This news came as a shock for those who are looking to buy a smartphone from Amazon. Now Amazon will NOT refund money for the mobiles phone which are bought through Amazon on or after 7th February 2016. Until and unless a mobile is damaged, missing, or defective. Not only this, users who have bought a defective or a damaged mobile which is fulfilled by Amazon will be eligible for a free replacement within a period of 10 days of purchase only.
All Mobile phones that are fulfilled by Amazon, purchased on or after 7th February 2016, will have a replacement only policy. Mobile phone items that are fulfilled by Amazon will no longer be eligible for refunds. In case you have received a defective or a damaged mobile phone, you will be eligible for a free replacement.
The following returns policy applies to items purchased on Amazon :
| Product Categories | Return Time-frame from Delivery | |
| Item is damaged/ defective* | You don’t want it anymore | |
| Music, Beauty, Sports, Fitness and Outdoors, Men’s Innerwear1 | 30 Days | 7 Days |
| Books, Movies & TV Shows, Apparel, Watches, Fashion Jewellery, Shoes, Musical Instruments, Luggage & Handbags2 | 30 Days | 30 Days |
| Electronics, Software, Video Games, Toys, Baby, Home & Kitchen 3& Health & Personal Care, Pet Supplies, Office & Stationary Supplies, and Tablets | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Mobile Phones8 | 10 Days | Not Eligible |
| Precious Jewellery4 | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Kindle | Visit Kindle help pages for Kindle-specific returns policy | |
| Tires, Rims & Oversized Items (Automobiles)5 | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Large Appliances – Air Conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Microwave | 10 Days | — |
| Car Parts & Accessories, Bike Parts & Accessories6, Helmets & other Protective Gear, Vehicle Electronics | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Fasteners, Food service equipment & supplies, Industrial Electrical, Lab & Scientific Products, Material Handling Products, Occupational Health & Safety Products, Packaging & Shipping Supplies, Professional Medical Supplies, Tapes, Adhesives & Sealants Test, Measure & Inspect items, Industrial Hardware, Industrial Power & Hand Tools | 10 Days | 10 Days |
| Furniture7 | 10 Days | — |
Damaged/ Defective items must be returned in the original condition they were received in with all the accompanying accessories.
1. For men’s innerwear, returns accepted within 7 days only on unused products and in original packaging condition.
Intimate apparel (lingerie, shapewear and nightwear) can be returned only when the original packaging and tags are intact. Returns on underwear is conditional due to hygiene reasons.
2. Any luggage items with locks must be returned unlocked.
3. Returns are not accepted for edible items and some consumable items. Non-returnable items are marked on the product detail page. If a received item is damaged/defective, you may choose to dispose it at your convenience. The 10 day time-frame listed above is for customers to contact us and request for a refund on their order. Click here, for a list of non-returnable items.
4. Precious jewellery items have to be returned in tamper free packaging. Any additional cost incurred for tamper free packaging will be reimbursed. Please note, we do not accept return on Gold Coins, Gold Vedhanis, Gold Chips and Gold Bars.
5. Return facility is available only via self-returns. Return Pick Up facility is not available on these items.
6. Items that you no longer need must be returned in new and unopened condition with all the original packing, tags, inbox literature, warranty/ guarantee card, freebies and accessories including keys, straps and locks intact.
7. For damaged / defective items , items with missing parts or item not as described , replacement will be offered by the seller, if the issue is reported within 10 business days. Replacement may be offered for the entire product or part(s) of the product.
8. Mobile phones that are fulfilled by Amazon are not eligible for refund. In case you have received a defective or a damaged mobile phone that is fulfilled by Amazon, you will be eligible for a free replacement.
Note:
- For seller fulfilled items from Books, Movies & TV Shows categories, the sellers need to be informed of the damage/ defect within 14 days of delivery.
- Some products cannot be returned. Click here for a list of non-returnable items.
Why Amazon is doing this?
The answer lies in the fact that some fraud customers have exploited the excellent service to an extent that the companies have restricted themselves within rules and regulations. Here are a few news which would explain the plight of these etailers :
Flipkart Investigates Online Shopping Fraud Leading To Arrest of 2 Techies
Hyderabad Man Reportedly Dupes Flipkart of Over Rs. 20 Lakhs Using Fake Goods
Man who cheated e-tailers Flipkart, Amazon of Rs 36 lakh arrested
These kind of activities are the reason why millions of shoppers are chopped off from various excellent services from etailers.
This is not the first time Amazon is implementing No-Return policy on a category. From baby, personal care products, jewellery, software & video games etc. Amazon do not refund. Not long ago, in October 2015, Flipkart introduced a returns policy that lets customers return a mobile phone if they are not satisfied with it within 10 days with full refund on the amount paid. According to Snapdeal’s return policy : Electronic items: We require a document from the brand/OEM’s service centre confirming that the delivered item was defective. We will carry out a quality check to validate the complaint before processing any request for refund/replacement. Returns/replacements will be accepted for only those items which are found to be faulty/ defective.”
