In fact, it’s so easy that it feels like Amazon doesn’t really care about returns.
What’s actually happening here?
Shopping online without getting to see a product physically inevitably leads to a lot of returns.
Then, sometimes, in a matter of hours, you’ll see the refund hit your account.
Let’s take a look at how this all works.
Where Do Amazon Returns Go?
Hannah Stryker / How-To Geek
Some of them are expected and some might surpirise you.
First, and probably most expected, is the original seller.
The items are shipped out to Amazon’s warehouses dedicated to processing returns.
This is the priciest option as it can cost the retailerover 50% of the cost of the item.
It also generates more packaging waste and pollution for the delivery trucks and planes.
Workers at the return facilities unpack, inspect, and repack the items for shipping.
It’s a labor-intensive process.
Sometimes these items end up back up for sale.
Off to the Liquidation Center
An increasing number of returns end up auctioned off or liquidated.
Liquidation marketplaces auction off items to resellers by the pallet, which can be purchased straight-up from sites likeLiquidation.com.
They also end up at liquidation storefronts where people can sift through piles of cheap products.
What you find in these stores ranges from stuff like never-used power tools to clothing with very questionable stains.
Right Into the Dumpster
One of the most common fates for returned products is disposal.
Ideally, to a Charity
There is some good news, though.
Amazon also donates some returns from third-party sellers to charity.
The program makes it cheaper for sellers to donate than to dispose of returned items.
It became the default for sellers when the program launched.
Does Amazon Check Returns?
If you’ve returned items to Amazon, you may have wondered if anyone is actually checking them over.
As we noted above, refunds are sometimes issued just a few hours after you drop off the item.
The truth is not every product is inspected to the same degree.
Amazon flags accounts that return items frequently or have been caught returning empty boxes or other fraudulent behavior.
This is why it’s so easy to get a free return with no questions asked.
However, there are certain things that can’t be returned.
The good news is donations are becoming a larger part of Amazon’s strategy for returns.
