Amazon Return Policy After 30 Days (Everything You Need to Know)
Amazon is a very convenient service that will only get more convenient. However, sometimes products ordered on Amazon do not arrive as expected. Sometimes, customers order the wrong product. Sometimes people even receive products from Amazon as gifts and just want to return them.
For most items, Amazon will accept your return without charging you within 30 days of purchase. This is their “Free Return Policy”. But what do you do if it’s more than 30 days after your purchase?
Read on to see a detailed explanation of Amazon’s return policy after 30 days, as well as the various shipping rates and rules associated with Amazon’s return policy.
Amazon return policy after 30 days
According to Amazon’s return policy page, if you wait more than 30 days after purchasing to return your item, you will no longer be eligible for free returns in most cases. Some exceptions to this rule apply, such as:
- Your item is damaged due to an Amazon.com error
- You received the wrong item due to an Amazon.com error
- The item you received was defective or not as expected due to an Amazon.com error
In these cases, Amazon will provide return shipping as long as you use the return label provided by the Amazon Return Center. However, if these circumstances do not apply to your purchase, then you will most likely be charged a return fee.
Certain items are also eligible for free returns for an extended period, such as:
- Amazon Warehouse Certified Refurbished
- infant products
- Gifts ordered through birthday gift lists or other custom gift lists
For these items, a 90-day free returns window applies. This means that as long as you send these items back within 90 days, you are eligible for free returns. You will also need to use the return label provided by the Amazon Return Center. The 180-day free returns period also applies to gifts purchased through the Amazon Wedding Registry.
Return fees vary depending on the type of item being returned. These fees include the re-shipment and restocking of your items and will be deducted from your refund. Amazon charges a flat fee for each returned shipment and a smaller fee for each item in that shipment.
The table below lists the exact costs based on project type. This information is subject to change, and customers can visit Amazon’s Return Costs page to view the latest amounts.
| product category | each shipment | Every |
| Apparel, Loose Rock, Jewelry, Shoes, Software, VHS Video, Watches | $3.99 | $0.99 |
| luggage | $4.99 | $0.99 |
| books | $3.00 | $0.99 |
| ignite | $3.99 | $2.99 |
| Tape, DVD, Music, CD, Vinyl | $1.99 | $0.99 |
| Video Games and Accessories | $3.99 | $0.99 |
| Tape, DVD, Music, CD, Vinyl | $1.99 | $0.99 |
| Video Games and Accessories | $3.99 | $0.99 |
| video game console | $6.99 | $0.99 |
| Toy | $3.99 | $0.85/lb |
| computer | $7.99 | $0.65/lb |
| Auto, Baby, Cell Phones & Accessories, Electronics, Furniture, Groceries, Health & Personal Care, Home & Garden, Industrial & Science, Kitchen & Household Supplies, Office Supplies, Outdoor Living, Sports, Tools & Hardware | $4.99 | $0.75/lb |
| pet supplies | $4.99 | $0.59/lb |
| television | not applicable | $50.00 |
| Any combination of the above items | Maximum applicable cost per shipment | as above |
| Items shipped via specialized carriers (e.g. CEVA, Pilot, ABF) | not applicable | 50 U.S. dollars |
When does Amazon offer free returns?
As mentioned above, most items purchased from Amazon can be returned for free within 30 days of purchase. Some items are exempt from this policy, but most items sold on Amazon are eligible. Look for the label labeled “Free Return” in the product listing to see if your item is eligible.
Some brands that sell their products through Amazon offer return periods that are much longer than Amazon’s standard return policy. Many of these brands will continue to offer returns within 365 days of purchase.
If you take your item to a third-party service provider that handles Amazon returns (such as Kohl’s), your return may still be eligible for free return shipping on that third-party’s behalf. You must check with the specific service if this is the case.
Do Amazon sellers have to offer free returns?
Amazon’s return policy is fairly straightforward on their website, but what about third-party sellers on Amazon? If I buy an item from a third-party seller, is the item eligible for free returns?
Amazon runs a program called Fulfillment By Amazon. The program allows third-party sellers to outsource their shipping process to Amazon to avoid the hassle of shipping items themselves. Items sold through the program will be picked up, packed and shipped entirely through Amazon’s in-house processing services.
Amazon’s regular return policy applies in most cases, as long as the item is returned within 30 days of purchase. If it is more than 30 days after your purchase, you can contact an Amazon representative to obtain permission to return through Amazon.
Items returned through FBA are handled by Amazon itself on behalf of the seller.
Does Amazon Fresh accept returns after 30 days?
Amazon Fresh is a grocery delivery service provided by Amazon. Because items delivered through the program often include fresh produce and perishables, Amazon doesn’t accept returns on most Amazon Fresh orders.
If your Amazon Fresh order is damaged or spoiled, you may be eligible for a refund. However, Amazon has a 30-day limit on refunds for Amazon Fresh orders. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Want to learn more about Amazon? Read on to find out what Out For Delivery means on Amazon, is it safe to order food from Amazon, and how to reject Amazon packages.
in conclusion……
Amazon is pretty lenient when it comes to returns, as long as you follow the guidelines laid out in their return policy. If you are concerned about returning an item, always make sure to return it in a timely manner.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to fire in the comments section.
