Amazon has started charging a fee for some returns made at UPS stores. Previously, customers could drop off their returns at a UPS Store free of charge. Now, Amazon will charge a $1 fee if customers have another free return option that’s the same distance away or closer.
This new policy comes at a time when customers are returning more merchandise than ever – over $800 billion dollars worth in 2022, according to the National Retail Federation. That amount has nearly doubled since 2020, and processing all those returns comes at a staggering cost to Amazon and other retailers.
Now, Amazon is joining other retailers in rethinking their free return policies and trying to decrease their dependence on UPS. For now, Amazon will still continue to offer at least one free return method on most items delivered to an address in the 50 United States.
To make sure that your purchase qualifies, just look for “Free returns” next to the price on the item’s Amazon product page.
Amazon spokesperson Steve Kelly told Business Insider, “We offer convenient, easy returns to Amazon customers, with one or more options for label-free, box-free returns at no cost. We always offer a free option for customers to return their item. If a customer would prefer to return their item at a UPS Store when there is a free option closer to their delivery address, a very small amount of customers may incur a $1 fee.”
If you decide to forego one of the free drop-off locations and you do incur a fee for using a UPS Store, the $1 charge will be deducted from your refund.
