JFYI
Summary: inhawaii shared a positive experience with Amazon's return process, highlighting a straightforward UPS pick-up and quick crediting. christworks responded by noting that Amazon's return policies can be inconsistent, recounting personal experiences where varying return methods and customer service interactions led to frustration. They emphasized the lack of uniformity in Amazon's return process and shared a story about negotiating a refund due to a price change, illustrating the complexities some customers face.
Kind of off-topic (ebay selling) but I think it's good for ebay sellers to know how other platforms work.
Here's my story...
I bought some boxes on Amazon.
A day later the price dropped by $12.
I called customer service and asked if they would do a price adjustment.
They said NO but what they could do is cancel the first order order and to just re-order at the lower price.
It turns out they were unable to cancel the order, even though there was no shipping notification or tracking number (which doesn't make sense).
They told me when the 2 orders show up, just send the more expensive one back.
I did that.
The return process told me to just set the item on my front porch the following day (no label needed) and UPS will pick it up and slap a label on it.
That's exactly what happened.
I was credited about an hour after the package was picked up.
That was the easiest return I ever had.
Now THAT'S what you call service.
mam98031
·2 weeks agoI'm glad that all worked out for you. You need to remember, Ebay and Amazon are vastly different businesses. They certainly have things in common, but they have more that is different.
Amz has trucks everywhere making deliveries, so they can pop in and pick up packages like yours in many areas. Ebay doesn't have this in any way. No trucks and no deliveries directly for Ebay.
For those that live more rurally than you do, while still pretty easy, they have to take their package to the closest UPS store and give them the package. This sometimes works out very well. But once I returned two things and ended up with a credit for one. They said they didn't get the second item and I had no way to prove it. Luckily it was a very inexpensive item.
christworks
·2 weeks ago · EditedI'll play this game because I am tired of standing to take pictures tonight.
The problem with your experience this time is that it may not be the same experience next time. Amazon is not consistant with how returns work.
Sometimes you get multiple options and they let you pick. It could be UPS pick-up like you had. Sometimes they bring the label but sometimes you must print one off if you select that option. Other options may include returning the item to a UPS Store. Sometimes they box it. Sometimes Amazon directs you to box it. Sometimes they print the label. Sometimes you must print the label. Sometimes they want you to return the item to an Amazon store or to an Amazon locker, sometimes to Rent-A-Center. Sometimes they say Amazon will pick it up. Sometimes it is free to return, sometimes not, even when selecting the same reasons that were free on a previous return.
Another issue is that oftentimes Amazon will not send items in a box or even a polymailer. They will ship in the manufacture's package, even if you select its a gift and you want it boxed. Then, if you need to return it and they want a box, you must go find one. Of course, being a reseller, I'm up to my ears in boxes (shout out eBay Shipping Supplies and don't forget to use your coupon guys and gals). But for Grandma Memma who wants to return some cloth napkins she bought, she may have to go driving around for a box.
I'll share this other story I went through with them earlier this summer. I bought a new ladder. It arrived damaged. You could see in the photo the delivery driver took the legs were sticking out of the box and there were random parts on the ground around it. I didn't even open it. I opened a return to send it back, but I wanted a replacement. Therein lies another issue. Sometimes they will send you a replacement, sometimes that isn't an option. Here it was not an option. No problem, I'm happy to reorder, only the price of the ladder is now $50 higher.
I was able to get to their customer service online. Getting to it is not any easier than figuring out eBay's. The CSR had no way to order a repalcement, but they had me order a new one while I had them there. I gave them the order number and they supposedly made a note on the account to issue me a partial refund on the price difference. Meanwhile, I returned the damaged ladder.
The new ladder comes and while the box was fine, there were a few scuffs on the ladder. I really could care less about that so long as they issued that partial refund. A few weeks go by and I still didn't have it, so I reached out to customer service again. The first CSR told me they could not help me but the saw the note the other CSR left. Then they said I needed to speak to the supervisor. This chick comes on the chat and starts telling me a CSR never told me that and there was no note. The other CSR had already told me she saw the note. Not going to lie, I went off on this chick. I do good business with them but I'm happy to pull it anytime and I told her that. She wasn't budging. So I told her send me to her boss. She, of course, resisted at first. I then got to the third person.
I'll pause here and say that there is a good chance all three of these people were at the same employment level. CSRs are often trained to play the role of "supervisor" when someone asks to speak with one. Doesn't matter if it is eBay, Amazon, your credit card company, cable company or whomever. Ask to speak with a supervisor and chances are you are going to be passed to a rep five seats away or one setting at home taking calls in their underwear.
Anyway, the third chick was more responsive. She saw the note but told me the initial CSR should have never told me they would refund the price difference because Amazon does not do that. They did end up giving me a credit for the price difference. I ended up returning another recent purchase and rebuying it to use my credit.
The point of all this is customer experiences can vary even within the same platform or service. I don't find Amazon's return process easy all of the time. I do some of the time. I really do not care how they do it, but if you have multiple returns it all needs to go back the same way, rather than having me put one item out for UPS that needs a label and another that doesn't, and still taking one item to the UPS store with QR code and no box. It's ridiculous.
adamcartwright
·2 weeks agoBut are you encouraging folks to buy their pineapple candy from Amazon? 🍍