How to Score an Instant Refund if Amazon Package is Late
As I’ve discussed before, Amazon is having a hard time getting stuff to you in the 2-day Prime shipping window. And it kinda sucks as Amazon packages seem to be arriving late more frequently these days. It’s especially unfortunate since you’re paying for the Prime service, and in many cases actually need the stuff quickly, which is why you ordered from Amazon in the first place. Here’s how you can quickly score an instant refund from Amazon when your package is late.
How Do I Get My Refund?
The best way to score a refund is to start a Live Chat session with Amazon and let the rep know your item is late.
Here’s how my chat session went when I made this hack work…
Item Should Be At Least 24 Hours Late
I suggest waiting at least 24 hours late before you contact Amazon.
They’ll first tell you when your stuff is suppose to arrive, and ask that you contact them again if it still hasn’t arrived.
DON’T accept that as an answer.
Tell them, “Won’t need it then, please refund my account NOW, thank you.”
It’s been my experience that they’ll immediately offer to refund your account (in the form of a gift card) or original form of payment.
See Also: Amazon Actually Lets You Keep Some Items You Try to Return
Do I Have to Return Items After They Arrive?
Surprisingly, NO…or at least not always.
Once Amazon refunded my order, I was NEVER asked to mail back the stuff that came late.
It was mine to keep.
Sure enough my stuff arrived 3 days late.
I’ll either sell it stuff on eBay or find a different use for it.
Get A Refund From Amazon After Item Arrives
Sometimes Amazon will ask you to contact them again after the item arrives and they’ll issue you a refund then.
This typically happens when the “waiting period of the item” has not passed yet, which was the case in the screenshot above.
The item I had ordered kept getting it’s delivery date moved back, so after the 3rd time, I contacted them.
As you can tell be the chat session, they’ll still let me keep the item as “compensation for the delay”.
They do this in the hopes that you’ll forget to contact them, but you won’t do that, right?
Do I Have to be a Prime Member?
NO, but I think it might help.
It probably also helps if you order a lot from Amazon and have been a Prime member for at least a couple years.
I’m wondering if anybody reading this has had success with this hack that ISN’T a Prime member?
Let me know in the comments.
See Also: Here’s How to Make an Amazon Return After 30 Days
How Often Can I Do This?
I’m not sure.
Fortunately, you won’t need to do it very often, but I don’t see why you couldn’t try it every time an item doesn’t arrive on time.
After all, you’re paying for the 2-day shipping service so it’s smart to hold Amazon’s feet to the fire if they’re not holding up their end of the bargain.
With that said, DEFINITELY don’t lie and DON’T abuse Amazon’s generous policy or it will go away forever and they will raise their prices and the annual cost of Prime.
Will My Amazon Account Get Flagged?
Probably not.
I’m guessing if everybody did this, it would actually force Amazon to try and improve their delivery system.
See Also: The Amazon Bait & Switch Pricing Scam is 100% Real (Buyer Beware)
Ask the Reader: Have you tried this Amazon “refund trick” before? Was it as easy for you as it was for me?
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)
If the item is sold as “Amazon Basics” it is stealing from Amazon. Anything else and you’re stealing from a seller, probably someone just trying to make a living and feed their kids. Call it what it is.
Besides, you aren’t hurting Jeff Bezos, the cost is just absorbed and next year prime will be even more expensive.
ok karen~
Changes only happen when more and more people speak up instead of hiding in the corner.
Charging for Prime, plus the indivudual markups on every single item to compensate for shipping, and NOT getting your stuff on time…that is the definition of stealing. Stop protecting corporations that flagrantly rip off people for money.
What’s worse, is on top of the Prime membership fee, every single item has a 3-5$ mark-up built in to compensate for the shipping. So, you’re paying 139/yr for prime, and get an order with 5 items, each item has a markup, making your order 15-25$ extra, without even getting your stuff on time! We are going to cancel our Prime, because nothing I ordered a week ago for my vacation will be here before our flight.
I have had this work with my Playpen for my baby registry. It got lost in the mail. I did not ask for a refund. It was offered. I wanted the item though, so I was sent another one and told to keep the original gift when it arrived. I had another order though that I asked for a refund for, not in the same language. However, I just want to point out that the Prime membership isn’t just for the packages. It’s for the streaming service and free Amazon music account along with some other things like discounts at Whole Foods.