Amazon Sending out Thousands in Refunds?
I was selling a product on Amazon that perfectly followed it's TOS (verified by Amazon Support). Today, they determined that my product is no longer abiding by TOS and is a safety hazard and then they deactived my listing - totally fine since I haven't been selling that product for over 9 months. HOWEVER - they're now refunding all of my sales to customers - and I'm responsible for several thousand in refunds now? I don't get it.
If my product was following Amazon TOS at time of sale, and 9 months later they determine it doesn't - fine delete the listing. But now they're giving out voluntary refunds? Is this legal?
Amazon Sending out Thousands in Refunds?
I was selling a product on Amazon that perfectly followed it's TOS (verified by Amazon Support). Today, they determined that my product is no longer abiding by TOS and is a safety hazard and then they deactived my listing - totally fine since I haven't been selling that product for over 9 months. HOWEVER - they're now refunding all of my sales to customers - and I'm responsible for several thousand in refunds now? I don't get it.
If my product was following Amazon TOS at time of sale, and 9 months later they determine it doesn't - fine delete the listing. But now they're giving out voluntary refunds? Is this legal?
157 Antworten
Seller_HT2VU7iUfIQvE
Our sales are currently continuing on active lists. All sellers are continuing to sell. Should we continue selling on this issue? Does anyone have an idea? Why isn't Amazon responding?
Seller_6Yaqifs2j2ZBm
The same thing is happening to me! I will also have to file bankruptcy. I did not recieve anything tell me about refunds and within 12 hours of a notice that it was a safety concern they started! I have the paperwork they asked for. I have been calling and getting bounced around. What do we do!? This cannot be happening!
Seller_olVQX6T16CAAe
Anybody want to talk about this over the phone or somewhere? In the same situation and extremely frustrated.
Seller_IonTtoQys0Y8T
can someone from Amazon assist us here?
Seller_LTNvvFJ2jqJOv
@Seller_ZqY2M0Atj0U1i @Seller_olVQX6T16CAAe @Seller_PxBMt9JZpk3IZ @Seller_Eq4cvtCG8ACrg @Seller_9C3naG6FUbKz9 @Seller_HT2VU7iUfIQvE @Seller_6Yaqifs2j2ZBm
Unfortunately Amazon is washing its hands of this recall. I don't think it is at all fair to the sellers, however, they are not going to be part of a recall.
Amazon is NOT going to help you. You need to retain a lawyer and go after the manufacturer, not Amazon.
I know normally a recall doesn't affect the seller and should only affect the manufacturer, yet, Amazon does not care and will give away your money so they are in no way culpable.
It's like I get a recall on my Toyota Tacoma. Toyota doesn't refund all the buyers and take from the dealers accounts, but, this is exactly what Amazon is doing apparently and you will need a lawyer to get your money back from the manufacturer.
Seller_LTNvvFJ2jqJOv
like I said Amazon is preemptively fixing the issue, didn't say it was correct or even legal. The manufacturer may have reached out to Amazon to ask them to send refunds, you won't know.
The manufacturer is the one you are going to have to go after. Amazon legal most likely knows the action is teflon.
Seller_6Yaqifs2j2ZBm
Everyone we should really talk. Someone sent me this today. I’m trying to find the link. Has any one of us actually received a notification that our product was recalled in your seller central?
Seller_0xdtD36hDLHBC
I think that whoever posted the "in essence" part is reading something that is not there.
Amazon is a "distributor" and responsible for recalls. That means that Amazon is responsible for replacements or refunds. Amazon would have no way to send out replacements. So, they are issuing a refund to comply.
Seller_LTNvvFJ2jqJOv
Amazon did oversee it, sent refunds, their problem is solved.
Seller_0xdtD36hDLHBC
Correct. My point was that Amazon had two options--refund or replace. The summary (in essence) states that Amazon isn't obligated to refund, but they are obligated to refund or replace. There is no way for Amazon to replace. That leaves refund.
Seller_HT2VU7iUfIQvE
So how do the sellers who are still selling sell right now? Won't the customer be sent a message for every product sold, meaning a refund will still be made? Why are sellers still selling products? Or will they come to everyone one by one? Will the listings be closed one by one? There seem to be sellers who have never had a problem and have never been refunded. How does this happen?
Seller_LTNvvFJ2jqJOv
These sellers just don't get that Amazon will not help or care, it is up to them to retain a lawyer and go after the manufacturer and that's not gonna be cheap unfortunately
Seller_LTNvvFJ2jqJOv
Don't worry about what other sellers do or don't do, if they are in that round of refunds, you can be sure Amazon will get to them.
Seller_Eq4cvtCG8ACrg
EXCEPT.... there was no RECALL. Not to mention every recall I have ever been through as a customer, required the customer take action to receive the refund or replacement. For instance Craftsman recently had a recall on a sledge hammer i bought on amazon. I had to write "RECALLED" on the handle in black sharpy, take a photo of it, and send the photo to craftsman before I received any refund. Never in my life have I woke up one morning to an email saying "oh there was a safety concern with this product, here's a refund, have a great day." The customer always has to claim the refund themselves.
Seller_08TZq9sOIaGvv
China is not going to answer the phone for someone who bought 1000 of these on a PI. Now if you are Weber and have an actual CONTRACT, you might have a chance and ONLY because YiLing Burning Flame wants future business. Sadly, this will not end well for sellers imho.
Seller_SV3BzBufuMSWd
But AMAZON is responsible for the refunds, not the third party sellers. Amazon is the distributor. Amazon should be covering the costs. Good lawyers could absolutely file a successful suit against Amazon for quite literally stealing form seller accounts and making unilateral decisions.
Seller_PxBMt9JZpk3IZ
I opened multiple cases, the seller support team told that the refund code showed it was because "DEFECTIVE ITEM IN SHIPMENT". Notice, it's DEFECTIVE not DAMAGED BY CARRIER, so I should take the responsibility. How ridiculous! Amazon knows what they done is not legal, so they made up the reason. After one-hour FRIENDLY talking, the seller support team told me to wait 60 days then request reimbursement, they will reimburse in 120 days, and if buyers return, the reimbursement will be retracted. However, I doubt it whether they would make the reimbursement or not. Even they would, it is a challenge for sellers to "LOSE" the money for 120 days.
Seller_Eq4cvtCG8ACrg
Do ya'll think the process is over now and that it was just one sweep on the 24th/25th? or are others still being flagged and refunds still being sent out. I would just like to know that what damage has been done is done and this is over and go from here to look for resolutions instead of being on edge that other ASIN's are going to be affected. I had 4 more ASIN's in the same category. I have deleted their listings and liquidated all my inventory that was in the fulfillment centers. I am hoping this was enough to prevent them from getting flagged as well, but I am still on edge.
Seller_3BVSEC9dCwUsb
would be nice to make a group for this case and manage this problem all together. Is there anyway? I had 305 products that charged me 48 in total 17722. read between lines
Seller_oDXVaydIpi3Hi
It's not either. It's sickening to see this happening to other sellers. Makes you wonder when you'll be hit by something potentially even from years ago. This is the stuff the FTC should be handling
Seller_L4mc9uax2MoSW
So how is this different than selling candles? Are candle makers liable for a house burning down? Confusing situation.
