# A Question About Amazon Refunds **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 16, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980 "2021-03-16T02:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/1 "2021-03-16T02:41:46Z")
I recently purchased some tires from Amazon, but even more recently, I changed my mind and decided to go with a different set from a different place. The tires are eligible for a full refund. I just click the box that says, “I no longer need these” and everything is prepared for a 100% refund. But I have to put postage on the return labels. However, the tires are still in my PO Box. What happens if I just Return to Sender instead of receiving them and remailing them? Will Amazon charge me the shipping costs? Will whatever Amazon charges me be more than I’d otherwise pay? Does anyone have experience with this? Their website doesn’t seem to address this. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/2 "2021-03-16T02:56:07Z")
In my experience with Amazon, if you do not include the return shipping label (such as your scenario of return to sender) they will not process it as a return, and you won’t get the refund at all. They’ll have confirmation of the receipt at the PO Box, so they won’t treat it as lost. Some returns include a prepaid shipping label, I take it these are an exception? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/3 "2021-03-16T04:32:12Z")
If you mark an unopened Amazon package “Return to Sender”, you should not be penalized in any way for returning the item. When they get it back, they should refund your money in full. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/4 "2021-03-16T07:18:31Z")
I was once told by an Amazon rep that return to sender works. Amazon still says an undeliverable item will be refunded. But the question is…was your item deemed delivered? I’d contact Amazon for a ruling and get it in writing. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp\_468520\_undeliverable?nodeId=3608471](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_468520_undeliverable?nodeId=3608471) ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/5 "2021-03-16T08:51:09Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#): > > ome returns include a prepaid shipping label, I take it these are an exception? There were several options available for the Reason for Return. I am sure that had I picked one of the others like “arrived too late” or “item not as described” or something like that, the return labels would have had postage included them. I don’t want to lie. I just changed my mind, and got something better. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/6 "2021-03-16T11:30:19Z")
Gotta give amazon credit for their easy returns. I bought a bulky item. Threw away the box it came in. Then found out the item didn’t work. Amazon guy emailed me a UPC code. I went down to my local UPS store. Dude scanned my phone and boxed up the item himself. Super easy. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/7 "2021-03-16T17:13:24Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > However, the tires are still in my PO Box. To be honest, two things about your post surprised me. One was that your PO box could fit a set of tires. The second was that Amazon sells tires. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/8 "2021-03-16T20:09:22Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > two things about your post surprised me. One was that your PO box could fit a set of tires. The second was that Amazon sells tires America! Helluva time to be alive 😆 🤣 The only thing actually in the box is a yellow card informing me that I have a large package (4 of them) for pick up. I am pretty sure normal PO Boxes work like that as well, but I’m not sure. This is actually an APO box. So, that might work a little different. I was surprised about Amazon selling tires as well. And available with free shipping via Prime. I just kind of looked on a whim, and they had the cheapest set of the specific model/size/manufacture tires I was looking for. They were not only $20-$30 per tire cheaper than anyone else, but another $50 less due to free shipping. So, almost $200 cheaper! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/9 "2021-03-16T21:06:03Z")
They’re doing this at Kohl’s stores too. At least at my local store, they have an Amazon returns line which is separate from the store’s returns. More of a walk than the UPS store, but I find it’s quicker as you’re not behind someone deciding that the front of the line is the best place to start filling in the recipient. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/10 "2021-03-16T21:17:40Z")
Kohl’s made a corporate decision that accepting Amazon returns was worthwhile if it got people into their stores. Not sure it’s a good idea but we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/11 "2021-03-16T21:20:32Z")
Yeah they give you a discount coupon (I think 20 or 25% off one item) that’s good for a week. But quite frankly I only have done this when I’m in a hurry, so haven’t actually used one. ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2021, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/12 "2021-03-16T21:33:08Z")
I honestly didn’t think it was possible to contact Amazon other than “fill out this inquiry form and submit it so that we can ignore it until you give up” kind of thing. I remember the headache years ago of trying to talk to someone from PayPal. Yours and others’ posts here made me go back to figure out how you’re all having such easy luck talking to Amazon about stuff. I dug around a little deeper until I found their Customer Service chat app. Man, I LOVE those things. I only had to tell the Bot once that I needed a rep and I was talking to Rashmi in like 4-5 minutes. Gotta love that! Anyway, he said “Yea, just refuse delivery and we’ll take care of it”. Amazon FTW! Thanks, everyone for the assist. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-amazon-refunds/937980/13 "2021-03-18T06:54:45Z")
Originally I became a big fan of Amazon because they had stellar customer service and were pretty much always on the customer’s side. In the past few years I have seen this slipping…a lot. Enough I to make me look at other alternatives (e.g. Walmart and such). Good to see they haven’t completely given up on customer service.