Does Amazon Pay for Shipping on Returns or Exchanges?

You do not need to worry about the cost of returns or exchange shipping on Amazon if the cause is not your fault, and you use the provided return label. If you experience any challenges, you may seek help from the customer service team.

Jeff Whelpley is the editor / author responsible for this content.
Dec 7, 2022

Does Amazon Pay for Shipping on Returns or Exchanges?

If you are unhappy with your Amazon shipping, you may be curious about the returns and exchange policies. You may return or exchange damaged, wrong, or defective items. One of the most common questions is whether you need to pay Amazon costs of shipping returns or exchanges

Return Shipping Methods and Costs

You may return your shipments through any of the following methods:

  1. Using the provided pickup options
  2. Using a scanned QR code. The code may be used at specific return locations
  3. Using drop-off services in convenient locations
  4. Using Amazon Hub, Locker, or Locker+ locations. They are appropriate for small packages

There are instances when your shipment may be free of charge. If you use the return label in the Returns center and the reason for return is not your fault, Amazon will pay for your shipping costs.

You may need to pay a flat rate for every return shipment and another small fee for every item in your shipment. In return shipments, the items with the highest per-shipment cost determine the cost of shipment. Amazon allows you to return items from different orders in one package.

If you return an item using a paid method, Amazon will deduct the shipping cost from your refund. In most cases, you will receive your refund within five days. If you choose to ship your return items on your own, you must pay the carrier charges.

Amazon Exchanges

Amazon exchanges are available for sports goods, jewelry, watches, baby products, and apparel. Your exchange item must meet the following criteria:

  1. It has to be sold and shipped by Amazon
  2. The size or color should be different from the return item

When exchanging items in your cart, the exchange items must:

  1. Not be marked as a gift
  2. Be added in a quantity of one
  3. Be different from the item you wish to return
  4. Not be an add-on item

Follow these steps to exchange an item:

  1. Click on the option ‘Return or replace items' next to the item you wish to exchange. Selecting the date when you placed your order may help if you can't find the order you wish to exchange,
  2. Choose the item and the reason you wish to exchange your order. You may select a reason on the ‘Reason for return' menu.
  3. The process will create an exchange order with the same speed as your original item. Use the provided return label to send the item back. Amazon demands that you return the original item within 30 days to avoid additional costs.

If the item you wish to exchange costs less than the original item, you will receive a refund for the difference. If it costs more, you need to pay the difference in price.

Contacting the Support Team

There are plenty of ways to contact Amazon if you need help. Phone support is the best option. It is the fastest support option and the best way to speak with an agent. The chat option is the best alternative to phone support.

If you don't necessarily need to speak with an agent, email support may be your best option. Other options include Twitter and Facebook. The help forums are great options as well. They have plenty of helpful tips, reminders, and suggestions

Further questions?

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Jeff truly believes that all customers deserve good service. He’s been building tools, inventing phone tree hacks and helping customers since before his days at GetHuman. He's also a Google GDE and involved in the Angular community.
Does Amazon Pay for Shipping on Returns or Exchanges?

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