Restocking fee policy - confusing
I created a case support to ask whether restocking fee is allowed.
Within 10 minutes, a seller support from India called and says it is allowed to charge restocking fee, and provided the refund policy at
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_v4_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201819200
No mention about restocking fee.
From there I found another link,
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_left_v4_sib?ie=UTF8&nodeId=201819160
The last paragraph reads, "Sellers may issue full or partial refunds for an order as described on this page. Sellers can’t charge a restocking fee during the initial returns period or if a product is returned because it’s faulty. "
Is partial refund not a restocking fee ?
Can someone who understands this paragraph helps to enlighten ?
6 replies
Seller_MaCn7NvTI3GGw
Partial refunds for items that have been damaged but still unused. For example, customer opens packaging but not necessarily used. The item is not “new” any longer.
You can take off a little money to compensate for that.
Restocking fees are not allowed.
Seller_EJIX7rqDNQJi2
You are right, Amazon allows you to charge “restocking fees” for items returned materially different or after the 30 days returns period has expired.
Restocking fees are not allowed by the law, it should be called a fee to cover the loss of value.
Seller_qZO3ZCjoBXEeL
Restocking fees are illegal and not allowed. You are permitted to withhold part of a refund if the returned goods are not as sent out. Note, buyers have a right to inspect goods as they would on the shelf of a shop so claims for damaged or open packaging (with the exception of media) should generally not be made.
However in practice if you withhold any part of a refund prepare for a negative review and even an A2Z claim by the buyer. It isn’t nice or even fair, but it is happening with increasing frequency.
Seller_K8edOfPu9HEmN
Normally only bricks and mortar wholesalers charge restocking fees for good that are returned after the wholesalers return period (normally 14 days).
Under the old distance selling regulations, these were outlawed and returns had to be accepted albeit with a few caveats.
With the more recent CCR, one is allowed to knock off a %age for goods returned that are not as sent out, the only problem with this is, it’s fine on one’s own website but with Amazon being so lenient towards it’s customers these rules are 99.99% useless.
