The mysterious customer returns window
We know that most sellers are already aware of the standard Amazon customer returns window -- for most items, including seller-fulfilled items, it's 30 days from the Expected Delivery Date. However, the window in which a customer has to actually send the item back once a return is requested is a bit more of a mystery.
But good news! We have an answer for you:
Following authorization of the return, a customer has 15 days to return the item after the return window closes, allowing for transit time. Timing may vary based on the product’s category, in accordance with Amazon’s return policy. To determine if a product has a longer return window, go to Amazon’s return policy.
If you're new to returns, you can quickly process requests by going to Manage Returns, where you can review, authorize, or decline requests (you can also access this by clicking the Orders drop-down menu in Seller Central). We recommend that you respond to any incoming return requests within 24 hours.
You are not required to accept returns beyond the return window but if you do, you can also charge a restocking fee. Per Amazon guidelines for charging restocking fees, you can charge a restocking fee when a buyer returns an item outside of the return window, even if the item is in its original condition or in a used or damaged condition.
For more information, go to the returns, refunds, cancellations and claims page in Seller Central.
The mysterious customer returns window
We know that most sellers are already aware of the standard Amazon customer returns window -- for most items, including seller-fulfilled items, it's 30 days from the Expected Delivery Date. However, the window in which a customer has to actually send the item back once a return is requested is a bit more of a mystery.
But good news! We have an answer for you:
Following authorization of the return, a customer has 15 days to return the item after the return window closes, allowing for transit time. Timing may vary based on the product’s category, in accordance with Amazon’s return policy. To determine if a product has a longer return window, go to Amazon’s return policy.
If you're new to returns, you can quickly process requests by going to Manage Returns, where you can review, authorize, or decline requests (you can also access this by clicking the Orders drop-down menu in Seller Central). We recommend that you respond to any incoming return requests within 24 hours.
You are not required to accept returns beyond the return window but if you do, you can also charge a restocking fee. Per Amazon guidelines for charging restocking fees, you can charge a restocking fee when a buyer returns an item outside of the return window, even if the item is in its original condition or in a used or damaged condition.
For more information, go to the returns, refunds, cancellations and claims page in Seller Central.
4 replies
Seller_WAZNnMBpd99sI
the standard Amazon customer returns window -- for most items, including seller-fulfilled items, it's 30 days from the Expected Delivery Date.
Following authorization of the return, a customer has 15 days to return the item after the return window closes, allowing for transit time.
There it be ladels and jelly spoons.....
Chiseled in bronze for the civilizations existing many millennia from now to dig up this relic from so many years in the past-- thereby discovering and marveling upon how ANYONE would have believed what Amazon says....
Anybody want to start a calendar office pool.
We take October 16th,
winner gets a cryofreeze capsule to be sent orbiting our planet (hey.... somebody needs to come back and dig the fossilized tablet up to show the continual folly of man!)
Seller_LAigNSQBmElpV
It is all well and good to post his here, but the reality is that if a customer returns a product after 15 days using an Amazon issued label they are going to get an RFS refund. Once that is done there NO WAY TO CHARGE A RESTOCKING FEE! There is also little chance of getting anything out of a Safe T claim for same.
If Amazon actually meant this it would knock of the nonsense of continuing to issue the RFS when it is past the return window AND it would allow sellers to file a Safe T claim for the situations where a buyer has returned an item where a seller is forced to issue the refund themselves, but the buyer has used an inaccurate return code.
Seller_DZatme4rIQdDa
"Following authorization of the return, a customer has 15 days to return the item after the return window closes" Does this mean that if a buyer purchased an item 17 days ago, requested a return 16 days ago but haven't returned it then I can close out the return now? Or will I still have to wait until the 30 day return window is over then allow 15 extra days, meaning all returns have a 45 day return window regardless of when the return is requested?
