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AIBU?

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Original poster

Amazon should reimburse me right?

168 replies

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 07:07

Ordered protein bars (16). Came yesterday. Best before limit date 03.2026. Seriously? So in a couple of weeks. Tried to return but they wouldn't have it- since it's "food" you can't return- safety reasons I get this. But shouldn't they atleast reimburse me- I mean I bought these to have for atleast 4 months.

YANBU - Ofcourse you should be reimbursed!

YABU- Just hurry up and eat them all before March.

OP posts:
GreenIsTheColourOfMyHoliday · 04/02/2026 09:28

16 bars in 8 weeks is plenty of time

Most people would eat 16 bars in about 2 weeks so the time would be fine and would prevent food waste

Wellthisisdifficult · 04/02/2026 09:27

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 07:14

I know they won't kill me but I find it annoying to buy a product that is about to expire. And I am ott with to be consumed before- dh eats happily but unfortunately he hates protein bars..

It’s not about to expire though, you have nearly 2 months to eat 16 protein bars

cramptramp · 04/02/2026 09:24

I buy items from eBay that are past the best before date. I save a lot of money doing this. Still alive.

DuchessofStaffordshire · 04/02/2026 09:16

Enrichetta · 04/02/2026 08:58

Most protein bars are UPF. There are many better - and tastier - ways of consuming protein.

I usually have a 2-3 egg omelette after my workout. Or a salad with boiled eggs, beans and/or tuna.

Very true. Eating clean is the way. I couldn't get through the volume of training I do at the moment on UPFs. I manage to hit my macros on whole foods.and my body really thanks me for it. As I said earlier, the use by date on a protein bar should be the least of someone's worries.

Original poster
TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 09:10

JayJayj · 04/02/2026 09:03

🤣🤣 way to dodge what I meant due to my wording. Also the majority of people here think YOU are wrong. Don’t make your issues everyone else’s. If you only eat one a week buy it in the day.

You also haven’t answered my question. Do you eat bread, milk, eggs, cheese? Or just tinned food so you have years to eat it?

Edited
Show quote history

I do acknowledge that everyone thinks I'm unreasonable. That does not make me a scammer.

I do eat everything above and I only buy the quantity I am sure to eat/the family will eat before best before date. I don't like to waste food so I don't. And I will keep eat some bars and hand out to friends so maybe the company will get New clients if they are to their liking. First and last time I bulk buy online.

OP posts:
CactusSwoonedEnding · 04/02/2026 09:10

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:40

Explain how I have "scammed" anyone. I have been entirely thruthful and they obviously thought that my complaint was reasonable or they wouldn't have refunded me.

Show quote history

Not true. Their general policy is to give in when unreasonable people are persistent in their unreasonablness when it comes to low-value items because it's cheaper for them to give you your money back than to pay sufficient staff to deal with your complaining, and their business model relies on people having the confidence to order even when the item might not be quite right so they can't afford to get a reputation about being strict with a tight returns policy.

JayJayj · 04/02/2026 09:03

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 09:00

YOU think I'm wrong. A scam is when you are misleading someone or not being truthful. I take offense at that but I acknowledge that I'm a princess when it comes to best before dates.

Show quote history

🤣🤣 way to dodge what I meant due to my wording. Also the majority of people here think YOU are wrong. Don’t make your issues everyone else’s. If you only eat one a week buy it in the day.

You also haven’t answered my question. Do you eat bread, milk, eggs, cheese? Or just tinned food so you have years to eat it?

Imdunfer · 04/02/2026 09:01

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:40

Explain how I have "scammed" anyone. I have been entirely thruthful and they obviously thought that my complaint was reasonable or they wouldn't have refunded me.

Show quote history

Nobody looked at your refund and thought it was reasonable.

It's an automated process that defaults to giving refunds to unreasonable people because it's cheaper and easier for Amazon than getting a person to look at it.

You have defrauded a retailer (probably not Amazon themselves) who sold you pefectly acceptable goods and has now lost their money.

Congratulations.

This ranks right up there with a recent thread where someone returned a duvet their dog had been sick on.

Original poster
TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 09:00

JayJayj · 04/02/2026 08:56

Because you are wrong. They have sent you an item with an expiry date in 8 weeks time. They are in date. And you have complained to get your money back. They do tend to just refund. Do you not eat bread or milk because they have short expiry dates?

Show quote history

YOU think I'm wrong. A scam is when you are misleading someone or not being truthful. I take offense at that but I acknowledge that I'm a princess when it comes to best before dates.

OP posts:
Enrichetta · 04/02/2026 08:58

Most protein bars are UPF. There are many better - and tastier - ways of consuming protein.

I usually have a 2-3 egg omelette after my workout. Or a salad with boiled eggs, beans and/or tuna.

JayJayj · 04/02/2026 08:56

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:40

Explain how I have "scammed" anyone. I have been entirely thruthful and they obviously thought that my complaint was reasonable or they wouldn't have refunded me.

Show quote history

Because you are wrong. They have sent you an item with an expiry date in 8 weeks time. They are in date. And you have complained to get your money back. They do tend to just refund. Do you not eat bread or milk because they have short expiry dates?

nam3c4ang3 · 04/02/2026 08:56

What im hearing is you bought something, didnt want it for whatever ridiculous reason, wanted a refund, got one, and now going to keep it and potentially eat it - for free? OR - are you going to throw them away op, because you know, your phobia?

ChimpOnMyShoulder · 04/02/2026 08:56

Put the ones you won’t eat in the food bank rather than chucking them please.

Original poster
TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:55

Starlight1979 · 04/02/2026 08:52

They probably just couldn't be arsed arguing.

Also, you ordered 16 protein bars to last you 4 months?!

Show quote history

Yes, for wednesdays when I do a long work out.

OP posts:
BlackCat14 · 04/02/2026 08:54

I don’t really know what protein bars are- asssuming they’re like Mars bar sized bars to eat? You have two months to eat 16, that’s two a week… that’s really doable surely? Unless I’ve misinterpreted what they are!

Fulmine · 04/02/2026 08:53

Surely you can eat two a week?

Starlight1979 · 04/02/2026 08:52

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:40

Explain how I have "scammed" anyone. I have been entirely thruthful and they obviously thought that my complaint was reasonable or they wouldn't have refunded me.

Show quote history

They probably just couldn't be arsed arguing.

Also, you ordered 16 protein bars to last you 4 months?!

Original poster
TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:51

Womaninhouse17 · 04/02/2026 08:46

They'll be fine for ages. And it's not an 'eat by' date. If you're going to be fussy about the dates, you'll have to go to the shops and search through stuff on the shelves. Some things will never have a long shelf life.

Protein or cereal bars usually have very long dates and can get hard and unchewable.

OP posts:
Womaninhouse17 · 04/02/2026 08:50

TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 07:51

Thank you! I have never done this before as I have only returned items that were "returnable". They directed me to a chat where I had to send photos. And..
They will reimburse me and told me to do what I want with the bars I have. 😁

So even though MN deemed me as unreasonable (which I understand) I gained cause thanks to @Plumbernightmare who told me that it was possible. Thank you. And also it was very very quick. So I'm not going to badmouth Amazon even though it's ofcourse better for the planet and the local economy if we buy locally.

Show quote history

It would be better for the planet if you didn't order stuff off Amazon - and get them to send a second lot because you've been unreasonable about dates.

Womaninhouse17 · 04/02/2026 08:46

They'll be fine for ages. And it's not an 'eat by' date. If you're going to be fussy about the dates, you'll have to go to the shops and search through stuff on the shelves. Some things will never have a long shelf life.

viques · 04/02/2026 08:41

Seawolves · 04/02/2026 07:15

Even if you feel bound by Best Before dates you've still got around eight weeks to eat them in (but they will still be safe past that date). YABU

Yup. Eight weeks. 16 bars. So two a week, plenty of time to finish them before they turn green and venomous and claw their way out of your throat.

Plumbernightmare · 04/02/2026 08:40

@TheBlueKoala I'm glad you got it sorted.

If you click on Returns for Amazon, it automatically tells you you can't return food items (no matter what is wrong with it - damaged, mouldy, didn't turn up). You have to go through to their "talk to a person" option which is well-hidden in the process.

Re: short date, I don't buy protein bars, so I don't know what is standard - some food goes off quicker than others, so 2 months might be standard. But I bulk buy a lot of food that I expect to portion out over months - e.g. I might buy 30 cartons of chocolate milk for DD who needs nut-free protein each day after school for medical reasons - but so she doesn't get bored, I intersperse this with (e.g. 30 packets of biltong and 30 packets of Pepperami). I wouldn't be delighted with a short date if it's something I've bought at full price, as I'd need it to last 3 months.

Having said that, I'd be very happy to buy it at a discount and use it accordingly - I run a food bank so am not precious about eating things past their best before date!

Cosyblankets · 04/02/2026 08:40

What kind of date is on this kind of thing in the shops?
Perfectly fine date to me

Original poster
TheBlueKoala · 04/02/2026 08:40

JayJayj · 04/02/2026 08:14

I can’t believe you have scammed a refund because of your anxiety about eating food with an 8 week expiry date.

I am guessing you have either health anxiety or suffer with emetophobia. If so that’s a you problem and not anyone else.

Explain how I have "scammed" anyone. I have been entirely thruthful and they obviously thought that my complaint was reasonable or they wouldn't have refunded me.

OP posts:
Iwantamarshmallowman · 04/02/2026 08:39

you are being unreasonable to not understand the difference between a best before date and a sell by date.