Prepaid return labels required for high-value items
This article was first published on January 9, 2026, and has since been removed. On February 9, we published an updated article to clarify that this requirement is for US seller-fulfilled orders
Effective February 8, 2026, all US sellers must use the Amazon Prepaid Return Label (APRL) program for customer returns of seller-fulfilled orders regardless of item value. This change eliminates the previous high-value exemption to create a more consistent return experience for faster refund processing and reduced customer service requirements.
The APRL program automatically provides customers with prepaid return shipping labels through Buy Shipping Services. This streamlined process reduces the refund cycle time from 14 to 7 days and eliminates the need for buyer-seller messaging.
Existing category exemptions will continue to apply, including Handmade, certified preowned watches, non-physical items, dangerous goods, and extra-large or heavy items. Additionally, items that are ineligible for prepaid return labels will remain exempt from this requirement.
We understand you may have concerns about high-value returns. When we issue a refund to a buyer and you believe it wasn't your fault, you can file a claim for reimbursement through the Seller Assurance for E-Commerce Transactions (SAFE-T) program.
To learn more about how to file a SAFE-T claim, go to Reimbursement for seller-fulfilled orders.
For more information about the APRL program, go to Prepaid returns for seller-fulfilled orders.
Prepaid return labels required for high-value items
This article was first published on January 9, 2026, and has since been removed. On February 9, we published an updated article to clarify that this requirement is for US seller-fulfilled orders
Effective February 8, 2026, all US sellers must use the Amazon Prepaid Return Label (APRL) program for customer returns of seller-fulfilled orders regardless of item value. This change eliminates the previous high-value exemption to create a more consistent return experience for faster refund processing and reduced customer service requirements.
The APRL program automatically provides customers with prepaid return shipping labels through Buy Shipping Services. This streamlined process reduces the refund cycle time from 14 to 7 days and eliminates the need for buyer-seller messaging.
Existing category exemptions will continue to apply, including Handmade, certified preowned watches, non-physical items, dangerous goods, and extra-large or heavy items. Additionally, items that are ineligible for prepaid return labels will remain exempt from this requirement.
We understand you may have concerns about high-value returns. When we issue a refund to a buyer and you believe it wasn't your fault, you can file a claim for reimbursement through the Seller Assurance for E-Commerce Transactions (SAFE-T) program.
To learn more about how to file a SAFE-T claim, go to Reimbursement for seller-fulfilled orders.
For more information about the APRL program, go to Prepaid returns for seller-fulfilled orders.
19 replies
Seller_nhOX2gPgrVJTe
Has the change actually gone into effect yet? I’m not seeing any change on my account as of Feb 9.
Seller_Zl0NhabAFmI3v
Not only does this policy put a front-loaded cost onto merchants, but this is also going to open the flood gates for fraudulent returns of ASINs that are made up of easily changeable components.
A customer can now order a "new" item from a merchant, accept the delivery, swap out the one or two broken components that they need, and then send back a bastardized return product that now has the old components assembled back onto their "new" return. As the returned product will look alike and reflect close to the original product in pictures, Amazon will deny the claim saying that the customer returned the product per Amazon policies. The merchant will now be denied an outbound shipping cost, the return shipping cost, and be left with an unsaleable first condition product due to the streamlining of the customer service experience.
Congratulations Amazon, in essence, you have simply streamlined the ability for dishonest customers to steal from small businesses. A streamline that is built by the front-loaded costs of shipping by the merchant.
However, this all goes away if you go simply switch to FBA. Surely you can trust Amazon to be the judge, jury, and executioner for your best interests. Right?
Seller_IcXBgQpfIafVG
Amazon simply doesn't care about the survival of the sellers.
Seller_jWua5cMt65XA8
Apparently you didn't take all the downvotes and the replies under your previous post into consideration.
Could you please answer all the questions mentioned in this post?
https://sellercentral.amazon.com/seller-forums/discussions/t/c1eae42b-ead4-4c63-a007-aefbca44a867
E.g.
How will the order ships in multiple packages works? Amazon provides one prepaid return label per return request, not per package.
1. If the customer returns only one of the packages, will you force the seller to issue full refund?
2. What if the customer binds all packages together so as to return the item in one label, and thus causing a sky-high label fee due to oversize/extra large packaging, who should be responsible for the fee that's not supposed to exist?
Seller_kILrXFc3VvyDf
Where can we find how Amazon defines "dangerous goods, and extra-large or heavy items".
Kindly advise.
Seller_OjyglcJM2tdzW
I'm currently experiencing a disastrous situation regarding this policy: I chose to comply with Amazon's policy, but a customer returned an item in a box five times larger than the original packaging, resulting in a $2200 return label fee. I've been struggling with this for over a month, submitting multiple cases, only to be told that once I accept Amazon's prepaid return label policy, I must bear all return shipping costs regardless of the customer's packaging choice.
This policy only simplifies things for Amazon and buyers, while sellers are left nakedly crucified and relentlessly whipped.
My CASE : 20091151891
