Amazon applies a restocking fee of 25% of the item price
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It's a surprise that nobody outside of Amazon knows about Amazon restocking fee.
It's a surprise that nobody outside of Amazon knows about Amazon restocking fee.
Personally I wish they'd segregate the experience. Have one experience be the Amazon store as it used to be with consistent expectations. If you can't find the product you want it could then direct you to the bazaar.
In the past month I've returned a cellphone case (not as described) and a marine-grade amplifier (despite being explicitly "waterproof", it failed the first time it got rained on). I probably won't buy anything expensive from them for a while because I don't to have to return something else if it's faulty.
I always though that as a huge cost that ends up being passed on to people who don't buy+return stuff on impulse.
It got a bit less attractive a few years ago, now the seller doesn't have to pay the postage if the item is less than 40 Euros (and some minor otehr requirements).
Or order several different types of camera bag to try, and keep one.
To a UK reader that sort of generosity seems completely contrary to the way US companies are usually run and I'm not surprised they're tightening the rules.
Let's use airline fares as an example. If you allow people to cancel at any time for any reason (and for example to not show up) then the airline can't sell as many seats but has the same costs. As a result they would (in theory) have to charge a higher price for seats on the plane.
My point is that while on the surface this looks like it comes out of the businesses profit in actual practice it doesn't.
As a matter of fact there is a pretty widespread business practice whereby you allow people to buy and return for any reason if they are not happy 'NO QUESTIONS ASKED!' and you simply jack up the price of the product to account for the returns (which are predictable because it's the same product).
But there isn't any legal requirement for a full refund if you simply change your mind. That's up to the store.
Some still refund, some offer store credit and some have a restocking fee.
For special order items which are expensive, not sold that often and need to be ordered in as needed from supplier - they are more likely to have a restocking fee.
> To set expectations, we have a 30-day free return window. This is why I could wave the fee.
...What? Is this not conflicting policy? It creates an artificial price increase only for the ignorant customer. If there is a free return window, why are they charging anything? The expectations they set are very confusing.
On my first Kindle Paperwhite (second Kindle overall) I paid for removal of ads.
For my second Paperwhite I just called the hotline and asked them to cancel the ads. Done. For free.
You're at fault for that - you simply decided you didn't want it after previously agreeing to purchase it - so it seems very reasonable to me to charge you for that. I think in the US they don't have to accept returns at all when you don't really have any reason (in some countries they do) so they're already doing you a favour!
I've received numerous "new" items that were previously opened and returned merchandise; things like a vacuum with hairs in one of the cleaning attachments. Same with a pair of headphones. I'd be happy if there were a discount for accepting a minimally used item. As it is Amazon just hopes you don't notice.
Returns would come back used/opened/filthy by the crate, and they get shuffled right back in with new inventory. Everyone wins, everyone loses.