Update to Customer returns for international sales
We are updating the Customer returns for international sales policy. As previously stated from 5 October 2021, all MFN Selling Partners that sell on the European stores Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.es, Amazon.it, and fulfil customer orders from abroad, are required to provide Amazon with a default domestic return address for items equal or under £20 or €25 (including VAT) or otherwise offer Returnless Refunds for these items. For example, if you are fulfilling orders received on Amazon.de from outside Germany, then you are required to provide a German default return address (or a Returnless Refund) if the item is equal or under €25 (including VAT), or if you received an order on Amazon.co.uk and the item is equal or under £20 (including VAT) and you are fulfilling orders from outside UK you are required to provide a UK default return address (or Returnless Refund). The default return address you provide to Amazon is used to generate either an Amazon Prepaid Return Label (applicable to APRL enrolled sellers only) or an unpaid address label for the customer on all returns that fall under Amazon’s return policy, to allow customers to send the item back to you.
If a default domestic return address is not provided in the store you are selling in, then Amazon will automatically issue a refund on your behalf, for all in-policy returns that meet the above-mentioned thresholds, without requiring the item to be returned to you (Returnless Refund).
When calculating whether a return item meets the threshold we consider your product price (including VAT). We updated the Customer returns for international sales policy and clarified that shipping charges are not considered to calculate the threshold. Note that the refund processed for the customer includes product price inclusive of VAT and shipping paid by the customer as applicable. Please review the updated programme policy carefully. A version in track changes of the Customer returns for international sales is available on the Changes to programme policies page.
If you do not have a default domestic return address for one or more of the European stores you are selling from, you can reach out to an international returns provider listed on the Service Provider Network page, who may be able to help.
We remind you that for items above the threshold, you are required to offer a Domestic return address, Returnless Refund or Prepaid Return labels, which you cannot charge the customer.
For more information on returns, go to the help pages below:
Seller_5EKHzkEWI1mow
Hello @Amazon_News!
Thank you for the update.
Just a question, how can we avoid customers misusing this policy? I can see customers placing orders for these low value items, receive them and then open a return request for which they are automatically granted a refund, and they get to keep the product.
How will Amazon ensure that this not something the customers may abuse?
Seller_lozGK80mX5Aqf
Not worth the effort anymore.
Now stopped all my international listings on Amazon.
Seller_xUKHc5xSYJmI4
Unfortunately the policy does not take into consideration the cost of the return is sometimes the same returning from the EU to the UK or returned locally. At the moment we have a prepaid return label for orders placed in the UK and I am not sure why they cannot apply the same policy in the EU. CN22 has a tick box showing returned goods. Naturally many sellers feel that the policy can be open to abuse which many may have already experienced.
My observation is the policies only for benefit of the platform and not the seller. No other platform expects sellers to pay for the return unless it’s damaged, or faulty. It appears to take on competition is to find ways to exploit its sellers.
Seller_gukyYmORw0SA6
I closed all my European channels down as soon as brexit was done, and now reading this clap trap from Amazon, i’m glad I did. Amazons lack of continued investment in SS seems to be the biggest problem I read on here. I have been slowly loading up eBay and ebid with products in readiness for when I’ve had enough of this place.
For UK Sellers, I believe this is a fast sinking ship, let the Chinese bring in their tat of fake goods.
Seller_egZUlGyimB66S
As others have said this policy so so open to mis-use. I am sure that the internet drums are already spreading the word to buy from Amazon in a different country to where you live as then there is a high chance that you can get a refund and keep the goods. The cost to sellers will mount up. We know that buyers already over order/use the returns system to their advantage - ie various sizes to try and then use free returns what they do not want, often at the sellers expense or use the “faulty item” return to avoid return costs - even when not faulty at all. Will Amazon monitor buyers and remove those that are constantly requesting refunds/returns and abusing the system ?
Seller_sFEUMUfeW5484
How about when a buyer in Germany, purchases an item on the UK Amazon site from us (UK based). Does the same apply?
Amazon you need to make it so that if the reason is the buyers fault, then they pay for return, regardless of where they purchased it.
Seller_Af7glnBhOsYro
" When calculating whether a return item meets the threshold we consider your product price (including VAT). We updated the Customer returns for international sales policy and clarified that shipping charges are not considered to calculate the threshold."
"We remind you that for items above the threshold, you are required to offer a Domestic return address, Returnless Refund or Prepaid Return labels, which you cannot charge the customer."
Thanks for changing your guidance…after telling us about it in October.
It’s pretty pointless having an international listings now from UK to Europe - completely open to abuse.
Seller_j7UlCowZz6aOF
This policy will cost Amazon billions in lawsuits as Amazon have no legal authourity to take goods legally owned by one party and give to another party as a free gift this is under legal terms an act of theft. It also puts any of these customers into possession of stolen goods.
I am currently compiling a police report for around 250 euros worth of goods stolen from my account due to this policy.
Amazon state that they have no legal ownership of any goods legally owned by third parties hence if they take payment away they are guilty of theft.
A few weeks back Amazon were convicted in Italy of theft and were fined over 1 billion euros.
Seller_vIpv9uvBH6CFY
AUSTRIA: nowhere to include a return address for this county
BELGIUM: nowhere to include a return address for this county
Amazon is delusional if the only option they are offering for Austria and Belgium are ‘free stuff’. Who’s in charge up there, a bunch of monkeys???
Seller_lozGK80mX5Aqf
Complete nuts. Amazon must have spent a fortune promoting international listings now they’re doing their best to discourage them.
Paying to give away items for nothing to international buyers does not make a sustainable business model.
