Thinking of returning your Amazon order, yet confused about what you can expect throughout the return process? For example, does Amazon even check their returns, or is the return process completely automated? Keep reading to learn more about what to expect in this situation!
Does Amazon Check Returns?
Amazon has an automatic and manual return process. They always at least weigh the return package to ensure it is the accurate weight. They may also manually check the order, especially if the item is expensive, to verify the return object is indeed accurate.
Obviously, there’s a lot more you should know about returns. So, let’s get into detail below!
How Does Amazon Inspect Returns?
Amazon does inspect returns — but to what extent, we may never know. At the very least, you can expect Amazon to automatically inspect your return package with machines. Often, this will just mean that your package’s weight is inspected.
If your package’s weight is accurate, then this may be all they check. Workers may also check the package manually to ensure that the item is indeed accurate to what you said you returned.
If the item is expensive, Amazon may be more inclined to ensure that the item is actually in the box.
Amazon gets a lot of returns on a daily basis, so they’ve mainly automated its return process to ensure that it doesn’t hinder other aspects of its business. As a result, some believe they don’t thoroughly check return items. This may be true.
However, there is proof that Amazon workers do inspect returned items — they just might not check each returned item, or all returned items consistently. But they do inspect returns, to some extent.
How Often Does Amazon Check Returns?
As we’ve mentioned above, Amazon starts the return process by ensuring that your package’s weight is accurate. If your package is very light, they will likely then manually check the package to ensure that the order inside is also accurate.
The same goes for if your order is, for some reason, much heavier than it should be. Amazon knows how much your package’s weight should be, so if this is in any way off, they’ll likely manually investigate.
As for how often Amazon actually checks returns, this can vary. They receive so many returns on a daily basis — but does this mean they manually check all returns on a daily basis?
It appears this may depend on what the returnable order is, where it’s being returned to, and other similar factors.
As a note, if you return an item to a seller, the return process may be completely different. Sellers that receive returnable items will likely manually inspect all packages thoroughly — or at least more than Amazon does.
Is the Amazon Inspection Process Different for Cheap and Expensive Items?
It does appear that Amazon will inspect expensive returnable items to ensure that everything is accurate in the order. For example, they’ll always inspect return orders of $1,000 more than they will an order that was only $20.
But again, all Amazon orders are inspected in some way. Sometimes, items will be manually inspected more thoroughly — especially if they are more expensive items.
Does Amazon Check Returns of Broken Items?
Amazon likes to know if something is wrong with your returned item, as they won’t put it back in stock to sell again if it is broken. Therefore, they will often check to see what is wrong with your broken item, especially if the item is expensive.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that Amazon will inspect all items marked “broken”. But they likely will be more thorough in their inspection process for these types of situations, just so they better understand whether they can resell the item or not.
Does Amazon Check Returns of Damaged Items?
Similar to returning broken items, Amazon may also more thoroughly inspect returned damaged items. Again, this may have less to do with inspecting the return process and more to do with Amazon’s quest to see if they can resell the item again.
Therefore, they may check this type of returnable item — especially if the item is more expensive than others.
List of Items That Cannot Be Returned on Amazon
There are many items that you cannot return to Amazon after purchase. These items include:
- Downloadable software products
- Hazardous materials
- Online subscriptions after they have already been accessed by you
- Grocery products (including items delivered through Amazon Fresh)
- Prepaid game cards and gift cards
- Some healthcare items
- Items that require special shipping
Can You Be Banned for Too Many Returns on Amazon?
While Amazon allows you to return any item that you buy, you can be flagged by Amazon if you consistently return too many of your orders. Therefore, it’s always recommended that you keep an eye on your orders — and on your returns.
If you return only a few items every now and then, you won’t have an issue. But if you’re consistently returning all of your items in a short time frame, then Amazon will likely flag your account.
To Amazon, a lot of returns make them feel as if something shady is going on — even if nothing shady is truly happening! However, they will flag your account regardless so they can keep an eye on your ordering and returning.
At first, this flagging of your account may not actually do anything to you. But they may start making the return process a bit harder for you — and they will surely begin to manually inspect every returned order that you have.
Eventually, they could even go so far as to lock your account, which would keep you from being able to place any new orders. To get this resolved, you’ll have to work with Amazon.
Amazon does know that sometimes, you just have to return items. Fashion items, such as clothing, can often be returned because it simply doesn’t fit. This is why Amazon allows free returns on fashion items.
If you’ve returned a lot of items recently, just keep an eye on your returning habits to keep Amazon from banning or punishing you!
Keep reading if you want to know if Amazon checks serial numbers on returns.
Conclusion
Amazon can inspect returned items in various ways. They automatically weigh every return package they receive to ensure that it is the correct weight. They may also manually inspect a return order, especially if the item returned is quite expensive.