Amazon is the world’s biggest online retailer. There are millions of products across Amazon’s platform, with a huge range of sellers, merchants, and brands to buy from. Amazon has a staggering inventory of about 12 million items across all of its categories.
With such a wide variety of items and products on offer and the fact that the company makes over $638 million each and every day, you may be wondering how on earth Amazon checks returned orders to keep their system running smoothly
If you read many reviews for different products, you may find that sometimes, people receive items that have been opened or used before.
Amazon has excellent customer service, so they will always allow you to return or replace damaged items or unwanted items, so there’s no need to worry about that.
But, how well does Amazon screen these items before sending them out to other buyers, and do they actively even check their returned orders?
Does Amazon Check Returns?
Have you ever ordered from Amazon and received a box that looks a little tattered, as if it has been opened and resealed before? It can make you wonder whether you’re getting somebody else’s leftovers or items they no longer wanted.
When you purchase from Amazon, you’ll want to ensure you’re paying for the quality and getting a brand-new, pristine product. So, the question remains: Does Amazon check returned items thoroughly, especially if some appear to have been previously used?
We’ve done the research for you to understand how Amazon checks returned orders and what happens next. For the most part, it seems like there are mixed answers.
With so many products, sellers, merchants, and items, it seems impossible for Amazon to check every return meticulously. It seems that some returned orders are checked over before being sent out or reused, whereas others are not.
This could be because of the value of the item. A $3 phone case may not be worth the time it takes to pay someone to meticulously check over the item, whereas a $500 gaming console is worth Amazon’s time, because they don’t want to lose money.
You may have even seen videos where YouTubers purchase a mystery box of Amazon returned items for just a few bucks, to see what perfectly working and good condition products they can find.
Some people even do this as a business to sell items and make money. So, it’s clear that lower-value, non-fraud-related items are often not checked by Amazon and could be just sitting in the warehouse to either be purchased again or sold in bulk lots to get rid of them.
When asked about Amazon checking returns, a Process Assistant states that yes, Amazon does check returns. Still, the detail and severity of the inspection will depend on what the item was, whether it is a high fraud item, whether the customer has a clean account, or whether they return items often.
For instance, some Amazon buyers will purchase a product, use it, and then request a return and refund, saying that it is no longer needed or is broken or wrong in some way.
As a seller, this can be very frustrating as Amazon often wants to keep the customers happy and will offer a refund right away giving the customer 30 days to return the item.
They may then return the used item, which you can no longer sell, or even send an empty box or claim the item went missing in transit.
Suppose a customer behaves in this way frequently. In that case, Amazon may make a point of checking the returned item, as fraudulent behavior on Amazon can get customers banned from using the platform.
Some customers will frequently return items for refunds or gifts, in which case Amazon will flag this up and check the item. However, sometimes, a computer tool will check the item for its condition and to see whether there are any issues.
Other high-value items such as PS5s, iPhones, Xbox, and other consoles and expensive items will be meticulously checked for any issues and either sent back to the retailer or, if there are no issues, then they may be sent to other buyers.
If a customer has never returned an item before or has never had any issues, then Amazon typically will return the item and offer a refund before they even get the item back in order to keep the customer happy. In this case, they may not even check the item when returned.
Amazon’s Return Policy
Amazon’s return policy varies based on many different variables, such as the location of the country the item was sold in, what type of product it is, and whether the seller is Amazon directly or a third-party seller. In the United States, their policy is very generous.
The customer is given a return window of 30 days from the date of delivery for most items to ensure that the customer has plenty of time to evaluate the quality of the product. There are exceptions to this, however. Some electronic devices and software are given a shorter window of just 14 days, which is still plenty of time.
Items must be returned in as close to new condition as possible. Customers often wonder, does Amazon inspect returns for wear and tear, or are these inspections only performed randomly?
If the item has any visible wear and tear, there is a chance that a refund could be denied depending on the severity. Items must also be returned with all of their accessories and their original packaging. For digital products or video games, the seal must not be broken and any keys included must not be redeemed.
Does Amazon check returned items consistently? Returning orders on Amazon involves a careful inspection of the items to ensure that they are still in good condition and to verify the authenticity of what’s in the package. Amazon employees will carefully look for any signs of damage, evidence of wear and tear, as well as any indication that the item was purposefully broken.
They also check to make sure that the correct item is being returned and not a counterfeit or an attempt to swap an item outside of its return window for a new one. Note that if the item was sold by a third-party seller on Amazon, then Amazon will only assist the seller, and will not directly perform the job of inspecting the item or issuing refunds.
All of this is done to make sure that its return process isn’t being abused, so that it can continue to offer its generous Amazon return policy, maximizing customer satisfaction.
Where are Amazon Returns Sent To?
Where your returned item actually ends up depends on a number of conditions. These include things such as the condition of the item, what category the product falls under, as well as the individual seller. Usually, though, they’re sent back to one of Amazon’s fulfillment centers. These locations are equipped with special equipment and machinery that allows for the rapid sporting and handling of returned items.
Does Amazon check returned items once they arrive? Each item is individually inspected to evaluate its current condition., ensuring that what was sent back meets Amazon’s standards set for returns. Items that are determined to still be in saleable condition will usually be relisted back into their available stock of said item.
What happens if Amazon rejects a return though? If Amazon checks a returned order and finds that it does not meet its quality standards, there are several ways in which it will dispose of it. They can choose to get rid of the rejected products by donating them to charities, ensuring that they don’t go to waste.
In cases where it isn’t of worth to anyone, they can also gather up items of the same type and sell them in bulk to various liquidation companies. In cases where neither of these makes sense, they will also choose to send the item off to be recycled, helping the company meet its environmental goals.
How to Return an Item on Amazon?
Returning an item on Amazon is simple.
Find the list of past orders: Make sure that you’re logged into your Amazon account. Once you verify that you are, navigate to the settings screen, find the “Accounts & Lists” menu, and click on “Your Orders”.
Select your item: Go through your list of past orders and locate the product you want to return. It will be within the last month, so you will not need to change the range of dates that items are shown. Click on the order.
Start the return: Look for a link that says “Return or Replace Items” and click on it. If the item hasn’t fallen outside of the return window, then you will be allowed to continue.
Select the reason for return: You will be asked via a series of choices why you’re returning this. Choose the option that is relevant to your situation.
Choose your return method: There are many ways you can return your item to Amazon these days. This will vary heavily based on your location, but typically you will be given the option to print a return label and ship it yourself via mail or be given the choice to return to places such as Staples, Kohl’s, or even the UPS store. You may wonder, does Amazon actually check returns? The answer is that they instruct staff at these locations to inspect the item to ensure that what you’re giving them is what’s on the return slip.
How Quickly Does Amazon Issue Refunds After Returning an Item?
Amazon has an efficient process for determining if a product qualifies for a refund before it’s issued. Typically, the exact timing can vary between 1-3 business days. The following are a number of different scenarios that can affect when you will receive your refund:
In cases where you qualify for an advanced refund, you may be issued the refund as soon as the item is dropped off by you or the chosen mail carrier before any checks or processing is done. This will be refunded to either the card you paid for the item with or as an Amazon Gift Card balance.
If you qualify for an advanced replacement or exchange and follow the instructions given to you, then your replacement will be shipped without Amazon waiting for confirmation that the item arrived at their facility. You will still need to return the original.
If Amazon determines that the returned item fails to meet their standards, such as through wear and tear, accidental or intentional damage, or missing things like accessories, then you may be charged back the refund you were given. If they are unable to recover the funds from you, then you will be prompted to repay that amount before they will process any other returns.
To avoid being charged, make sure that you only request return items that are in new condition, have the correct mailing label applied, and ensure that if you’re dropping off the item it’s at a verified return location.
If you end up in a situation where you returned the item but it doesn’t arrive at their facility before the end of the return window, and you end up getting charged for an advance return, you don’t need to worry. Once the item arrives at an Amazon facility, your refund will be returned to you.
Once the refund has been issued, it can take extra time for the funds to reach your chosen destination depending on what it is:
Credit cards: 1-3 business days
Amazon Gift Cards: up to 10 business days
Debit cards: up to 10 business days
Checking accounts: up to 10 business days
EBT cards: Up to 10 business days
Gift Card balance: 2-3 hours
Reward Points: Up to 5 business days
Pay in cash: Up to 10 business days
Prepaid credit card: up to 30 business days
Various miscellaneous payment plans: 3-10 business days except in cases of checks by mail where it can take up to 45 days.
Note that no refund will be to promotional certificates.
Why Doesn’t Amazon Check All Returns?
What it all boils down to is the insane volume of products and items being sold by Amazon every single day. Returns are high in any business, but you can only imagine how many returns Amazon receives every single day.
The sheer amount of workforce they would need to hire in order to meticulously check in detail all of the products being returned would be excessive, resulting in losses.
Instead, Amazon makes the return process very simple. When you request a return, Amazon sends you a shipping label that is prepaid. Then, when that label is scanned by a delivery service, Amazon knows that you have returned the merchandise.
When the products arrive back at the Amazon warehouse, it is roughly sorted according to the department, so items will be sorted into categories such as books, DVDs, computers, electronics, clothing, CDs, accessories, homeware, and more.
These are then sorted and loaded onto large crates and pallets. It is these pallets that are then auctioned off and sold. Sometimes, these crates are filled with unwanted junk, faulty items, or products that have been broken in transit or through other means. The buyers of these pallets will then sort through the junk, and resell anything salvageable.
In addition to this, Amazon may conduct spot audits where they check items and spot-check expensive products. They may also flag returns for an in-depth inspection if you have an interesting return history.
If any issues are found, they will take back the refund they automatically give when a return is started. Alternatively, if your return history is flagged or questionable, Amazon will delay the refund until closer inspection.
Relevant reading:
Return And Disposal Of FBA Inventory
Amazon may have looked through every single return in the past and resold what was possible, but with the vast amount of products that they now sell, it is impossible for them to accurately inspect and deal with the huge amounts of returns.
The cost it would take to pay people to manually inspect and sort through the products is just more expensive than selling the returned items in bulk.
How does Amazon decide which returns to check?
Does Amazon check returns? Absolutely. When they choose to do it can vary significantly, however. Amazon uses a variety of different ways to determine whether an item needs to be inspected or not.
The reason the customer selected for why the item was returned can heavily affect this. Items returned for the reason of damage or defectiveness will be more likely to be inspected to verify the customer’s claim.
The history of the buyer can affect this. Amazon may flag the accounts of those with higher than average return rates and more frequently inspect their returns to ensure that the process isn’t being abused by them.
The return package may be automatically flagged by the sorting machine for reasons such as suspected tampering, or if the weight or dimensions of the package don’t meet expectations.
Lastly, the package may also be chosen for inspection by nothing more than random sampling. This is done to catch fraudulent returns that slip by all of Amazon’s other checks.
What items can’t be returned to Amazon?
Amazon has a very generous return policy, but there are exceptions to what they allow to be returned. The reason these restrictions exist is to make sure that the product is safe to be resold, donated, or disposed of.
You may be denied a return if the product was visibly modified, for instance, as there could be any number of possible issues if it fell into someone else’s hands. Here is what usually falls under what Amazon considers not returnable:
Digital content such as software, ebooks, music
Physical software like a CD (if the seal is broken), unless defective
Items that were personalized, such as an engraving or extra or removed parts
Hazardous materials like poisonous, flammable, or explosive chemicals
Used undergarments, unless defective
Open hygiene products
Made-to-order items
Time-sensitive products such as a ticket or pass to an event
What happens if you send an empty box back to Amazon?
If you’re wondering “Does Amazon actually check returns?” and think that you can get away with returning an empty box to them, you’re wrong. If you try to bypass the process when Amazon checks returned orders—like sending back an empty box—you may face serious consequences:
You will be denied your refund.
Your account may be suspended or even outright banned for good.
You may be subject to legal action and face fines or worse.
Actions like this harm trust in the platform and could potentially force Amazon to reevaluate its generous return policy, not to mention that you could face legal trouble for doing something completely avoidable.
Does Amazon reject returns?
Amazon checks returned orders and has a set of criteria for what they allow to be returned. What happens if Amazon rejects a return? Here is what you can do to possibly resolve the situation:
You can recheck their return policy to ensure that your item meets the criteria of what is allowed to be returned in the first place. You may find that the item does not qualify for a return.
If your return was rejected due to missing parts or another fixable reason, and if they allow you to do so, you may be able to perform another attempt at return. Make sure that you are meeting all of their conditions this time.
If you believe that Amazon should accept the return, you can contact customer support to have them clarify why it’s being rejected. You may also appeal their decision or come to an alternate solution such as a replacement or partial refund.
Does Amazon check returns to the warehouse?
Yes, Amazon does inspect returned items received at their warehouse, especially for high-value or suspicious items. They want to ensure the quality and condition of returned products before deciding whether to resell them or return them to the retailer.
Is there a review process for returns made to third-party sellers on Amazon?
If you’re wondering if Amazon checks returns for third-party sellers, you’ll find that the process is a bit different.
When a customer starts a return for an item sold by a third party, Amazon first checks the reason selected for the return against the seller’s own return policy. If they’re compatible, then the customer proceeds with the return as normal by shipping the item back.
The difference continues where instead of an Amazon facility receiving the item it instead gets sent back to the seller. The seller will then inspect the item and confirm whether it meets their standards. If nothing is amiss, then the refund is processed as normal.
If there’s any kind of dispute between the customer and the seller, then Amazon can intervene in an attempt to reach an amicable solution. This return process ensures that both sides are treated fairly throughout the entirety of it.
How to know if Amazon checked my return?
If you aren’t sure if Amazon has checked your return, there are a few ways you can check to see the current status on it:
Visit your orders page on Amazon and click on the order that you initiated a return with. You will be able to see detailed information about the current status of it, as well as any tracking details that could be relevant.
You can check your email to see if you missed a notification about the return. Amazon sends you status updates regularly throughout the return process, such as when the seller or Amazon itself approves the return when the relevant party has received your returned item, and when your refund has been issued.
If you are still confused, you can always contact Amazon customer support for any questions you might have.
How can sellers protect themselves from fraudulent returns on Amazon?
Sellers can provide detailed product descriptions and images to reduce the likelihood of misunderstandings. They can also monitor their return history and report suspicious activity to Amazon.
Also, keep detailed records of the products, including serial numbers and unique identifiers. Also, you may use tamper-evident packaging, which can help identify whether an item has been used before.
What happens if I send damaged products back to Amazon?
If you knowingly send damaged products back to Amazon, be aware that Amazon checks returns for signs of damage. Whether Amazon or a third-party seller is responsible for inspection, the job is the same. They will inspect the item’s condition. If they find that the product is damaged, they will determine whether or not it could have been damaged during shipping, if the damage was made while it was in your possession.
If the item is found to be damaged by you and not during the process of shipping, then you might be denied a refund, or you may be offered a partial refund. Amazon or the third-party seller may also request that you take back the item.
Reaching out to customer support may be another path to a better resolution if you believe you are entitled to some form of compensation, such as a full or partial refund, or an exchange.
Free return eligibility on Amazon
To find out whether or not you’re eligible for a free return on Amazon, you should be aware of the following:
Having an Amazon Prime membership automatically gives you access to free returns on most things on Amazon, especially products sold directly by them. You will also be able to print a return label for free. Even those without Amazon Prime will often be eligible for free returns, but what qualifies is significantly more narrow, and some items may require that you pay for shipping.
Third-party sellers may not have the same sort of return policy that ordering directly from Amazon gives you. Always check the seller’s return policy before buying. Some may charge you a fee regardless of Prime membership, while others will offer free returns.
Some categories will almost never qualify for free returns, such as groceries, digital content like software, music, e-books, and gift cards.
Summary
To summarize, Amazon has a vast variety of items and products and sells millions of items every single day. Due to the massive volume of sales that Amazon generates daily, they often cannot check every single return in detail. The time, money, and effort spent doing this, and hiring people to check all of the returns would result in a loss of funds. Instead, Amazon often does not check returns unless they are of a very high value, and will sell them off in bulk in pallets and crates for others to resell.
FAQ: Because you had more questions 😉
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in January 2022 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
