Updates to the Return Insights dashboard and Returns Processing Fee reminder
On June 1, 2024, the updated returns processing fee will go into effect for products with high return-rates (except apparel and shoes). This was announced as part of the 2024 US fee changes. Fee charges will occur after the close of each three-month period. For example, for returns of units shipped in June, the fee charge will be in September.
To help you better understand your returns and return rates, and identify actions you can take to limit your risk of incurring returns processing fees, we’ve made improvements to the Return Insights dashboard on the FBA Returns page.
The Return Insights dashboard will now include the following insights:
- Number of returned units and return rate percentages used to calculate the fee
- Minimum return rate thresholds above which fees are charged
- Number of returned units above the thresholdfor which fees are charged
To access the Return Insights dashboard, go to the FBA Returns page.
The updated returns processing fee looks at product returns across a three-month period of time starting with the month the product shipped and ending two calendar months later. For example, for products shipped in June, returns will be tracked through June, July and August. The fee will only be charged if the total number of returns for the products shipped in that month exceeds the threshold set for the specific product’s fee category, which are now published on the Returns processing fee page. If the returns threshold is exceeded, the returns fee will apply to each returned unit above the threshold.
For products that ship less than 25 units in a month, the updated returns processing fee is not applied for that month. Additionally, for products enrolled in the New Selection Program, we will waive the fee for the first 20 returned units that exceed the return rate threshold.
For detailed information on fee structure and rates, return rates calculation, thresholds, and exemptions, go to 2024 returns processing fee changes.
33 replies
Seller_6wciPsbyKdRWj
Are you going to exclude returns due to Amazon's error (ie. sent the wrong product, didn't arrive on time, damaged during transit, etc) in this calculation? That happens more often than you think.
We also see a lot of "I accidentally ordered the wrong item" return reason. Are those being included?? And really, how do you accidentally order the wrong item??
Also, what is Amazon doing to help prevent return abuse (ie. customer used the product and returned it when finished with it, bad actors purposefully buying and returning, etc.)??? All of these things need to be taken into consideration before hitting sellers with these ridiculous fees.
Seller_r9wMm8LrE5iKj
I'm unclear: do you want us to make it super-easy for your customers to buy-and-try furniture and return it at our expense, or do you want to punish us for the same? Do you want to make sure we don't have too little inventory in your warehouses, or punish us when we have too much? Will I get dinged by Amazon for breathing IN, or breathing OUT?
At the point when nothing we can do will make you happy, it no longer makes sense to try to make you happy. So, **** me. I've learned to stop trying.
Seller_rm9a2zdejXhO9
So what about my returns were because FBA delivered after the promised delivery dates.
Do I now get stuck with a new fee on top of the item that can't be resold because it was delivered late and the customer decided to open it anyways just to return it?
The humanity of "doing business" with Amazon.
Seller_tzb0Adb4whsRu
Another bogus fee even though more often than not, FBA orders are the ones returned due to Amazon's errors, or the buyer is simply abusing the "return/refund" policy because they know Amazon will let them either keep the product, or send them a replacement, and all the while giving them a refund before the item is even returned.
You just don't quit do you Amazon. Follow your own policies!
Take responsibility for your employees mistakes and punish them, NOT the sellers who you continue to s*r#w over.
Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA
My FBA returns are showing:
1. Damaged by Amazon
2. Delivered late by Amazon
Why does Amazon think it should be charging any fee for its errors? Why isn't Amazon paying me my lost profit?
Seller_4lw6ILteSlST6
Good lord...ANOTHER fee. It's hard to believe all of these new, insane fees. The low inventory fee takes the cake, but this one is close. What a crazy time to be a seller on Amazon. It's almost like they don't want us here.
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings @Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA,
I answered a similar question elsewhere in this thread, but I'm posting the reply here to ensure you see it as well:
If a return is the result of Amazon’s error, it will not be included in the fee calculation. This applies to shipped and returned units as well as return rates.
- Bryce
Seller_iobipI6xASRkh
What is going to be done to address customers who repeatedly buy, steal, and return a knock off item to the same ASIN?
It has sky-rocketed our returns on specific ASINs, as this one abusive buyer just buys multiple a day and returns them for reasons like "small" and sends back plastic junk and one time a block of wood in the box. Amazon puts these back in FBA (no one looks at it apparently) and then sends it to other VERY unhappy customers. This makes our return rate on those ASIN's hit 40% or more. He has wiped out entire product lines because they are handmade but a high price point with a name brand.
He has been reported. Thanks to a wonderful forum mod, he is on his third account now as they have shut down the prior ones. He just doesn't stop.
The problem is "report abuse" has no place to report buyer theft for FBA. We have NO way to stop abusive buyers until it causes damage to the account and listings. Like just let us block a zip code!
So now we are going to get hit with buyer abuse and pay for excessive returns with our hands tied to stop him? How does that make any sense? Give us a working way to stop abusive buyers and I have no problem with this fee.
As it is, adding this fee is just punishing FBA sellers for being scammed by buyers that we have zero control over.
Seller_HjfyVYcuJdbTf
We'll be charged if return reason is:
- Refused?
- I accidentally ordered the wrong item?
- I found better prices elsewhere?
- Unwanted item?
- Product is not as described on website (when we're not the listing creator or Brand owner, just one of many suppliers who have no control over the listing content, even when we submit suggestions)?
- No reason given?
Shouldn't BUYER be charged for most of these?
We're already penalized heavily by returns (shipping cost loss, customer damaged/stolen products, reduced value, etc.). Plus, these "Threshold" #s are too arbitrary.
Will AMZ being providing any additional service to sellers for this fee? We already pay for the shipping. We are not Brand owners or manufacturers.
Seller_ZxRj75YqzRx9N
1. Do refunded orders that customers fail to return count toward this? The fee is to "address the operational costs of returns and to reduce waste". Refunded orders that are never returned would not be contributing to those issues.
2. Are "Refused" deliveries considered Amazon's fault? We have a suspiciously high rate of "Refused" orders that eventually get reimbursed for not being returned. It should be a rare occurrence if customers are actually refusing packages. It seems the refunds are being categorized wrong or maybe refunds are being automated from bad tracking data.
We already lose $5-8 on small $50ish items whenever a customer requests a refund and does not return the item:
- The FBA Fulfillment fee is not reimbursed to us in the refund and not credited back when the refund is reversed.
- There is an extra "Refund Commission" (20% of original commission) that gets billed to us.
Adding another potential fee on top of this for returns Amazon never touches seems excessive. Especially when Amazon is presumably recollecting full payment from the customer when a refund is reversed and effectively collecting the FBA Fulfillment fee twice already.
Updates to the Return Insights dashboard and Returns Processing Fee reminder
On June 1, 2024, the updated returns processing fee will go into effect for products with high return-rates (except apparel and shoes). This was announced as part of the 2024 US fee changes. Fee charges will occur after the close of each three-month period. For example, for returns of units shipped in June, the fee charge will be in September.
To help you better understand your returns and return rates, and identify actions you can take to limit your risk of incurring returns processing fees, we’ve made improvements to the Return Insights dashboard on the FBA Returns page.
The Return Insights dashboard will now include the following insights:
- Number of returned units and return rate percentages used to calculate the fee
- Minimum return rate thresholds above which fees are charged
- Number of returned units above the thresholdfor which fees are charged
To access the Return Insights dashboard, go to the FBA Returns page.
The updated returns processing fee looks at product returns across a three-month period of time starting with the month the product shipped and ending two calendar months later. For example, for products shipped in June, returns will be tracked through June, July and August. The fee will only be charged if the total number of returns for the products shipped in that month exceeds the threshold set for the specific product’s fee category, which are now published on the Returns processing fee page. If the returns threshold is exceeded, the returns fee will apply to each returned unit above the threshold.
For products that ship less than 25 units in a month, the updated returns processing fee is not applied for that month. Additionally, for products enrolled in the New Selection Program, we will waive the fee for the first 20 returned units that exceed the return rate threshold.
For detailed information on fee structure and rates, return rates calculation, thresholds, and exemptions, go to 2024 returns processing fee changes.
Updates to the Return Insights dashboard and Returns Processing Fee reminder
On June 1, 2024, the updated returns processing fee will go into effect for products with high return-rates (except apparel and shoes). This was announced as part of the 2024 US fee changes. Fee charges will occur after the close of each three-month period. For example, for returns of units shipped in June, the fee charge will be in September.
To help you better understand your returns and return rates, and identify actions you can take to limit your risk of incurring returns processing fees, we’ve made improvements to the Return Insights dashboard on the FBA Returns page.
The Return Insights dashboard will now include the following insights:
- Number of returned units and return rate percentages used to calculate the fee
- Minimum return rate thresholds above which fees are charged
- Number of returned units above the thresholdfor which fees are charged
To access the Return Insights dashboard, go to the FBA Returns page.
The updated returns processing fee looks at product returns across a three-month period of time starting with the month the product shipped and ending two calendar months later. For example, for products shipped in June, returns will be tracked through June, July and August. The fee will only be charged if the total number of returns for the products shipped in that month exceeds the threshold set for the specific product’s fee category, which are now published on the Returns processing fee page. If the returns threshold is exceeded, the returns fee will apply to each returned unit above the threshold.
For products that ship less than 25 units in a month, the updated returns processing fee is not applied for that month. Additionally, for products enrolled in the New Selection Program, we will waive the fee for the first 20 returned units that exceed the return rate threshold.
For detailed information on fee structure and rates, return rates calculation, thresholds, and exemptions, go to 2024 returns processing fee changes.
33 replies
33 replies
Seller_6wciPsbyKdRWj
Are you going to exclude returns due to Amazon's error (ie. sent the wrong product, didn't arrive on time, damaged during transit, etc) in this calculation? That happens more often than you think.
We also see a lot of "I accidentally ordered the wrong item" return reason. Are those being included?? And really, how do you accidentally order the wrong item??
Also, what is Amazon doing to help prevent return abuse (ie. customer used the product and returned it when finished with it, bad actors purposefully buying and returning, etc.)??? All of these things need to be taken into consideration before hitting sellers with these ridiculous fees.
Seller_r9wMm8LrE5iKj
I'm unclear: do you want us to make it super-easy for your customers to buy-and-try furniture and return it at our expense, or do you want to punish us for the same? Do you want to make sure we don't have too little inventory in your warehouses, or punish us when we have too much? Will I get dinged by Amazon for breathing IN, or breathing OUT?
At the point when nothing we can do will make you happy, it no longer makes sense to try to make you happy. So, **** me. I've learned to stop trying.
Seller_rm9a2zdejXhO9
So what about my returns were because FBA delivered after the promised delivery dates.
Do I now get stuck with a new fee on top of the item that can't be resold because it was delivered late and the customer decided to open it anyways just to return it?
The humanity of "doing business" with Amazon.
Seller_tzb0Adb4whsRu
Another bogus fee even though more often than not, FBA orders are the ones returned due to Amazon's errors, or the buyer is simply abusing the "return/refund" policy because they know Amazon will let them either keep the product, or send them a replacement, and all the while giving them a refund before the item is even returned.
You just don't quit do you Amazon. Follow your own policies!
Take responsibility for your employees mistakes and punish them, NOT the sellers who you continue to s*r#w over.
Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA
My FBA returns are showing:
1. Damaged by Amazon
2. Delivered late by Amazon
Why does Amazon think it should be charging any fee for its errors? Why isn't Amazon paying me my lost profit?
Seller_4lw6ILteSlST6
Good lord...ANOTHER fee. It's hard to believe all of these new, insane fees. The low inventory fee takes the cake, but this one is close. What a crazy time to be a seller on Amazon. It's almost like they don't want us here.
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings @Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA,
I answered a similar question elsewhere in this thread, but I'm posting the reply here to ensure you see it as well:
If a return is the result of Amazon’s error, it will not be included in the fee calculation. This applies to shipped and returned units as well as return rates.
- Bryce
Seller_iobipI6xASRkh
What is going to be done to address customers who repeatedly buy, steal, and return a knock off item to the same ASIN?
It has sky-rocketed our returns on specific ASINs, as this one abusive buyer just buys multiple a day and returns them for reasons like "small" and sends back plastic junk and one time a block of wood in the box. Amazon puts these back in FBA (no one looks at it apparently) and then sends it to other VERY unhappy customers. This makes our return rate on those ASIN's hit 40% or more. He has wiped out entire product lines because they are handmade but a high price point with a name brand.
He has been reported. Thanks to a wonderful forum mod, he is on his third account now as they have shut down the prior ones. He just doesn't stop.
The problem is "report abuse" has no place to report buyer theft for FBA. We have NO way to stop abusive buyers until it causes damage to the account and listings. Like just let us block a zip code!
So now we are going to get hit with buyer abuse and pay for excessive returns with our hands tied to stop him? How does that make any sense? Give us a working way to stop abusive buyers and I have no problem with this fee.
As it is, adding this fee is just punishing FBA sellers for being scammed by buyers that we have zero control over.
Seller_HjfyVYcuJdbTf
We'll be charged if return reason is:
- Refused?
- I accidentally ordered the wrong item?
- I found better prices elsewhere?
- Unwanted item?
- Product is not as described on website (when we're not the listing creator or Brand owner, just one of many suppliers who have no control over the listing content, even when we submit suggestions)?
- No reason given?
Shouldn't BUYER be charged for most of these?
We're already penalized heavily by returns (shipping cost loss, customer damaged/stolen products, reduced value, etc.). Plus, these "Threshold" #s are too arbitrary.
Will AMZ being providing any additional service to sellers for this fee? We already pay for the shipping. We are not Brand owners or manufacturers.
Seller_ZxRj75YqzRx9N
1. Do refunded orders that customers fail to return count toward this? The fee is to "address the operational costs of returns and to reduce waste". Refunded orders that are never returned would not be contributing to those issues.
2. Are "Refused" deliveries considered Amazon's fault? We have a suspiciously high rate of "Refused" orders that eventually get reimbursed for not being returned. It should be a rare occurrence if customers are actually refusing packages. It seems the refunds are being categorized wrong or maybe refunds are being automated from bad tracking data.
We already lose $5-8 on small $50ish items whenever a customer requests a refund and does not return the item:
- The FBA Fulfillment fee is not reimbursed to us in the refund and not credited back when the refund is reversed.
- There is an extra "Refund Commission" (20% of original commission) that gets billed to us.
Adding another potential fee on top of this for returns Amazon never touches seems excessive. Especially when Amazon is presumably recollecting full payment from the customer when a refund is reversed and effectively collecting the FBA Fulfillment fee twice already.
Seller_6wciPsbyKdRWj
Are you going to exclude returns due to Amazon's error (ie. sent the wrong product, didn't arrive on time, damaged during transit, etc) in this calculation? That happens more often than you think.
We also see a lot of "I accidentally ordered the wrong item" return reason. Are those being included?? And really, how do you accidentally order the wrong item??
Also, what is Amazon doing to help prevent return abuse (ie. customer used the product and returned it when finished with it, bad actors purposefully buying and returning, etc.)??? All of these things need to be taken into consideration before hitting sellers with these ridiculous fees.
Seller_6wciPsbyKdRWj
Are you going to exclude returns due to Amazon's error (ie. sent the wrong product, didn't arrive on time, damaged during transit, etc) in this calculation? That happens more often than you think.
We also see a lot of "I accidentally ordered the wrong item" return reason. Are those being included?? And really, how do you accidentally order the wrong item??
Also, what is Amazon doing to help prevent return abuse (ie. customer used the product and returned it when finished with it, bad actors purposefully buying and returning, etc.)??? All of these things need to be taken into consideration before hitting sellers with these ridiculous fees.
Seller_r9wMm8LrE5iKj
I'm unclear: do you want us to make it super-easy for your customers to buy-and-try furniture and return it at our expense, or do you want to punish us for the same? Do you want to make sure we don't have too little inventory in your warehouses, or punish us when we have too much? Will I get dinged by Amazon for breathing IN, or breathing OUT?
At the point when nothing we can do will make you happy, it no longer makes sense to try to make you happy. So, **** me. I've learned to stop trying.
Seller_r9wMm8LrE5iKj
I'm unclear: do you want us to make it super-easy for your customers to buy-and-try furniture and return it at our expense, or do you want to punish us for the same? Do you want to make sure we don't have too little inventory in your warehouses, or punish us when we have too much? Will I get dinged by Amazon for breathing IN, or breathing OUT?
At the point when nothing we can do will make you happy, it no longer makes sense to try to make you happy. So, **** me. I've learned to stop trying.
Seller_rm9a2zdejXhO9
So what about my returns were because FBA delivered after the promised delivery dates.
Do I now get stuck with a new fee on top of the item that can't be resold because it was delivered late and the customer decided to open it anyways just to return it?
The humanity of "doing business" with Amazon.
Seller_rm9a2zdejXhO9
So what about my returns were because FBA delivered after the promised delivery dates.
Do I now get stuck with a new fee on top of the item that can't be resold because it was delivered late and the customer decided to open it anyways just to return it?
The humanity of "doing business" with Amazon.
Seller_tzb0Adb4whsRu
Another bogus fee even though more often than not, FBA orders are the ones returned due to Amazon's errors, or the buyer is simply abusing the "return/refund" policy because they know Amazon will let them either keep the product, or send them a replacement, and all the while giving them a refund before the item is even returned.
You just don't quit do you Amazon. Follow your own policies!
Take responsibility for your employees mistakes and punish them, NOT the sellers who you continue to s*r#w over.
Seller_tzb0Adb4whsRu
Another bogus fee even though more often than not, FBA orders are the ones returned due to Amazon's errors, or the buyer is simply abusing the "return/refund" policy because they know Amazon will let them either keep the product, or send them a replacement, and all the while giving them a refund before the item is even returned.
You just don't quit do you Amazon. Follow your own policies!
Take responsibility for your employees mistakes and punish them, NOT the sellers who you continue to s*r#w over.
Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA
My FBA returns are showing:
1. Damaged by Amazon
2. Delivered late by Amazon
Why does Amazon think it should be charging any fee for its errors? Why isn't Amazon paying me my lost profit?
Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA
My FBA returns are showing:
1. Damaged by Amazon
2. Delivered late by Amazon
Why does Amazon think it should be charging any fee for its errors? Why isn't Amazon paying me my lost profit?
Seller_4lw6ILteSlST6
Good lord...ANOTHER fee. It's hard to believe all of these new, insane fees. The low inventory fee takes the cake, but this one is close. What a crazy time to be a seller on Amazon. It's almost like they don't want us here.
Seller_4lw6ILteSlST6
Good lord...ANOTHER fee. It's hard to believe all of these new, insane fees. The low inventory fee takes the cake, but this one is close. What a crazy time to be a seller on Amazon. It's almost like they don't want us here.
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings @Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA,
I answered a similar question elsewhere in this thread, but I'm posting the reply here to ensure you see it as well:
If a return is the result of Amazon’s error, it will not be included in the fee calculation. This applies to shipped and returned units as well as return rates.
- Bryce
Bryce_Amazon
Greetings @Seller_Ggt6s7zXEwLbA,
I answered a similar question elsewhere in this thread, but I'm posting the reply here to ensure you see it as well:
If a return is the result of Amazon’s error, it will not be included in the fee calculation. This applies to shipped and returned units as well as return rates.
- Bryce
Seller_iobipI6xASRkh
What is going to be done to address customers who repeatedly buy, steal, and return a knock off item to the same ASIN?
It has sky-rocketed our returns on specific ASINs, as this one abusive buyer just buys multiple a day and returns them for reasons like "small" and sends back plastic junk and one time a block of wood in the box. Amazon puts these back in FBA (no one looks at it apparently) and then sends it to other VERY unhappy customers. This makes our return rate on those ASIN's hit 40% or more. He has wiped out entire product lines because they are handmade but a high price point with a name brand.
He has been reported. Thanks to a wonderful forum mod, he is on his third account now as they have shut down the prior ones. He just doesn't stop.
The problem is "report abuse" has no place to report buyer theft for FBA. We have NO way to stop abusive buyers until it causes damage to the account and listings. Like just let us block a zip code!
So now we are going to get hit with buyer abuse and pay for excessive returns with our hands tied to stop him? How does that make any sense? Give us a working way to stop abusive buyers and I have no problem with this fee.
As it is, adding this fee is just punishing FBA sellers for being scammed by buyers that we have zero control over.
Seller_iobipI6xASRkh
What is going to be done to address customers who repeatedly buy, steal, and return a knock off item to the same ASIN?
It has sky-rocketed our returns on specific ASINs, as this one abusive buyer just buys multiple a day and returns them for reasons like "small" and sends back plastic junk and one time a block of wood in the box. Amazon puts these back in FBA (no one looks at it apparently) and then sends it to other VERY unhappy customers. This makes our return rate on those ASIN's hit 40% or more. He has wiped out entire product lines because they are handmade but a high price point with a name brand.
He has been reported. Thanks to a wonderful forum mod, he is on his third account now as they have shut down the prior ones. He just doesn't stop.
The problem is "report abuse" has no place to report buyer theft for FBA. We have NO way to stop abusive buyers until it causes damage to the account and listings. Like just let us block a zip code!
So now we are going to get hit with buyer abuse and pay for excessive returns with our hands tied to stop him? How does that make any sense? Give us a working way to stop abusive buyers and I have no problem with this fee.
As it is, adding this fee is just punishing FBA sellers for being scammed by buyers that we have zero control over.
Seller_HjfyVYcuJdbTf
We'll be charged if return reason is:
- Refused?
- I accidentally ordered the wrong item?
- I found better prices elsewhere?
- Unwanted item?
- Product is not as described on website (when we're not the listing creator or Brand owner, just one of many suppliers who have no control over the listing content, even when we submit suggestions)?
- No reason given?
Shouldn't BUYER be charged for most of these?
We're already penalized heavily by returns (shipping cost loss, customer damaged/stolen products, reduced value, etc.). Plus, these "Threshold" #s are too arbitrary.
Will AMZ being providing any additional service to sellers for this fee? We already pay for the shipping. We are not Brand owners or manufacturers.
Seller_HjfyVYcuJdbTf
We'll be charged if return reason is:
- Refused?
- I accidentally ordered the wrong item?
- I found better prices elsewhere?
- Unwanted item?
- Product is not as described on website (when we're not the listing creator or Brand owner, just one of many suppliers who have no control over the listing content, even when we submit suggestions)?
- No reason given?
Shouldn't BUYER be charged for most of these?
We're already penalized heavily by returns (shipping cost loss, customer damaged/stolen products, reduced value, etc.). Plus, these "Threshold" #s are too arbitrary.
Will AMZ being providing any additional service to sellers for this fee? We already pay for the shipping. We are not Brand owners or manufacturers.
Seller_ZxRj75YqzRx9N
1. Do refunded orders that customers fail to return count toward this? The fee is to "address the operational costs of returns and to reduce waste". Refunded orders that are never returned would not be contributing to those issues.
2. Are "Refused" deliveries considered Amazon's fault? We have a suspiciously high rate of "Refused" orders that eventually get reimbursed for not being returned. It should be a rare occurrence if customers are actually refusing packages. It seems the refunds are being categorized wrong or maybe refunds are being automated from bad tracking data.
We already lose $5-8 on small $50ish items whenever a customer requests a refund and does not return the item:
- The FBA Fulfillment fee is not reimbursed to us in the refund and not credited back when the refund is reversed.
- There is an extra "Refund Commission" (20% of original commission) that gets billed to us.
Adding another potential fee on top of this for returns Amazon never touches seems excessive. Especially when Amazon is presumably recollecting full payment from the customer when a refund is reversed and effectively collecting the FBA Fulfillment fee twice already.
Seller_ZxRj75YqzRx9N
1. Do refunded orders that customers fail to return count toward this? The fee is to "address the operational costs of returns and to reduce waste". Refunded orders that are never returned would not be contributing to those issues.
2. Are "Refused" deliveries considered Amazon's fault? We have a suspiciously high rate of "Refused" orders that eventually get reimbursed for not being returned. It should be a rare occurrence if customers are actually refusing packages. It seems the refunds are being categorized wrong or maybe refunds are being automated from bad tracking data.
We already lose $5-8 on small $50ish items whenever a customer requests a refund and does not return the item:
- The FBA Fulfillment fee is not reimbursed to us in the refund and not credited back when the refund is reversed.
- There is an extra "Refund Commission" (20% of original commission) that gets billed to us.
Adding another potential fee on top of this for returns Amazon never touches seems excessive. Especially when Amazon is presumably recollecting full payment from the customer when a refund is reversed and effectively collecting the FBA Fulfillment fee twice already.
