How to Return an Item to Amazon

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: January 3, 2023 References

It can be a bummer when you get something online and it doesn’t meet your expectations. Luckily, Amazon makes returning your items fairly easily. First, you need to process the refund online so that you can get a replacement or your money back. Then, you need to package and ship the item back to finalize the return. If you ordered directly from Amazon and it’s within 30 days of delivery, you can usually get a full refund or replacement. If you received the item as a gift or you bought an item through a third party on Amazon, you can still return your item but the process is slightly different.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Getting a Refund For an Item You Ordered

1
Log into the Amazon account that you ordered the item with. Find the login details for the account that you purchased the item with and visit https://www.amazon.com. Once there, scroll over “Sign in” on the top right of the screen and click the yellow “Sign in” button. Then, enter your username and password in the fields provided.^{[1]
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- If you forgot your password, click the “Forgot My Password” link to reset it.
2
Click “Orders” on the top right of your screen. Click “Orders” on the top right of the home screen to go to all of the recent orders that you’ve made. This will bring a separate screen that you can use to check the details of your purchases and start the refund process.^{[2]
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3
Click “Return or Replace Items” next to the item you want to return. The “Return or Replace Items” button should be to the right of the order that you want to return. Clicking this will bring you to the next page in the return process.^{[3]
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4
Explain the reason that you want to return the item. Select the reason for the return in the drop-down menu. The different options include defective items, no longer needed, the wrong size, and other options. Click the option that best suits the situation and then hit the submit button.^{[4]
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- You can also add more details about the return in the text box under the drop down menu but it’s not necessary.
5
Request a refund or a replacement for the item. If you want your money back for the item, click the refund button. If the item you got was defective and you just want another one, you can click replacement.^{[5]
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- Once the refund is initiated, it typically takes 3-7 business days to show on your account.
- Refunds will be put on the card that you purchased the item with, or you’ll receive a credit your Amazon account if the item was a gift.
- Once you initiate a refund, you must return the item within 30 days.
6
Choose a return method. In most cases, you can either drop the item off at a UPS, USPS, or DHL location or you can have someone pick up the item from your address. Select the option that is most convenient for you.^{[6]
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- You must re-package the item before you return it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Returning a Gift You Received

1
Visit the Online Return Center and click the middle button. Go to https://www.amazon.com/returns to go to the Amazon Online Return Center. Here, you can return gifts that were purchased on Amazon. Once the page loads, click on the middle button that says “Return a Gift."^{[7]
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2
Create or log into your Amazon account. After you click the “Return a Gift” button a new screen will pop up and prompt you to enter your account details. If you already have an account, enter your details and click "Submit." If you don’t have an account, you must create one.^{[8]
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- Click the “Create your Amazon account” button on the bottom of the login screen to create a new account.
3
Enter the 17-digit order number if the item was a gift. Once you click the “Return a Gift” button, you’ll be prompted to enter a 17-digit order number. This can be found on the bottom left side of the packing slip. Insert the number and hit enter to go to that item’s order page.^{[9]
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- The order number will look something like 123-1234567-1234567.
- If you can’t find the order number, you can call Amazon customer support and provide details about your package that can help them locate the order number.
4
Click the “Return or Replace Items” button. The “Return or Replace Items” button should be to the right of the image of your gift. Clicking this button will bring you to the next page in the return process.^{[10]
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5
Select the reason for the return in the drop-down menu. Let Amazon know why you want to return the gift. Reasons could include that the gift is defective, doesn’t fit, or isn’t what you wanted. You can give additional details of why you’re returning it in the text box below the drop-down menu.^{[11]
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6
Request a refund or a replacement for the item. Amazon will add a credit equal to the price of the purchase to your account if you want to get a refund. If the item you got was defective and you want another one, click "Replacement."^{[12]
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- Once you initiate a refund, you must return the item within 30 days.
7
Choose how you’ll return the gift. Once you request the refund or replacement, you’ll go to a screen that has different options you can choose to ship back your gift. Usually, you can drop the item off at a UPS, USPS, or DHL or you can have someone pick it up. Choose which method you prefer and read the rest of the instructions provided.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Returning Items from Third Party Sellers

1
Log into the Amazon account that you ordered the item with. Visit https://www.amazon.com and click “Sign in” on the top right of the screen. Login with the username and password you used to purchase the item that you want to return.^{[14]
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- If you bought the wrong item, you can cancel the order within 30 minutes of ordering it.
2
Click “Orders” on the right of your screen. Click “Orders” to view all of the recent orders that you’ve made. Locate the item that you purchased from the third party seller on this list.^{[15]
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3
Click the “request refund” button. After you request your refund, you’ll be brought to a new page that will prompt you to explain why you’re refunding the item. Select the reason that you’re returning the item and provide details on why you want to return it.^{[16]
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- After you submit your order, you’ll receive an email from Amazon within a week that will tell you whether the request was accepted.
- Follow the shipping instructions provided in the email to send the item back to the seller.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Packing and Shipping Your Item Back

1
Print out the return label. When you’re done getting your refund online, you’ll be prompted to print out a return label. If you don’t have a printer, you can send the label to a person that can print it for you.^{[17]
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- If you didn’t print your return label originally, go to “Orders” then click the “Print Packing Slip” button next to the item that you want to return.^{[18]
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2
Pack your item into a box securely. Place the item into a box carefully and include any paperwork that originally came with the item. Include packing peanuts or rolled newspaper around the item so that it remains safe in transit.^{[19]
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Tape the label to the front of the box. Cover the entire label with clear strips of tape so that it stays secured to the box while it’s being transported. Amazon includes postage on the label so you don’t have to pay any extra to return the item.^{[20]
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4
Drop your package off or get it picked up at your address. Depending on what you selected when you returned the item, you can now either drop off the item at the shipping location, or you can leave the package out during a designated time for the UPS driver to pick up. Once you ship your item, your return is complete.^{[21]
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Community Q&A
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Question

How much does it cost to return an item to Amazon?

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Dropping off an item at a return location, such as Kohls or an Amazon store, is free. UPS Dropoff is also free. However, not all items are eligible for free returns. Check the product detail page to find out if your item is eligible. If it was shipped from a third party vendor, they may have their own return policies.
Question

What are some Amazon return locations?

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You can return items shipped and sold through Amazon at Kohls stores, Amazon Bookstores and 4-Star stores, and at Amazon HubLockers, as well as through UPS stores.
Question

What do I do if I can’t find the link to the return label?

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Navigate to your orders and see if there’s a link to generate the label from the order page. If not, call Amazon customer service or use their chat system and give them the order number. They may be able to give you instructions or send you a new return label.