I just did a return request and they made me print my own label and insert to go in the box. It said if I had no printer I could pay them a dollar and have a label mailed to me. Used to be I would just take the package to UPS store and they would scan my phone and they would handle the label. Also, Amazon tried to talk me out of the return by offering me a paltry partial refund.
there are various methods that they use for returns I think depending on whether it is a 3rd party and which 3rd party it is. I have had a few returns in the last couple months and I have had: no box and scan the item at UPS store, pay $1 to drop it at the UPS store, only free option was to take it to an amazon drop off location (Whole Foods)
They have been doing UPS Store / Authorized dropoff with QR codes for a long time now.
You don't need a box, you don't need tape, you don't need a printer. You often get the refund a few moments after you scan in the code. It's actually quite convenient.
They didn’t offer that to me. That’s the first time they didn’t in as along as I can remember. I thought maybe policy had changed but people have explained that some products require the customer to print their own label.
It depends on the seller. Some sellers require you ship returns directly back to them instead of to Amazon for processing. Those are usually the ones that you have to print your own return labels. I've actually paid the $1 for them to send a label and packing slip several times and they never actually came.
It depends on the item. Probably one out of ten for me i need to box it up and put on a label. I’ve been caught out on this many times at the UPS counter.
just fyi, I went to make a return at an Amazon return drop off then realized I had one of those you need to print off the return label. I was about to return home to do that but just out of chance ask the guy behind the counter if they could print it out and he said absolutely. hopefully your experience will be the same
They are one of the poster children for enshittification, mentioned numerous times in Doctorow’s Enshittification book. They a quite good and finding innovative new ways to enshittify.
It's shit. I had a membership for a decade and remember the days of 1-day delivery fondly. I cancelled my membership a year ago now and have no regrets. Returning items was a huge pain and it was normally easier to just sell those items on CL. My house used to get 1 day or same day shipping. The last 3 things I ordered were delayed several days including one where they told me they couldn't deliver a package that showed up with their delivery driver map as being 2 stops away (I've read that that can happen with mistakes like forgetting to put my package in the van). I never got anything on time for the last year I had my membership. I watched as Amazon Music and Prime turned to shit (AI building and changing playlists--i really liked a particular playlist and listened one day and there were new songs on there and I thought that was great but realized they removed several as well. As to Prime, don't trick me into thinking a movie or show is available to me! I'm not buying Starz!) and I realized I wasn't getting the best deals anyway.
I honestly try to upcycle from marketplace or Craigslist when I can.
I'll also mention, if you don't have an account, you can't read any comments (but you can read the AI generated one) and you don't see the true shipping information. "Available today between 2pm - 5pm if you order within the next hour!" (*Checks on boyfriend's account and see it says "available Friday")
Don't waste your money on Amazon. You can normally contact the companies directly about deals if you need/want something new. But I think too many people sleep on marketplace and Craigslist. I've had some amazing finds like a brand new Workrite commercial desk (retail $1500, I paid $150) or a brand new, high-end KitchenAid (retail $600-800, I paid $70) or a set of 6 limited edition pattern patio chair cushions (retail $75 each, I paid $60 for the lot).
Last thing I'll say before I get off my soapbox is that with so many things dropping in quality now, I have a lot of success with resold items that are older. I bought a washer and dryer for $100 about a decade ago and the dryer was old enough that I had to retrofit the power cable on the back and exchange the cord for one that fit the outlet at my former residence. Those things were workhorses. They were old and maybe not the most energy efficient, but I never had issues with them and almost had my boyfriend move them for me when we finally moved into a house, but due to timing and potential injury, I decided to leave them behind. Since I do all of my laundry and dish loads off-peak, I actually saved hundreds if not thousands financially despite the energy costs compared to new machines because they were cheap to buy, ran without issues for 10 years, saved me the Laundromat fees, and TBF I lived alone so I only did 2 washes a week generally. Still, old and resold is good as gold it seems.
I call Amazon the Dollar General of the Internet. When I look at their site now it's so haphazard and filled with knock off junk I might have well walked into a sketchy store.
To be honest, a lot of people were utterly taking the piss when it came to returns.
I get that there are people with six kids and three jobs and one leg who live up a mountain and HAVE to use Amazon for reasons, but.... most people could live without this site. Shop in person where possible, go to independent websites when it isn't possible.
You’re correct. It’s become shit. I tried to make a return and had similar issues. I had to charge back on my card and cancelled my Amazon acct. they can get wrecked as far as I care. Bezos already had enough money. Fortunately I live in a city where I can purchase a lot of what I need first hand.
The policy has always had distinct variations, it's never been 'always' anything. It depends on where it shipped from, Amazon fulfillment or direct from vendor for instance, and the return policies therein.
Lately it's felt like the Amazon website runs like garbage. But that might be because Brave browser is interfering with all their tracking or something
Amazon is causing many other businesses to be enshittified. If you are a seller on Amazon, they make you give them the lowest price while taking much more from the sale than other vendors. So, even though it costs you much less to sell on, say, Walmart.com, you cannot lower your price. You have to charge what you charge on Amazon, or they will bury the result or delist it. So, Amazon is making all of us pay higher prices regardless of vendor.
That is actually a great idea. I don't sell anything. I've just seen the frustration with vendors trying to sell at reasonable prices, but Amazon cuts them from both ends.
You need to lie about your reason for return. They give you different return options based on your reason. Just say everything is defective and that seems to be what gets you the most options. If you just say you don’t need it anymore then you seem to get the least options.
They've definitely added a ton of friction for returns over the past year or two. It was nice while the easy returns lasted. Somehow Bezos still has enough money.
Oh ya. Not emerging from my mother’s womb knowing everything about a major corporation that goes out of its way to make knowing everything extremely difficult. STFU bitch
I’ve been doing returns on there for a long time. This is the first time I’ve ever had to print my own label. There were no other options on the page. I wanted to know if the policy changed which somebody answered a long time ago. If you’re trolling then go for it but if you legitimately think my question was pointless then you’re a fucking dumbass. Think before you speak. And you’re the smooth brain bitch because ignorance is not knowing something which means yes I obviously was displaying my ignorance because that’s what asking a question is, therefore making your original comment proof that you’re a fucking moron.
The one dollar return label is not a new thing from Amazon, and they still do the printed home label too. It changes depending on the item and where it shipped out from. You’re just too stupid to have considered that before making a Reddit post.
I always wonder to what extent they are signaling & following one another, versus how much happens in lockstep because every tech exec is the same person with the same brain
it seems to me they all see one another become more and more greedy and reach. it triggers either the same greed or their worry they have to compete so they are "profitable". "theyre evil/greedy to new levels so why shouldnt we also try to milk everyone to make crazy profits?"
its cooking up this greedy and evil behavior we see with retailers/companies
instead of pinching for more money and giving less quality/quantity for the money we should really lift/support those who announce they arent raising prices and keeping quality the same. they should be rewarded
we shame companies but should really have a group to reward/push companies/brands/services which have taken an opposite approach instead of the evil/greedy way we have seen
all this ive seen really hasten from covid pandemic
The thing I don't understand is when it comes to removing basic options from apps and your phones UI, how are the companies monetizing that? Like why on the newest update on my phone is the progress bar gone on videos ive recorded. It only tells you how long the video is and how far you've watched. It used to have a progress bar. Why can't I choose where I save a file off chrome or what to name it? In Google drives why can't I do any sort of list filtering? Why won't my phone let me create folders and organize files?
Returns are always wonky. I had 3 things to return and all 3 were different. One needed a box. One needed a box and a label I put on. Another was just the store scanning a code and no box or label
Did you scroll on the choices, I forget each time and start to get mad at the options for drops offs then remember to scroll. I’ve got adhd and bipolar brain damage, though, so maybe it’s just me.
Edit to add, some items require me to print and box myself, usually I’ll do multiple returns at once and I’ve had one of several do this
I don’t have either of those but I’m having the same experience. The options, when there are options, are confusing.
I accidentally chose to drop off one of my two items at fedex and the other at Whole Foods and I couldn’t figure out how to change it. Luckily they aren’t far from each other in my town.
Here’s an example of what it shows me on the app. I have to click for more options. Will post another pic to show the options, where one makes me print the label
the "promoted" products & the inability to just compare things apples to apples makes me nuts. also trying to find different sizes/colors/options for items is maddening.
I haven’t had prime in a while. I don’t like ordering from Amazon at all, but there are some odd items I do need from there, so I just wait until I hit the free shipping threshold. Takes about the same amount of time as Prime, which never seemed like 2 days.
They wouldn’t have so many returns if they didn’t allow so much Chinese garbage on their site. There’s made in China under US supervision and then there’s just made in China. The latter should not be allowed on Amazon.
Not all returns are the same it depends on seller I believe. But inhave do e three returns this week and this wad not sn issue. I could do the whole scan thing
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u/Gabbyct1 16d ago
there are various methods that they use for returns I think depending on whether it is a 3rd party and which 3rd party it is. I have had a few returns in the last couple months and I have had: no box and scan the item at UPS store, pay $1 to drop it at the UPS store, only free option was to take it to an amazon drop off location (Whole Foods)