Amazon Prime Day 2024: How to Return Items Without Fees

Are you planning on scoring as many deals as possible for Amazon Prime Day later this week? You’re not alone. Prime Day is one of the most anticipated online sales events of the year, with many people looking to take advantage of all the great deals.

But after the dust settles and you have all your stuff, regret can set in. What seemed like a great deal you couldn’t pass up is now something you don’t need, won’t use, or just don’t want anymore, so it’s time to return it.

Luckily, Amazon makes returning items pretty easy, but there are a few things you need to watch out for or you could end up paying a fee. Below, we’ll outline all the things you need to watch out for to ensure your returns are free.

For more Amazon tips, don’t miss the Pre-Prime Day deals you can get now, and discover 16 of the best Prime Perks you might not know about.

Give a reason, not an excuse

Try to be honest and precise about the reason you are returning the product. If possible, Amazon and third-party sellers want to resell the goods (for example, via Amazon Warehouse Deals), so they can check your items against your statement once they receive the package.

Some return reasons qualify for free shipping, while others do not. For example, if you select “No longer needed,” you may be charged for return shipping.

Misclassifying a return can not only have negative consequences for your account (Amazon has been known to ban customers who abuse the returns process), but it can also leave you charged for shipping later.

Below are the different reasons Amazon gives you for returning:

1. No longer necessary: You have changed your mind and no longer want the item.
2. Incorrect website description: For example, the photo shows a royal blue, but the item is a light sky blue color. Similar to, but different from, “Wrong item sent” (see below).
3. Item defective or not working: It may be broken or simply not doing what it was designed to do (for example, a power bank with a broken USB-C port).
4. Bought by accident: You accidentally Buy now or forgot to remove an item from your shopping cart before checking out.
5. Better price available:For example, you found the same product at Walmart, but for a lower price than at Amazon.
6. Product damaged but shipping box OK: The box is not dented, cut or scratched, but the item inside has cosmetic or mechanical damage.
7. Item arrived late: The item was delivered longer than the guaranteed delivery time and was delivered late due to a birthday or holiday, for example.
8. Missing or broken parts: Similar to “Item was defective or not working,” but applies specifically to attachments or other items included with a purchase.
9. Product and shipping box both damaged: Somewhere between the time the package was packed and the time it was delivered to your home, the package was mishandled and the product arrived broken.
10. The wrong item has been sent: If you have received a completely different item than you ordered.
11. Received additional item that I did not purchase (no refund needed): There is something extra packed with your order and you feel obligated to return it.
12. Purchase not approved: Someone, such as a child or a friend, has ordered something on your account without you asking and you have been charged.

Ordered with Alexa? Returns are always free

If you’re considering a purchase but are really worried that it won’t qualify for free returns if it doesn’t work out, order it through Alexa. Physical merchandise ordered via voice shopping with Amazon’s digital assistant always free returns, regardless of the reasonThe only exception is purchases from Amazon Pharmacy.

To return a product purchased with Alexa, process your return as usual in the Returns Center and Amazon will automatically refund any applied shipping costs. You should see your refund within 7 days of Amazon receiving the goods back.

View all available return shipping options

When Amazon asks you to select a return shipping method, Kohl’s delivery point may be the default pre-selected option, but it is not necessarily the option you want.

To get to the UPS Pickup option, this is the only way to return items without leaving your home:

1. Scroll down and if necessary click on a link that says something like “View more return options.”
2. When you finally see the option for UPS Pickupit should also show the costs as $0.00 (unless you selected one of the few return reasons for which Amazon charges a fee, in which case Amazon will deduct approximately $6 from your refund).
3. Tap or click UPS Pickup and select Confirm your return.

Tell Amazon where to send your refund

You’ll need to choose how you want to get your money back: The quickest way is to request a credit to your Amazon account, which the company will issue once UPS scans your return into its system. However, you’ll then be limited to spending the money at Amazon.

You can also have the money refunded to your debit or credit card. However, while Amazon will issue the refund once UPS receives your return package, it may still take three to five business days for it to appear in your account.

Whether you choose a store credit or a refund, you still need to decide how you want to return the item.

All that remains now is to pack everything and send it off

Follow all instructions that Amazon provides. This will likely include printing a packing slip and including it with your return shipment.

Seal the box well, also over the return label, so that it does not get damaged. Place the package at your front door, so that you do not forget to put it away the next working day.

You can even set a reminder on your phone or through Alexa or Google Assistant so you don’t forget.

If you schedule a pickup but forget to leave your return outside, UPS will hopefully leave a note and make two more attempts to pick up the package. In the worst case, the UPS delivery person will leave a pre-paid shipping label that you will need to place on the package yourself, and then you will need to take it to the nearest UPS Store or UPS Dropoff location.

For more information, don’t miss how to sign up for a Prime membership before Amazon Prime Day and Prime Day deals under $25.