reflected in your account.
This is the best option if you plan to buy from Amazon again because you can use the credit for any other purchases.
If you want to learn more about Amazon’s refund policy and how long it takes to get a refund, read on…
What is Amazon’s refund policy?
There are two possible scenarios for your Amazon refund, either you must return the item to Amazon to process your refund, or your refund is being processed without returning the item.
Sometimes, when the cost of the product is very low and the shipping ends up being more than the entire refund amount, Amazon will automatically refund it without asking any questions.
If you must return the product, the refund process will only begin after Amazon receives your product. Actual processing time is only 3-4 days, but it may take a long time for Amazon to receive the product.
Depending on the refund processing option you choose, the time it takes to receive your money may vary. In some cases, you can also choose an instant return option (if available).
In this case, Amazon will initiate your refund before processing the item, but in this case you must also return the item within the returns window. The return window is usually around 30 days.
Therefore, once Amazon receives your item, they will process the refund within 5 business days. But even after the refund has been processed, it may take some time for the financial institution to get the money back to you.
But it’s not Amazon’s fault. If you choose to receive your refund in the form of a gift card, or if you wish to transfer money to your Amazon balance, you can do so within 3-5 hours.
On the other hand, prepaid credit cards can take the most time, up to 30 days. For debit cards, checking accounts, cash payments, rewards points or credit cards, it may take 5 to 10 days for the amount to reflect.
Gift Refunds and Returns
If you are processing a refund or return of a gift, the refund policy will be different. When the gift is returned after the 30-day return window and the item is in original condition, the refund amount is usually 80% of the original value.
If you return an opened DVD or CD, the refund amount is 50%. If the item has been damaged by you or is clearly not in its original condition, the refund amount is up to 50%. No amount will be refunded for software or video games.
Gift returns and refunds also depend on how the original purchaser purchased the product, you can check the exact policy in Amazon’s Returns section.
Will you get a refund for a product you never received?
Yes, refunds will begin immediately if you never receive the product, if the product is lost, or if you cancel before the product arrives.
If you have to return the item to a brick and mortar store like Whole Foods, you can initiate a refund within 4-5 hours.
Will Amazon refund immediately?
If you request a credit to your account, it will show up in your Amazon account as soon as they receive the returned item. Depending on shipping speed, Amazon may take 2-7 days to receive the product.
Returning the item to Kohls or Whole Foods (if that is an option for the product) will make the return faster.
Amazon will only process refunds after receiving your returned item. However, Amazon will process the refund within 3-5 business days in the event that you do not have to return the item or Amazon receives the item.
After the refund is processed, depending on the payment method, it may take more time for your financial institution to reflect the amount in your account.
Why does Amazon refund take so long?
There could be a number of reasons why Amazon takes so much time to process refunds. Many times, they are overwhelmed with return requests and they have to deal with each and every return. Even with a large workforce, this process can take some time.
There may also be a delay in Amazon receiving your returned item. Sometimes they only arrive in a few days, but sometimes it can take weeks.
That’s why it takes a few days for them to reach you, even after Amazon hands them out.
What is the average processing time for Amazon refunds?
The average refund processing time is 3 days, higher may take around 5 days.
Amazon does offer some “instant” refunds if you don’t want to return the money to the card. This amount will be credited to your Amazon account, which you can use for any future purchases.
How do I initiate a refund on Amazon?
Applying for a refund on Amazon is very simple. Once on the website, just click on your account and go to your order section.
Now select the specific order you want to refund and select the “There is a problem with this order” button. Now just explain what the problem is and click submit.
That’s it, that’s all you need to do. From time to time, a customer service specialist may contact you for more information about this issue.
From here, Amazon will guide you through the entire return and refund process.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Check out these posts to learn what Amazon Flex is, what it means to deliver to a safe location by Amazon, and whether Amazon ships to Hawaii.
in conclusion…
Initiating refunds and returns through Amazon is a very simple process.
Once Amazon receives your returned product, it usually takes only 4-5 business days to process your refund. If they are crediting your account, it can be done as soon as they receive the item.
