@Seller_ovM5p622oIbGp @Seller_1KYLYkgAlu4xX@Seller_RSwABJNHpHnEZ@Seller_hme3Wbydd1ihr@Seller_Udi0JNbTrsmUV
I've done my share of ranting about inconsistent SAFE-T Claim decisions, and I appreciate moderators who have assisted in getting many of them reversed. Over the last 6 months, I've seen a dramatic improvement. Denied claims are now few and far between. It feels like Amazon made a sincere effort to improve SAFE-T Claim consistency.
I just received my first denial in months, and it's the same old problem. The agent insisted the item was eligible for free return shipping and last worded my case. The claim amount is negligible, but I'm asking for moderator assistance out of principle. The employee who last-worded me did not follow Amazon's return shipping policy. To make matters worse, I was directed to Amazon Help pages that were irrelevant or clearly stated that I should have been eligible for a return shipping reimbursement.
Here are the details.
SAFE-T Claim ID 45523-08711-1979413
As I previously noted, the claim was denied because the item was supposedly eligible for free returns. I appealed because this was a merchant-fulfilled listing that did not display the Free Return Shipping badge.
The first response to my claim included the following statement.
The issue you reported is not covered by the Prepaid Returns for Seller Fulfilled Order program. The item you requested reimbursement for return label cost is eligible for free returns. For more information about Amazon’s return policies, visit "Return Costs":
-- https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=202075130
Ironically, that customer-facing page states that the buyer's return may be eligible for free returns. It does not state that it is eligible.
The page also contains a link providing buyers with more information. It instructs them to look for "Free returns" next to the price to confirm that their item qualifies. My listing does not display the Free Returns badge, and I sent a screenshot to prove it.
I also sent a screenshot from Amazon Help that states sellers can deduct return shipping for "buyer-fault" returns. This was such a return. The buyer claimed the item was late, but carrier tracking shows that it was delivered 3 days earlier than promised. Her return reason should have been "no longer needed," which is a buyer-fault return. I was entitled to deduct the return shipping from her refund.
Thanks to any moderator who will look into this.