Amazon extends the return period to 90 days during peak season! Sellers: We are being taken advantage of again

Yesterday ( September 26), Amazon Japan issued an announcement stating that in order to provide consumers with a better shopping experience and increase the attractiveness of peak season sales, Amazon plans to extend the return period during the peak season at the end of 2022.

The specific extension is that for consumers who purchased products sold directly by Amazon and Amazon Logistics between November 1 and December 31, 2022, the return period can be extended to January 31, 2023, and the validity period is normally within 30 days after the arrival of the product. For products purchased on or after January 1, 2023, the return period will be restored to 30 days, and sales operators do not need to change settings or perform other operations.

That is to say, if the buyer purchases a product within the rules on November 1, they will have a 90-day return period. For products shipped by merchants themselves, the extended return period is not affected by this plan, and whether to extend it is up to the merchants themselves.

Although Amazon has launched this return and exchange program, there are some products on the Japanese site that do not support return and exchange. For example, in the return and exchange conditions of Amazon Japan, it can be seen that most of the product categories that are restricted for return and exchange are electronic products, such as Xiaomi smartphones, SONY smartphones , ASUS smartphones, Apple products, audio digital products such as audio books, etc. In addition, some model trains, airsoft model guns, collectible cars and food, bicycles, trading cards, automotive electronic parts and other products are also not accepted for return and exchange.

According to the announcement, Amazon also implemented the same extended return period plan during last year's year-end sales period, but returns did not increase compared to the previous year. On the contrary, it brought more orders and improved customer satisfaction.

However, for sellers, this should be a mixed blessing, because while there is an opportunity to increase order volume, there is also the worry that the products will be taken away by consumers for free. The return period of this plan is as long as 90 days. If a large number of Japanese buyers receive the products and use them for two or three months and then ask for a return, the sellers may be helpless. Even if there is a surge in orders during the peak season at the end of the year, they will still face a large number of returns.

Under this announcement, a seller said that such a plan is unnecessary because consumers may return the product after buying it and then get bored, which is a waste of time. However, sellers do not need to worry too much. As long as they focus on product quality and improve consumer satisfaction, the return rate can be reduced accordingly.

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