FBA Returns Suddenly Much Higher Than MFN — Has Anyone Else Seen This?
Hi everyone,
I wanted to ask whether other sellers are seeing a similar pattern with FBA returns.
I stopped checking my return reports for quite a long time because, honestly, it was causing me too much stress. Today I checked them again because I needed to issue a refund for an MFN order, and I noticed that the return label cost was not showing clearly on the dashboard or in the place I expected.
While checking the reports, I noticed something quite shocking.
My FBA orders are less than 20% of my total orders, but more than 90% of my returns appear to be from FBA orders.
That seems very disproportionate.
I understand that FBA and MFN returns are handled differently, and that Amazon makes the FBA return process easier for buyers. But I am wondering whether recent buyer-facing changes, automated return prompts, or new shopping/AI features may be increasing the risk of impulse buying, confusion, or unnecessary returns.
I am not accusing anyone of wrongdoing. I am simply trying to understand whether this is an isolated issue with my account/products, or whether other sellers are seeing a similar shift.
Has anyone else noticed FBA returns increasing sharply compared with MFN returns?
Many thanks.
FBA Returns Suddenly Much Higher Than MFN — Has Anyone Else Seen This?
Hi everyone,
I wanted to ask whether other sellers are seeing a similar pattern with FBA returns.
I stopped checking my return reports for quite a long time because, honestly, it was causing me too much stress. Today I checked them again because I needed to issue a refund for an MFN order, and I noticed that the return label cost was not showing clearly on the dashboard or in the place I expected.
While checking the reports, I noticed something quite shocking.
My FBA orders are less than 20% of my total orders, but more than 90% of my returns appear to be from FBA orders.
That seems very disproportionate.
I understand that FBA and MFN returns are handled differently, and that Amazon makes the FBA return process easier for buyers. But I am wondering whether recent buyer-facing changes, automated return prompts, or new shopping/AI features may be increasing the risk of impulse buying, confusion, or unnecessary returns.
I am not accusing anyone of wrongdoing. I am simply trying to understand whether this is an isolated issue with my account/products, or whether other sellers are seeing a similar shift.
Has anyone else noticed FBA returns increasing sharply compared with MFN returns?
Many thanks.
7 replies
Seller_76AUwmqvSyRIM
I don't analyse returns as the numbers are too low to give a statistically valid result and they can be misinterpreted to give whatever reasoning/result I may want but FBA returns are always considerably higher than MFN for the reasons you have given, ie easy and free returns for whatever reason.
If I offered free returns for MFN and judging by the number of requests for free labels that I receive (mostly from Customer Services), MFN returns would be much higher.
Seller_jucuK4xvuHzTF
As a seller who fulfils our own orders, we are seeing return rates on Amazon that are more than 300% higher than those on our own website and eBay for the same products. Due to these increased costs, we already price our Amazon products higher and are now reviewing further price increases simply to offset the ongoing return levels.
Seller_Fg2fqaWOnEtha
The last time I tried FBA again over a year ago, the return rate was ridiculous and unstainable with some returns getting lost as well. I am selling the same stuff but I have very little returns on eBay compared to Amazon (now on eBay I am selling nearly as much as on Amazon). So far, 0 returns on Etsy and on my own site. Plus on Amazon I have situations like customer order 50ml glasses but said they ordered 100ml while the listing and the order say 50ml. Still I get to pay for the return and I get the usual 'quality not satisfactory' on the voice of the customer.
NR_Amazon
@Seller_kSZCywEhJQQ8J Hello there!
I'd recommend looking at your FBA Customer Returns report to see the specific return reasons buyers are selecting. Look for patterns like "no longer needed" or "bought by mistake" versus actual product issues.
Sometimes high return rates are linked to listing accuracy. Make sure your images, descriptions, and bullet points clearly represent the product to reduce "not as described" returns.
If you suspect buyer abuse, you can report this through Seller Central.
If there's anything you specifically want me to look into, please raise this to seller support first, and follow-up on this thread with the Case ID. Thank you!
NR_Amazon
Seller_ZxgiJzmCe4Iz2
My FBA returns are always 10 times higher than my FBM returns on the same products.
Its because amazon FBA offer free returns at our cost so effectively sending to customers on approval?
What comes back isnt always what it is supposed to be either.
