If you sell on Amazon or intend to start selling on Amazon, you’ll most likely have noticed that Amazon Return Policy and A-Z Guarantee can be cruel to sellers!
In many cases when a buyer requests a refund within 30 days, you’ll have no choice than to grant the refund and even pay for the reshipment of the product back to you even if that buyer wakes up on day 29 and decides they no longer want your product!
A callous buyer can even leave a negative review on your store and file a claim against you which may result in Amazon automatically debiting you!
Returns can make you quickly go at a loss and have a negative balance on Amazon!
Let me mention that Amazon does offer some type of protection to the seller as well, for example the Seller may not pay reshipment fees and may even charge a defined percentage (depending on the product) as restocking fees.
In cases where the seller’s product is as good as described and was delivered on time! This is typically in cases of buyer’s remorse however many Amazon buyers lie about the reason for their refund.
Amazon does no make things any simpler because because when a Buyer requests a refund Amazon present them with a list of possible reasons why they are requesting the refund;
The top of this reasons on the list, are practically reasons for which the seller will be compelled to pay for the reshipment or ask the customer to keep the product, issue a refund and get deprived of the Right to charge restocking fees.
Do Amazon buyers lie about reason for their return?
Yes! Many Amazon Sellers have reported that some buyers lie about the reason for their refund so they can enjoy free return and refund and the expense of the Seller and when the Seller try to protest this, Amazon claims largely resolves in Favour of the Buyer!
This makes it easy for any callous Buyer to order an Outfit for an event, attend an event and Afterwards request a free return and refund by lying about the reason for their return request at the expense of the Seller.
Ways to avoid Amazon Returns
If you want to avoid Amazon Return, you should follow this general advise;
- Sell quality Products;
If your products are high quality. It reduces the likelihood that a buyer would want to return it.
- Have a clear description of your product;
Ever seen those online Trends Of what I ordered Vs What I got? Basically, you need to ensure that what your customers are ordering is what they get by simply giving a true and clear description of your product.
- Deliver product within the time offered;
If you say that the product shipping time is within 5 days for example then ensure that the product can be delivered within that time frame.
It’s recommended to give at least a couple of days markup, so if your product can be delivered within 5 days.
You could say that the product is delivered within 7 days, to leave a little room for any delays.
If you’re Dropshipping. Its important to use a supplier that can offer you fast shipping times.
You can check this list of Suppliers in the UK, EU and North America. - Offer trackable shipping;
use a shipping method that can be tracked, so that your customer or Amazon can easily verify that your product has been shipped or has arrived.
- Take pictures of the product just before shipping them out;
this is important so that in case of any claim Amazon can see a picture of the condition of the product at the time it was shipped.
- Be polite and Responsive to your customers;
It is important to be polite, professional and respond quickly to your customers so that any issues can easily be dialogue and resolved amicably.
If you have followed the general advice above and yet you are unlucky because Buyers are lying about the reasons for their return request or you just want to have a stronger opinion as to whether or not to offer refunds in cases of Buyers remorse then you should try the following: - Sell Customizable products;
Since customizable products are personalized to the Buyer’s request, Amazon allows Sellers to decide whether or not they would offer refunds in cases of Buyer’s remorse.
This means in cases where the product was delivered on time but the buyer changes their mind.
More so, for customizable products if the Seller wants to offer Refund, they can charge restocking fees on the Buyer.
The Buyer also pays for reshipment. However, to sell customizable product on Amazon, you’ll be required to have an Amazon Professional account.
If you want to sell customizable products on Amazon, you can use Print on Demand Services like Printful. - Sell Handmade Products;
Since Handmade products are made on order and personalized to the Buyer’s request, Amazon allows Sellers to decide whether or not they would offer refunds for Handmade products in cases of Buyer’s remorse.
More so, for Handmade products, if the Seller wants to offer Refund, they can charge restocking fees on the Buyer.
The Buyer also pays for reshipment. However, to sell Handmade product on Amazon, you’ll have to apply for and be accepted into the Amazon Handmade program and you are not required to have an Amazon Professional account.
