Ordering anything online can be a gamble. Even with product photos and customer reviews, some things just don't end up meeting our expectations when they arrive. But if you've become accustomed to returning your unwanted Amazon purchases, you might be caught off guard by a new change. According to recent reports, the company is now charging customers for making returns through the United Parcel Service (UPS). Read on to find out more about Amazon's newest fee.
READ THIS NEXT: 5 Warnings to Shoppers From Ex-Amazon Delivery Workers.
Amazon shoppers have been able to make returns through UPS at no cost.
iStockAmazon has long touted its desire to make returning online orders "as easy as possible." In fact, the company just recently expanded its free drop off options for customers in Dec. 2022. "We understand that finding a box and tape, and printing a label for a return can still be a hassle," Amazon said in a statement at the time. "Now, most Amazon returns are easier than ever with no box required."
According to the company's website, shoppers have been able to return certain items "free of charge" at more than 4,768 UPS stores nationwide—needing no box to do so, either. "Most customers will have at least one free return option included on millions of items purchased on Amazon in the U.S.," the retail giant explained.
But now Amazon appears to be taking on an additional charge for this once-free option.
The company is now adding a new fee for this service.
ShutterstockCustomers should start preparing to potentially pay if they want to send back an Amazon order. The marketplace giant is now charging an additional fee for certain returns made at UPS stores, The Information reported. But an April 6 Reddit thread first brought attention to the new fee. "Whoa! Is Amazon charging you $1.00 to return items at The UPS Store too?" user @YahooAnswersDude wrote in the post, attaching a screenshot of the return page showing the fee.
Best Life has reached out to Amazon about this new fee, and we will update this story with their response.
Amazon's fee will only apply to certain UPS returns.
William Barton/ShutterstockThis won't affect every UPS return, however. Amazon is adding the new fee when a customer returns certain orders to a UPS store that could have been returned to a Whole Foods, Kohl's, or Amazon Fresh location that is either closer or within the same distance, eSeller365 reported. This will apply to items that are being returned for reasons like "change of mind" or "accidental order," according to the news outlet.
"Return shipping cost will be deducted from your refund," Amazon states on its return page for the $1 UPS Store option, per the screenshot from the initial Reddit post.
Amazon has received backlash from customers over new charges.
Elpisterra/ShutterstockThis new move is the latest way the tech giant is working on cutting costs, The Information explained. "Amazon adding fees for UPS Store returns seems like a strategy to direct customers towards their other return options, which could save them a lot of money," TrackMage, an international shipment tracking company, wrote in a post on its official Twitter account.
But this doesn't mean the new fee will sit well with customers. Amazon was already threatened with a boycott earlier this year after it added a new delivery charge to certain grocery orders. And now, customers have already started criticizing the company for the return fee. "lmao...wtf is happening at Amazon these days," one person commented on the Reddit thread. Another person wrote, "Amazon has really gone down hill."
