Amazon has announced that, similar to previous years, the returns window for the 2024 holiday season will be extended across all EU stores, sparking concerns among sellers who fear an influx of costly returns. The extended holiday returns policy will allow customers who purchase items between November 1, 2024, and December 25, 2024, to return them up until January 31, 2025, or within 30 days of receipt—whichever is later. This extension applies to all seller-fulfilled, Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), and Amazon Retail orders.
While the policy is intended to encourage early holiday shopping and boost sales, many sellers are worried about the negative consequences.
Amazon’s Official Announcement:
Here’s the original announcement from Amazon regarding the 2024 holiday returns window extension:
Returns window to be extended for 2024 holidays
Similar to previous years, our standard returns window will be temporarily extended in all EU stores to give customers the confidence to shop early for the holidays and help you increase your sales.Our 2024 Extended Holiday Returns policy requires that items bought between November 1, 2024, and December 25, 2024, can be returned until January 31, 2025, or within 30 days from receipt, whichever is later, in the following stores:
- Amazon.co.uk
- Amazon.de
- Amazon.fr
- Amazon.it
- Amazon.nl
- Amazon.pl
- Amazon.se
- Amazon.com.be
This excludes items bought on Amazon.de and Amazon.it in the Camera, Electronics, Office Products, PC, Wireless, Video Games, Music and Video/DVD categories, which can be returned until January 15, 2025, or within 14 days from receipt, whichever is later.
Items bought on Amazon.es between November 1, 2024, and January 6, 2025, can be returned until February 6, 2025, or within 30 days from receipt, whichever is later.
The extended return window applies to seller-fulfilled, FBA, and Amazon Retail orders.
Although the returns window for orders will be extended, returns eligibility for all orders remains the same.
Increased Returns, Higher Costs for Sellers
Sellers, already struggling with tight profit margins, are concerned that this extended returns period will lead to an uptick in returns after the peak holiday season—resulting in increased operational costs. One long-time seller expressed their frustration:
“The longer returns window means I could be hit with returns well into January, long after I’ve already counted those sales toward my end-of-year profits. Every return not only means lost revenue but also costs for handling and restocking. This extension is going to hurt.”
For many sellers, especially those dealing with high-cost items or seasonal products, an increase in returns can be particularly damaging. Items returned after the holidays are often harder to resell, especially as new models or updated versions come out, or in cases where holiday-specific merchandise becomes irrelevant by mid-January.
Another seller voiced their concerns about the rising costs associated with returns:
“Every time I process a return, it’s not just the loss of the sale. I have to pay for return shipping, repackaging, and sometimes even repair if the product isn’t in perfect condition. This extended window just gives customers more time to change their minds, and I’m the one who loses.”
Inventory Disruption and Cash Flow Issues
The extended returns policy can also create inventory management headaches. Sellers need to hold onto stock in case of returns, limiting their ability to restock or sell those items elsewhere. As one seller noted:
“We rely on holiday sales to clear out inventory and make space for new products. Now, with the extended returns window, I’ll have to keep stock available in case it gets sent back, which ties up cash flow and leaves me scrambling.”
Managing inventory is especially challenging for those who use Amazon’s FBA service, where high storage fees add up if returned items sit in Amazon’s warehouses for longer periods. One FBA seller shared their frustration with the impact of extended returns:
“The worst part is, I’ve got to pay extra storage fees if my stock sits there for too long, and with returns coming in so late, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. This extension just adds to the mess.”
Customer-Friendly, Seller-Unfriendly?
While Amazon’s extended returns policy is designed to be customer-friendly, allowing consumers to shop with confidence during the holiday season, many sellers feel that the policy unfairly shifts the burden onto them. One seller commented:
“I understand Amazon wants to offer a great shopping experience, but sellers are the ones who take the hit with these extended return policies. We end up shouldering the costs for the returns, and there’s very little we can do about it.”
Another seller echoed these concerns, noting how the policy tips the balance too far in favor of customers:
“I’ve had customers return items just because they changed their mind after using them for weeks. With this new window, I’m going to get more used products back that I can’t sell as new. It’s great for shoppers, but a nightmare for us.”
What Sellers Can Expect This Holiday Season
With this policy in place, sellers should brace themselves for the possibility of increased returns and the associated costs that come with them. Although Amazon states that the eligibility for returns remains the same, the reality is that the extended timeframe opens the door for more buyers to take advantage of returns—often after holiday festivities have ended and product value has diminished.
Sellers in certain product categories, such as Electronics, Video Games, and Wireless (which will see a shorter returns period ending January 15, 2025, for Amazon.de and Amazon.it), might catch a slight break from the broader policy. However, for most, this extension is just another obstacle in an already challenging e-commerce environment.
Conclusion: What Can Sellers Do?
As Amazon continues to prioritize customer convenience during the holiday shopping season, sellers are left grappling with the consequences of extended return windows. To mitigate the impact, sellers may need to tighten their return policies where possible, manage inventory more cautiously, and prepare for an increase in post-holiday returns. For many sellers, the upcoming holiday season will bring not only an influx of sales but also a flood of returns—and with it, more challenges to overcome.
