FBA returns/refunds are OUT OF CONTROL
Anyone else getting absolutely killed by FBA returns/refunds. It's almost 10% of our monthly sales now. Amazon really needs to control this as it is always the same people over and over scamming the system. They buy new products, use them and when the need replacements, they order another new item then return the used products in the same box for a refund. I have caught so many people doing this 5 or more times over and over. They get free products for years and we get burnt for hundreds of dollars worth of goods! It's outright STEALING!!
I caught one person who did this over 10 times so I emailed them directly and Amazon threatens to disable MY account....Amazon rewards and encourages THEFT!!
FBA returns/refunds are OUT OF CONTROL
Anyone else getting absolutely killed by FBA returns/refunds. It's almost 10% of our monthly sales now. Amazon really needs to control this as it is always the same people over and over scamming the system. They buy new products, use them and when the need replacements, they order another new item then return the used products in the same box for a refund. I have caught so many people doing this 5 or more times over and over. They get free products for years and we get burnt for hundreds of dollars worth of goods! It's outright STEALING!!
I caught one person who did this over 10 times so I emailed them directly and Amazon threatens to disable MY account....Amazon rewards and encourages THEFT!!
24 replies
Seller_t3hTmRBpgQxr3
You can try using the "report abuse" portal in your health health section. Then choose the "An abuse issue that is not addressed by the other topics in this menu". fill out the information and see what happens. If that fails, maybe you can try "Another seller account is attempting to harm my business (including offensive contributions, false reviews and malicious seller feedback)". If that fails, open a case with Seller Support
Good Luck
Seller_k0HBXM6RfRxhC
i get litterally hijack with 30 % return rate the last month after investiagation its some competitor targeting on product in particular now we are 3.5 stars and it seems to be more normal now. i disable notification email as i was waking up at night checking it some days 4 return in the same day. they got to do better we are losing
Seller_WVRGljjwKOlpv
5-10% for me you have to raise the price to cover that , it's part of doing business here for FBA.
Seller_1idNlTUpfKbZW
And that sir, is why we completely cut out FBA from our business model.
I'm not sure who's a bigger scammer - the customers switching items, or Amazon pretending our items are worth 10% of what it sold for, and refusing all invoices for proof of value.
Either way, unless their reimbursement policy at the very least changes, we won't consider FBA.
Seller_LBNcwL9dKwXun
This is a dream... the number of times we see customer "item has already been opened" on a return is so frustrating - totally avoidable costs
Seller_Dk6CseHUOH7c0
I know it's ridiculous and extremely infuriating. I have the same guy who orders my product on a monthly basis, then 3 weeks later gets a refund without giving a reason. Worse now he's started ordering my two pack and doing the same thing so it's twice the cost to me. Amazon is useless when it comes to dealing with buyer abuses. I've tried everything.
Seller_cuqbWem1a7BaZ
I wish they had "returnless refunds" in Canada. They got it in USA. If they are going to refund the customer why waste time having them ship it back just so the item goes in the trash.
Other suggestions for Amazon
Force the customers to contact the company for support issues.
Sometimes customers return items because they are confused about its use. I have had customers think the product was used because there was a "caved in" shape on it, but that was just the natural setting pattern. Other customers think the product had no smell but in reality they need to touch the product to '"activate" the smell" . A little clarification could prevent 20-50% of returns.
Seller_rAVtAnjPXrNg3
We share the frustration—returns have increased dramatically due to liberal return policies. Customers have become emboldened and think nothing of returning used product.
Amazon's return policies are unfairly weighted against third-party sellers who have no recourse when a return is deemed "customer damaged". Customers receive full refunds when returning items in used, damaged, incomplete, or clearly non-resalable condition. In our experience, this has led to significant losses on products that arrive back unusable. What's worse is when Amazon FBA carelessly places unsellable returns back into sellable inventory and we're paying for storage, subsequent fulfillment and returns of damaged product, and then get hit with negative product reviews we cannot get removed.
One particularly challenging case involved a buyer who repeatedly purchased the same item, only to return what appeared to be counterfeits or substitutes. We provided detailed evidence—photos, order history, and records showing 100% returns from this account—yet no action was taken to prevent ongoing abuse.
While customer-friendly policies drive sales, many buyers may not realize the full cost falls on sellers: lost inventory, forfeited revenue, fulfillment/shipping/storage expenses, and return processing fees—all borne by us, not Amazon. Regardless, the customer should bear responsibility.
We're simply asking for fairness. Refund policies that reflect the condition of the return. balanced enforcement: better evaluation of return conditions, proactive action on documented abuse patterns, and tools to protect legitimate sellers.
It would be helpful if Amazon would join in on this discussion.
Seller_tYggsIdI0Ie18
No, if anything, we saw a decrease in returns in 2025. This is likely an individual SKU problem, and can be best solved by removing the worst offenders from your catalog.
Seller_VWH3L8aWpXh3d
This is exactly why I STOPPED selling Pokemon on FBA, i do my own store now and fbm only here and there
amazon needs to wake up or they wont have any sellers left
the fact that amazon still allows returns on TCG is a huge joke (walmart stopped..) their own sold by amazon.ca is abused by scammers go to any listing and look at the reviews of people taking the good cards, resealing , sending back to the brain dead amazon return employees who then re-sell it to some poor soul who gets it and finds it all opened already
