Is It Possible to Make an Amazon Return After 30 Days?
I’ve written about the Amazon Return Policy in detail so I won’t reinvent the wheel with this post, but rather I want to talk about a clever Amazon return policy hack that I think you will find useful. It has to do with trying to return something after 30 days. If you’ve ever tried to do this on their website, you’ve noticed that items become “unreturnable” 30 days after the date of delivery. But alas, I have a clever workaround and here are the details to make it work for you…
How I Made It Happen
I just started a Live Chat session with Amazon and asked if I could make a return even if it was after 30 days.
Make sure to go through the automated chat first then ask to chat to an actual human.
Pretty simple, right?
I told them that I was a few days over 30 and asked if there was any way they could make an exception especially since I’ve been a loyal Prime customer for years.
The live chat operator verified if the return window had indeed closed, then immediately got back to me and APPROVED the “beyond 30-day” return.
PRO TIP: QUICK WAY TO GET AMAZON ON THE PHONE
If you’d rather talk to someone at Amazon and try this hack, here’s a quick and easy way to get an Amazon customer service rep on the phone. Call (866) 216-1072 and immediately say “NO” to the text message question. Next say “PERSON” whenever you’re prompted to say something. Keep repeating this every time you’re prompted for an answer. You’ll have to say “PERSON” 2 or 3 times but you’ll get someone quickly, guaranteed.
You Do NOT Need To Be a Prime Member
Prime membership is not a requirement of getting them to extend their return window for you.
I mean sure, it might help, especially if you’re a frequent Prime shopper, but you literally have nothing to lose so you might as well give it a try.
If for some reason they won’t let you return something after 30 days, selling the item on eBay is always a good fall-back option.
See Also: Buyer Beware: Avoid this Amazon Bait & Switch Price Trick
How Often Can I Do This?
I’m thinking this has something to do with how often you order from Amazon.
My family places a few Amazon orders every week and spends quite a bit of money in a calendar year.
It would make sense that Amazon is much more likely to take back a return after 30 days if you’re a frequent shopper as they want to keep you a “happy” customer.
Let me know in the comments if you have any evidence to backup or refute my claim.
BONUS: You Might Even Be Able To Keep the Item
Amazon calls it a “Returnless Refund” and it means they don’t want the item back for one reason or another.
I was surprised that Amazon not only let me return something after 30 days, but they told me to keep it as well.
I’d call that a win-win dealio for sure.
Ask the Reader: Have you ever asked for an Amazon return after your 30-day return window was closed? How did it work out?
By Kyle James
I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)
I just did this with an item that was 7 days past the return window and it worked. Thanks for the idea.
Thank you for this tip! This just worked for me. So happy!
Oh my goodness, thank you for posting this! Just tried it and it worked! Followed your “kill em with kindness” request and they were happy to help! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Yeah the kind attitude will get you a lot further than you think. I work in store Walmart customer service where I will bend over backwards to help someone out if they are nice to me. Likewise, I’m determined to stiffen and follow policy to the letter if the customer is a jerk!😇
Thank you! I just did this for 3 items that were 1 to 3 days past the return window. I do order A LOT from Amazon.
did not work for me. this was a month after the return window closed. bought a (still new) small computer part i didn’t need anymore but they told me to email the manufacturer first and then go back to amazon if the manufacturer is unable to help. they said they will try to escalate the request and get a supervisor’s approval for return if the manufacturer can’t help. In other words, im out of luck. Glad it worked for everyone else though!
Well there’s a big difference in forgetting & running a week over v.s. fooling around for 4 weeks or more to try and return something.
It typically has to be an item sold & shipped by Amazon for this to work.. it’s the same way with the hack I posted just a moment ago..
Sandy, this same thing just happened to me. I tried talking to customer service 3 times and got the same response each time: to contact the manufacturer and discuss the item warranty.
I politely requested to escalate the issue to a supervisor and was told “it is past the return date so a return cannot be done. The supervisor will tell you the same thing.”
I asked again to please escalate the issue and was transferred.
The supervisor reviewed the discussion I had with customer service and immediately stated that he CAN, in fact, process a return.
All in all, it took some time and effort but it DID work!
I’m having a hard time figuring out how to start a Live Chat Session. Is it possible it isn’t available to me?
If you go to the help section you should be able to find it somewhere at the bottom. you can also just type in Amazon Customer Service on your web browser and you should be able to find the options for contacting them. They much rather chat than have people call so I fo think it’s Available to everyone
Just worked for me too! Took about 30 seconds and got a full refund!!!! I’m thrilled! Thank you!
Just tried it and worked for me, 3 days outside return window.
Thank you for posting this! Did it this morning about 10 days overdue and it was fine! Beautiful.
It works! Mine was 12 days past the return window and they still refunded me. The kinder you are the the better!
Computer says no; l am autistic and have very bad memory problems; l thought an item had been returned, though found the box in my house with the item, totally sealed and in pristine condition; l tried to explain this to the advisor, though in vain,
as she kept saying the system wouldn’t allow it. High paying/user of Amazon goods, several hundred in the last few months and they treat me like this; we’re all human and errors do happen, though, it pretty obvious that Amazon believes this not to be so (laugh) the errors they made over many years with me; though, sorry, just doesn’t cut it, when the error is yours…..disgusting customer service….l remained calm and polite, didn’t get me anywhere:(
You didn’t mention how long past 30 days this attempt was, I’m guessing more than just a week or so. Lately everyone is so entitled , they fail to see that we (a customer service worker at large retail) hear everything as an excuse for what they want done knowing we are not supposed to do it. We are only following the rules we’re required to follow. I will do everything I can to help someone out if Possible, if they are nice to me with a reasonable mistake. WEEKS or months later isn’t reasonable. She probably thought what I just did, someone with a memory deficit should incorporate better routines to ensure you can’t overlook/forget your box to return instead of blaming the c.s. person who doesn’t have any control over the policy. 🤷♀️
From now on just submit returns for everything you buy even if you don’t plan on returning it and save the labels since they will work for months later and you always get a refund when you ship it back even though Amazon tells you you have 14 days I’ve been shopping on their daily since 2012 & it deff works 😝
Yes, I have used Amazon chat for help in returning an item that I forgot to return in the return window.
I have an Amazon prime membership and shop fairly often, and yes it does work. I don’t think they would approve it on a frequent basis but they will do it. I have also had good luck with Walmart.com returns and had them tell me to keep the item & do whatever I wished with it. Sometimes the shipping costs on return is just more money lost & isn’t worth it to the company.
There is actually a much smarter way to do this lol.. maybe I should start my own blog..🤣 if you have an inkling of an idea you might want to return something submit for the return and print the label or screenshot the QR code for the return. Amazon will usually mention that u have 14 days to return the item. However, you can ship the item back to them using the label or QR code months later and you’ll always still get your refund. 👌🏻😊 your welcome!
Worked for me, thank you very much, was 6 days outside of the return window, I am a prime member, don’t know if that mattered or not. Thanks again for the advice.