This page provides information on how to process customer returns, including seller expectations and exception handling mechanisms.
Seller Fulfilled Prime returns can be initiated by the customer through the Online Returns Center. Customers can also contact Amazon Customer Service for this purpose. In the returns process, the customer is asked for a return reason. The customer can also provide additional, optional comments to provide more information on the return reason.
To process returns with DHL, link your DHL account including your return receiver ID. For your returns with DHL, we use the rates you have agreed on with DHL.
Amazon provides the customer the expected timeline for refund and the expected refund amount. At the end of the process, a Return Mailing Authorization (RMA) is created along with a pre-paid label for return. In Germany, the return carrier for the pre-paid label is DPD. The customer is asked to drop off the package at the nearest DPD depot.
The primary Customer Return carrier for Seller Fulfilled Prime is DPD. DPD provides customers with automatic prepaid return shipping labels when they request to return Seller Fulfilled Prime products. You can find the tracking information for these returns by navigating to Orders > Manage Returns and look up Return Details and Order History. (Make sure that you choose "View all" on the left filter pane and choose appropriate filters at the top of the page. Available filters included Date Range, Order ID, RMA, ASIN, and Sales Channel).
Some products may be classified as "Hazmat" (Hazardous Material) by Amazon. Such product will not get a pre-paid label. Instead, either the customer or Amazon Customer Service may reach out to the seller to provide a Hazmat-compliant label to return the product. Seller must provide such a label to the customer and refund the customer within two business days of receiving the product back.
The primary responsibility to refund the customer for a return lies with the seller. Once the returned package is received at the seller’s return address, the seller is expected to refund the customer within two business days.
However, Amazon reserves the right to refund the customer at any time. If a customer contacts Amazon Customer Service because a refund has not been issued in time, Amazon Customer Service may, at its sole discretion, refund the buyer, and the seller may be charged for such a refund.
Initially the seller is charged for the pre-paid label generated for a return. This charge occurs only at the time of "first scan" by DPD, so sellers will never be charged for labels unused by the customer.
After you receive the returned package, the seller can deduct the cost of the
return label from the refund issued to the customer if the following conditions are
satisfied:
Sl. No. | Return Reason | Responsibility |
---|---|---|
1 | Accidental order | Buyer |
2 | Better price available | Buyer |
3 | The shipping box or envelope isn’t damaged, but the item is damaged | Seller |
4 | Missed estimated delivery date | Seller |
5 | Missing parts or accessories | Seller |
6 | The shipping box or envelope and item are both damaged | Seller |
7 | Wrong item sent | Seller |
8 | Defective or does not work properly | Seller |
9 | Arrived in addition to what was ordered | Seller |
10 | No longer needed or wanted | Buyer |
11 | Unauthorized purchase | Seller |
12 | Description on the website was not accurate | Seller |
13 | Damaged during delivery | Seller |
14 | Performance or quality not adequate | Buyer |
15 | Incompatible or not useful for intended purpose | Buyer |
16 | Damaged due to inappropriate packaging | Seller |
17 | Part not compatible with the existing system | Buyer |
18 | Excessive installation or did not install | Buyer |
In most circumstances, customers will use the return shipping method provided by Amazon. However, as an exception, some customers may need to use a different return shipping service. Amazon Customer Service has full rights to refund the customer the price of the label. As a requirement of this program, sellers must accept such charges. Such label charges are not reimbursable.
Sometimes the customer may be refunded by Amazon but the seller does not get the
product back. There may be different reasons why:
Sellers must not, under any circumstance, contact the customer for getting the product back for a valid return request. Depending on the situation described above, they may claim reimbursement from Amazon or the carrier.
If the returned product is damaged, then the seller must establish whether this
is carrier damage (e.g. damaged to packaging, transportation induced damage) or customer
damage (e.g. damage to internal parts).
Sellers must not under any circumstances contact the customer on issues related to damage to the product. Depending on the situation described above, they may claim reimbursement from Amazon or the carrier.
Amazon Customer Service will provide, and have sole discretion in determining, all post-order customer service to Prime items, including customer returns, refunds and adjustments to Seller Fulfilled Prime items (such as return-less refunds, partial or full refunds, change of fees charged by sellers, changes to the shipping speed and shipping price for an order, refunds of the shipping charge, cancellation of an order or returns including a refund outside the stated return window).
For all such returns authorized by Amazon customer service, even outside of the return window, sellers need to provide a full refund to the customer (unless damaged, in which case sellers can deduct up to a maximum of 50%) within two business days after receiving the product.
Check Customer Service for Seller Fulfilled Prime for more information.