Does Amazon Refund Shipping? Yes, but It’s Complicated
Amazon is a well-known multinational technology and E-commerce company. It’s one of the big four tech giants, alongside Apple, Google, and Facebook. While the business has branched out into numerous fields like cloud computing, digital services, and streaming, it’s still primarily known as an online marketplace.
Millions of customers use the Amazon platform to order tools, electronics, furniture, food, and countless other products. With so many transactions, errors are commonplace. Some are caused by third-party retailers, while others are Amazon’s fault. Getting an Amazon chargeback or refund is a challenge, especially if you want to dispute shipping costs. If Amazon doesn’t budge, you can always rely on DoNotPay to get your money back.
What Is Amazon’s Refund Policy?
Amazon’s policy states that you can return packages within 30 days of receiving them. Items in their original condition qualify for a full refund, with only a few exceptions. Partial refunds are given for:
- Items returned past the designated return window
- Opened CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and vinyl records
- Items with apparent damage or signs of use by the buyer
- Open software, video games, and digital refund requests
Shipping fees for returned packages are non-refundable. They can be waived under certain conditions. To be eligible for free returns, the delivery address must be:
- In the U.S., or
- In an army or fleet post office with a U.S. zip code
In most cases, return shipping will incur costs. Amazon deducts shipping and restocking fees from your refund. If the reason for the return is an error on Amazon’s part, you may be granted free return shipping, but only up to a cap. Packages with defects and damage are eligible for free returns. Some can be refunded without a return as well.
Amazon provides users with a delivery guarantee for every package. If a shipment doesn’t arrive by the predetermined date, the company will refund shipping fees. Keep in mind—this applies to the estimated delivery date, but not the shipping date. The package can be shipped with delay, and you will still be liable for the costs.
How To Refund Amazon Shipping Costs
You can request free return shipping using:
- Amazon’s live chat option
- Account settings
Refund Amazon Shipping Fee via Live Chat
You can use this method on desktop and mobile Amazon versions. On desktop, you must:
- Go the Amazon website
- Sign in to your account
- Press Contact Us
- Choose Live Chat
Once you get in touch with a representative, explain your issue with the package. They should be able to grant you a shipping refund for the return.
On mobile, request a refund by:
- Opening the app
- Scroll down, and press Contact Us
- Press Chat
Refund Amazon Shipping Fee via Account
To request a shipping refund for a return, you must:
- Sign in to your account
- Go to Your Orders
- Choose an order and press Problem with order
- Click on Request refund
- Explain your reasoning in the textbox and submit
You will be notified via email once Amazon decides whether or not to grant you a refund. It can take up to seven days for the request to be processed.
Can You Request a Refund Via | Yes/No |
Phone |
No |
Live chat | Yes |
Account setting |
Yes |
| No |
DoNotPay |
Yes |
DoNotPay Can Get You a Refund in No Time
Quick refunds are par for the course for DoNotPay. Our app streamlines the process and gets you your money back pronto. Instead of spending time in Amazon’s live chat or figuring out how to explain what’s wrong with the package, let DoNotPay handle the refund. To use the app, open it in your . Here’s how you refund shipping costs:
- Sign in to the app
- Scroll down, and press Get Protected, located under the File a Chargeback option
- Chat with our app and answer some questions about the charges
- Choose whether to send the chargeback letter yourself or let DoNotPay do it
- Add your digital signature and submit
The app will promptly fax a request to your bank, accompanied by relevant Visa and Mastercard laws. DoNotPay will even help you build a strong case by contacting Amazon in your name. Combined with the letter, it will be enough to dispute the charges and get your money back.
Problems With Refunding Amazon Shipping Fees
Canceling an Amazon order after it’s been shipped will still incur return fees. If you don’t cancel quickly, you will pay the full amount for shipping. Should you change your mind about a purchase, you must act fast.
Choosing the wrong reason for a return will make you ineligible for free return shipping. Make sure you are clear about any damage or defects that are present in the package.
If a shipment has arrived later than estimated, Amazon won’t always refund shipping costs. Late deliveries happen for different reasons, some of which aren’t caused by bad practices on Amazon’s part.
How Long Will It Take To Process the Refund?
It depends on the payment method used for the purchase. You can pay for Amazon shipments using a wide variety of methods, so there’s no universal answer. Here’s a quick overview of the refund time frames you can expect when using different payment methods:
Payment Method | How Long It Takes to Process a Refund |
Credit card |
Up to five business days |
Debit card | Up to ten business days |
Prepaid credit card |
Up to a month |
Amazon Gift Card | A couple of hours |
Reward Points |
Up to five business days |
Checking account | Up to ten business days |
SNAP EBT card |
24 hours |
Can I Check the Status of My Refund?
Yes. Amazon allows you to monitor your refund’s status through the website. To do this, you have to:
- Sign in to your account
- Go to Your Orders
- Press Order Details next to the shipment you wish to track
- At the bottom of the Order Summary, press View Return/Refund Status
Here, you can check your refund’s status whenever you want to.
Let DoNotPay Take Care of Tedious Day-To-Day Tasks
If you need help with daily chores and tasks, DoNotPay is ready to offer a helping hand. Our handy AI Consumer Champion app can do a lot more than just guarantee refunds. Ever thought about suing someone for harassment? Well, DoNotPay simplifies the process. If you need to deal with annoying robocallers, our app will show you how. We can also help you learn about your airline passenger rights, so you know when to request compensation for flight delays and bad in-flight services.
Start using DoNotPay by opening it in your . Using DoNotPay helps streamline a wide variety of tedious tasks. Here are a few examples:
- Dealing with issues with credit cards
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- Getting refunds and chargebacks from companies