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Amazon applies a restocking fee of 25% of the item price

23 points by dxxvi ↗ HN
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dxxvi/amazon-restocking-fee/master/Amazon-restocking-fee.png

It's a surprise that nobody outside of Amazon knows about Amazon restocking fee.

24 comments

[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 47.9 ms ] thread
[dead] crapplestore2
Part of the fee is determining how fake the product was, so it can be commingled again and sent out to another unsuspecting customer.
PopeDotNinja
"Items in original condition past the return window*"
user5994461
"If your item was fulfilled by a third-party seller, you may be charged up to 20% restocking fee even if you return the item in original condition within the return window."
chrisseaton
If you return an item, Amazon probably cannot reasonably literally 're-stock' it as they can't be sure what you have done to it, even if it appears sealed. I would imagine the item now has to be sold at a massive discount, recycled, or simply thrown away, so to them it's probably 100% loss when you include things like shipping.

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!

coaxial
In my experience amazon doesn't really care. I have received items sold as new that were obvious customer returns, including things like hair clippers. Amazon has absolutely no quality control whatsoever and will sell just about anything you'll send to their warehouses without any control or inspection. Fake CE and UL markings on obviously hazardous items that plug into wall outlets are rampants too. Amazon just doesn't care.
_wmd
Seems US distance selling laws are stuck somewhere in the 1800s
dxhdr
> I would imagine the item now has to be sold at a massive discount, recycled, or simply thrown away, so to them it's probably 100% loss when you include things like shipping.

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.

esaym
"amazon warehouse deals" is where all the returns go. And yes you can get good deals.
bitshepherd
Not long ago, I worked for a brand you can find in every Best Buy in America that also sells direct on Amazon.

Returns would come back used/opened/filthy by the crate, and they get shuffled right back in with new inventory. Everyone wins, everyone loses.

user5994461
That must be an American thing. Here in EU an online seller must give a full refund for any item returned within a few weeks.
zzleeper
Is there a reason for that? Here (US) a lot of people buy stuff on a whim and when they decide they don't like it, they just return it, as Amazon usually doesn't charge anything.

I always though that as a huge cost that ends up being passed on to people who don't buy+return stuff on impulse.

halfdeadcat
This is a risk Amazon assumes, by offering products that customers cannot see in-person before purchasing. There is no substitute for actually handling the product, and Amazon can't exist if people are reluctant to purchase items for this reason. While returns may cost Amazon, they are essential to convincing customers it's ok to by unseen merchandise. Think Zappos (also an Amazon company).
Tomte
Sure. Since the customer cannot inspect the item, as he could in a store, the legislative decided that the next best way to let him inspect what he's getting is free returning.

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).

dingaling
I often see that with reviews by US photographers who will order several copies of a lens to test and return all except the best copy. To eliminate sample variation.

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.

gist
You do realize that policies like that insure that everyone ends up paying for someone's mistake or issue. The vendor (whether the seller or manufacturer) will calculate that when coming up with prices for what they sell.

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).

lysp
In Australia, you can get full refund if product is faulty or not as described.

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.

kakarot
> To set expectations, we have a restocking fee if Amazon is not in error.

> 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.

Tomte
Amazon is strange in that way.

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.

kakarot
I bought a Paperwhite last month and I was planning to do this. Heard it worked for a lot of people. How long did you wait before asking?
1stranger
One of the problems is Amazon decided to become a bazaar instead of a store. So it might be sold by Amazon, or fulfilled by Amazon, or sold by somebody else. You have to pay attention to who you're buying from and what the policies are. It's like walking into Target and there's the regular store but there's been a flea market setup inside as well.

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.

LyndsySimon
I've not had any issues with this, though I am somewhat hesitant to return items because of the articles I've read about Amazon sometimes closing accounts - including access to AWS and previously-purchased digital goods - for "too many returns".

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.