Must read during peak season! Amazon FBA return policy has been completely upgraded!

With the arrival of the October peak season, Amazon is also frequently updating its policies, especially upgrading its FBA return policy.

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Amazon Launches FBA Rating and Resale Return Policy

Recently, Amazon launched a new product return management option called "Grade and Resell". Previously, this feature was only available to retail brands, but now it is also available to independent FBA sellers .

The program can provide resale channels and simplify the return process, helping sellers reduce return losses while providing consumers with more affordable second-hand product options.

When the goods are returned to the Amazon Return Center, Amazon will conduct a strict quality assessment and divide them into four levels according to the condition of the goods: "Like New", "Very Good", "Good" and "Acceptable", and then put these graded goods back on the market for resale.

In addition, the program also joins other services available to US FBA sellers, including product support, FBA only refunds, FBA donations, etc.

In response to the rising return rate during the peak season, the new policy helps sellers simplify the return process, optimizes the buyer's consumption experience, and reduces the pressure of return costs. However, many sellers are worried about whether this policy will be abused by consumers, especially the refund-only model.

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Amazon's "Refund Only" Policy Upgrades

A while ago, Amazon officially launched a new "Amazon FBA refund and no-return solution" for sellers on the US site.

This feature brings a new experience to sellers and buyers. When a buyer applies for a return and returns the logistics inventory to the Amazon fulfillment center, the Amazon fulfillment center will evaluate its saleability. FBA sellers who have set up this solution can choose to allow buyers to get a refund directly without returning the goods, thereby saving sellers the return processing and removal fees.

However, to prevent potential abuse, the "refund without return" option is only available to customers who have no history of return abuse. In addition, this solution has specific restrictions on product types. Products must comply with legal, safety, and regulatory guidelines. The following categories are not applicable to this solution:

• Dangerous Goods

• Recalled Products

• Gift Cards

• Large and heavy items

• Products with an average selling price of more than $75

In order to help sellers reduce returns, Amazon has updated its return policy, allowing sellers to actively register and have the right to choose to issue a refund or no refund at all based on their actual situation.

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International Return Policy Update

Amazon recently announced a major update to its international return policy for self-service sellers, effective September 16, 2024. The new policy requires international sellers without a default U.S. return address to provide a non-refundable or prepaid international return label within two days of receiving a return request.

The change means the previous five-day return period is now reduced to two days, and sellers will receive an email notification when a refund is processed. They can respond to return requests by uploading a return label on the Manage Returns page in Seller Central.

If the seller fails to respond within the specified time, Amazon can refund the customer on the seller's behalf and deduct the corresponding amount from the seller's account.

Many sellers believe that as Amazon implements these new policies, the risk of sellers encountering "zero-dollar purchases" is gradually increasing. This means that sellers will not only lose the goods, but also have to bear additional return processing fees.

But everything has two sides. Every new policy update by Amazon will have an impact on the operating costs of sellers. Sellers still need to pay close attention and adjust their strategies to deal with Amazon in a timely manner.