Amazon refunds with returning the item? [Edit by MNHQ]

[summerlovingvibes]

Since when did this start??! I've just done to return an item, packaged it all up etc and then on my account it just says they have issued a refund but no need to return the item? Why on earth wouldn't they want the item back? Is this a mistake?!

Sorry - title is wrong! Have asked MumsNet to edit - should read : "Amazon refunds without returning the item"!

It probably costs them more to handle receiving a return and storing/disposing of it than the item is worth.

what company/price was it?

Costs more to receive the return sometimes. They have to receive it (potentially at their cost depending on their policy) and then either dispose of it (many do) or check it over before restocking or disposing of it. All of that costs staff time.

I’ve had it before, but in the run up to Christmas which I can imagine they just run out of staff capacity.

Because it’s more hassle for them to receive it back, process the return, deal with the admin etc than it is for you to just keep it.

It’s more common if they send the wrong item by accident, or two of the same item.

Yep I've had this, and also an item refunded as it didn't arrive, then arrived, I contacted them and they said to keep it!

Usually when it's from a third party seller, usually when they have no facility to accept or process the item coming back.

Yes occasionally Amazon do this as it's either not worth the cost or it's something edible or make up etc.

I had this I was gob smacked !!!

Happens quite a lot.
Especially for things which weren't very expensive to start with.

It's random in my experience.
I once bought a canvas print for DDs bedroom but it was the wrong size. I got a full refund without needing to return.
I bought the correct size and gave the other one away.

Just the other week though, DH had a milk frother which stopped working after just a couple of times. The processed the refund but wouldn't credit my account until the got the faulty item back! 🤷‍♀️

I had this. I accidentally ordered the wrong iPhone cable and left it too long to cancel. I was perfectly happy return it but they said don’t bother. It was an Apple one too, so not cheap!

Happened to me the other day. Ordered 30cm charging leads by mistake when I wanted 2m ones. Got a refund from Amazon with no need to return the items. Was only £6 so probably not worth processing a return.

When they say "2-4 hour refund when received" they mean it's going to landfill or those £150 Amazon packets. No one checks

It's been happening for years - normally because it's not worth the hassle of returning when the item was cheap to begin with.

Wow thanks guys, clearly not a glitch. I've bought off Amazon & returned for years and never seen this before. The item wasn't overly expensive, and to be honest it's total trash (which is why I wanted to return it), but I guess I'll just pop it in the charity bag as a nice new gift for someone! Thanks Amazon!

Warning for those who are stroking their chin after this thread - they will insist on returns/flag your account/ban you if you try to take the piss.

(No, I didn’t.)

Total trash - only a nice new gift for somebody you don't like, then!

I think it's happened a couple of times for us - DP was most pleased when he was delivered a rather expensive piece of recording equipment, rather than the power block he'd ordered and they said he could keep it (and sent him the power block as well).

This podcast talks about the problems regarding returned goods. It's very interesting.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001vlj4?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

I don’t mind returning stuff. There’s a returns a very short walk from mine. You don’t even need to package the item so it’s easy. I was surprised though!

Yeah, I've had this quite a few times as well. Bizarre!

Happens every now and then
Its just easier

Like the fact they issue a refund when the parcel gets scanned, could be anything in there

I find if you send a photo they just tell you to keep it and refund like the time the delivery person left my porridge in cardboard cartons out in the rain. They only ask for high end items back over £100. Small items are not worth their while.

Not necessarily.
They did this to me with a £200 Cricut before Christmas that had been previously opened and used but was fully working. They sent a second machine in a sealed box, I gave DD the first and she was thrilled.
Ironically a few months prior I was made to return a sopping wet, leaking £8 garden hose.

I am a very regular customer though so maybe that factored into it.

I haven't had this for years. I had to post back a wet, broken item this week, and another heavy item that would have cost more for shipping than the cost of the item.

I had this recently - item too difficult to return. Got a lovely message from the seller asking me to keep it or donate it. (Was an ironing board)