EcommerceBytes-NewsFlash, Number 2851 - July 19, 2012     3 of 4

Amazon UK Requires More Stringent Return Policies

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Merchants in the UK received notice from Amazon that they must offer the same return policy Amazon itself offers buyers. Amazon will automatically update sellers' returns policy on their storefront pages on August 6th, 2012.

Amazon stated in the email, "To ensure a consistent experience for buyers, Amazon sellers are required to have return policies that are at least as favourable as Amazon's own return policies. To help provide the best experience for buyers, we will be updating the return information in the Returns section of your Amazon.co.uk storefront page on 6 August 2012 to clarify that buyers may return products to you in accordance with Amazon's return policies."

All items must offer a 30-day return policy, and a chart displays the condition the item must be in to be eligible for returns. For example, items in the Music, DVD & Video, PC & Video Games, Software categories must be new and unopened, as must "Very High Value Items."

Amazon spells out it return policies for marketplace sellers on this page - buyers must contact sellers within 14 days and must return the item to the seller in the same condition they received it within 30 days of dispatch. The only exception is software titles, and large items must be returned within 14 days after delivery.

Sellers may continue to offer more favorable policies - the updated return information will direct shoppers to Amazon's return policies and will continue to give buyers the ability to contact sellers directly for information about any more favorable policies that might apply.

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About the author:

Ina Steiner is co-founder and Editor of EcommerceBytes and has been reporting on ecommerce since 1999. She's a widely cited authority on marketplace selling and is author of "Turn eBay Data Into Dollars" (McGraw-Hill 2006). Her blog was featured in the book, "Blogging Heroes" (Wiley 2008). Follow her on Twitter at @ecommercebytes and send news tips to ina@ecommercebytes.com.

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