[Update 10/13/20: Here’s the direct link to the holiday return policy (affiliate link).]
Amazon will allow most orders shipped between October 1 – December 31, 2020 to be returned through January 31, 2021. That’s a whopping 3-4 month return policy for items purchased in October.
Many retailers expand their return window for the holiday season. In prior years Amazon’s policy was to extend November – December purchases through January 31; this year they added October as well. Notably, that will include Prime Day purchases from October 13-14 which makes it easier when buying a Prime Day deal for the holidays.
I can’t find it officially displaying anywhere on the Amazon site (let me know if you see it somewhere), but it’s being discussed in seller forums for the past couple of weeks when sellers were informed of this new policy (see here, for example). Sellers are rather unhappy with the news. In any case, it’s certainly a nice feature for consumers.
Shop on Amazon (our affiliate link; thanks to those who support the site during their holiday shopping)
Does this include items bought from Amazon Warehouse or do they still just offer the 30 day return policy?
Yes! “Return or replace items Eligible through January 31, 2021” on Amazon Warehouse order placed 9/29, shipped 10/1, delivered 10/5.
Man I would so hate to be an Amazon seller for the 2020 holiday season.
Tell me about it. Nothing we can do about used returns either unless you want your account trashed with negative feedback.
FWIW, I’m more reluctant to return things from a third party seller. I’ve kept a few things that I would’ve returned but felt for the small biz. I do though definitely return things that don’t live up to their advertising, like the air conditioner that said it was 48 decibels but measured at 65-68 decibels.
Is it for orders delivered from Oct 1 or placed from Oct 1? I just had something delivered yesterday but not seeing the extended return period on the order page…
The words stated are ‘delivered’ so I copied that
Haha. Buy room heater, use it until January then return it.
What else to buy???
We can return opened items?
I am not waiting 4 months for my rebate checks….
As evil as this company’s owner is, this is something really great to see this extended like this to help avoid holiday rushes
Why do people need returns through January in October its insane, there’s no holiday rush on amazon the site works same today as it does in December.
As a consumer I appreciate the extra peace of mind but as a former small-scale Amazon reseller I really feel for the companies and individuals that now have to contend with yet another month of uncertainty from even more returns added to the existing craziness of the 4th quarter…
Overall I just see it as one more way Amazon is making it difficult for smaller resellers to be able to survive on their platform, despite their constant self-promotion of all the people it says it helps make a living via an Amazon store! And realistically, the 91 day return window that’s already been available between 11/1 – 1/31 was generous enough as it was in my opinion, not to mention that the privilege is abused in way too many instances.
I’m currently experimenting with reselling and this is dismaying. I need all the timely payments I can get!!