Making Returns on Amazon? Here's Why You Need to Be Careful

One of the best things about shopping on Amazon is getting to enjoy free shipping and returns on the items you buy. If you purchase clothing, for example, and it just doesn't fit right, you're not automatically stuck with that charge on your credit card. Rather, most Amazon purchases are eligible for free returns. 

But now, Amazon is changing its return policy slightly. And some customers could incur a small fee if they don't follow the new rules.

A change to be mindful of

Amazon offers free returns at Whole Foods (which it owns), Amazon Fresh grocery stores, and Kohl's (which it doesn't own but has a partnership with). You can also return Amazon items at your local UPS store, and up until recently, that option was always free. 

But now, Amazon has begun to charge customers $1 if they make a return at a UPS store when there's a Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, or Kohl's closer to their delivery address. This fee won't apply to every Amazon customer. But you may want to check to see if it applies to you -- especially if you make frequent returns and don't want to lose out on $1 each time.

Be careful with Amazon returns

Fee-free and hassle-free returns have long been a part of Amazon's value proposition. But they're also very costly for the online retail giant. By changing its return policy ever so slightly, Amazon is most likely hoping to discourage customers from making returns too frequently.

Incidentally, that's something you may want to be mindful of, regardless of whether you're in the zone of potentially being charged $1 for Amazon returns. There have been reports through the years of Amazon canceling accounts owned by people who abuse its return policy. 

Now, the frustrating thing is that Amazon does not maintain an official policy on abusing returns. There's no specific published number of returns (or percentage of orders returned) that puts customers at risk of having their accounts revoked. 

But as a matter of common sense, if you return every other Amazon item you buy, and you make a lot of purchases on the site, you might put yourself at risk of losing your account. Return just 10% to 20% of what you buy, and you're probably okay. 

Also, keep in mind that while most items purchased on Amazon are eligible for free returns, some aren't. Certain items, in fact, may not be eligible for returns at all. It's always important to read the fine print before completing a purchase, especially if you're buying something from a third-party seller on Amazon.

All told, shopping on Amazon is a great way to save money. But be careful with returns going forward in light of its new policy.

Granted, if you're doing okay financially and only make the occasional Amazon return, you may not be so worried about a $1 charge here and there. But if you make a lot of returns, those $1 fees could add up, and that's a scenario you'll want to avoid.