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AIBU?

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I feel I’ve been absolutely scammed by Amazon. Do not buy anything expensive from them!

108 replies

FireAdvice · 06/11/2025 07:16

I’ve certainly learnt a lesson from this experience and won’t buy anything expensive especially not an electrical item from them again.

bought an expensive dualit toaster and it didn’t work. They said I could return it, but I’d binned the toaster box . I sent it back, at the post office the woman there even had to open my box to check there was a toaster in there which she did and signed to say she’d done it. My refund came through.

a while later I had an email saying they’d not got my return. I rang them, the bloke apologised and said it was a mistake and not to worry.

then two weeks ago I had an email saying I’d sent them a different toaster back and they charged my debit card for the full amount of the toaster. Customer services are not allowed to talk to me about this on the phone or the chat. I can only deal with the specialist team by email. I’ve replied to the email as instructed was told I’d have a response in 72 hours and nothing. Customer services say they’d can’t escalate it.

ive responded to the email 4x now and still no response. I’m tweeting them and they just repeatedly tell me to respond to the email. I keep telling them that I do but nobody replies.

its like dealing with some rogue trader scam artist. They got my return, but are adamant I sent them a different toaster back which is blatantly not true. But how do I prove it? I have a video of the toaster not working so why would I keep a faulty toaster.

my brother had a similar issue where he ordered an expensive Lego set and in the box it was dirty, mixed Lego….not the set he’d ordered. He couldn’t prove that either. Loads of stories online of people order iPhones, etc and getting bags of icing sugar. They never get their money back, they get treated like they’re the ones trying to defraud Amazon. some people have even being barred from Amazon.

I’ll use John Lewis from now on, or Curry’s for electrical stuff. Just not worth the risk. I don’t think I’ll ever get the money back.

OP posts:
MigGirl · 06/11/2025 07:26

We had an issue with a monitor DH had bought from amazon (yes amazon not a 3rd party). He sent it back and has never seen the money nore had the monitor back and they just don't reply to enquiries. I said he should raise it with his credit card company but he hasn't.

I won't buy expensive electric items from them now. We go elsewhere, although I still buy small items from them.

DontGoToThatPlace · 06/11/2025 07:25

You should always check who the seller is. As @oviraptor21 says some companies use Amazon to promote whatever they are selling so it will say Dispatches From and then underneath Sold By.

We have been using Amazon since 2002 it is our default website for buying items after shopping around of course. Never had an issue and have returned many things. We avoid marketplace items. Always keep the packaging until you are sure it works. I won't be boycotting them, they are great.

Jane143 · 06/11/2025 07:24

No help to you but I’ve found them very good. I had an item arrived which was bad quality so clicked the box to return it. I immediately got a refund and they said no need to return item.

nosleepforme · 06/11/2025 07:23

Are you sure? Amazon are very reliable

Canyousewcushions · 06/11/2025 07:21

Was it amazon marketplace rather than amazon?

I've had to resort to raising a claim through my credit card a couple of times for items that didnt match the online images- it may be worth trying this if you paid by credit card? I did get the money back by doing this! In one case, telling the supplier id do this if they didn't refund me was enough to get them to do the refund themselves.

NotForTheMoneyandNotForTheApplause · 06/11/2025 07:21

Did you post about this recently? If not it sounds like it's not an isolated incident

I rarely buy from Amazon but when I have returned things in the past it been fine

The more people who boycott them the better for all the other retailers so win win imo

It would be prudent for everyone to video themselves opening expensive items

Whyherewego · 06/11/2025 07:20

Ask them to send your toaster back !

oviraptor21 · 06/11/2025 07:19

Sounds like you ordered from the Marketplace so although you're using thr Amazon interface you're dealing with an independent trader.
I've found Amazon itself to be extremely efficient in accepting returns.
Throwing away the box wasn't ideal. I always keep the box until I'm sure the item does what it's meant to do.

Edited to add: Got a fantastic Samsung phone, reconditioned, half the price. Perfect, looks like new. Bargain.