Amazon India Has Stopped Giving Refunds For All Tablets, Laptops, Desktops, Monitors & Cameras

Amazon India, in February of this year stopped providing refunds on Mobile phone purchases. They have now extended this rule on other electronics products as well. As per the updated returns policy page, all tablets, laptops, desktops, monitors, cameras and camera lenses will only be eligible for replacements. No refunds would be issued for any of the products. Even the replacements are available only for items that are fulfilled by Amazon.

The Policy page states the following:

Please Note: All tablets, laptops, desktops, monitors, cameras and camera lenses that are fulfilled by Amazon and purchased on or after 11^th May 2016 are eligible for a replacement only policy and will no longer be eligible for refunds. In case you have received a defective or a damaged product, you will be eligible for a free replacement.

Also, on these items, replacement will be possible only within 10 days of purchases. After 10 days these products are not eligible for either replacements or refunds.

If you see the policy page of Amazon, most of the consumer electronics, Gadgets and appliances are not eligible for refunds

Product Categories	Return Time-frame after Delivery
	Item is damaged/ defective*	You no longer need the item**
Music, Beauty, Sports, Fitness and Outdoors, Men’s Innerwear1	30 Days	7 Days
Books, Movies & TV Shows, Apparel, Watches, Fashion Jewellery, Shoes, Musical Instruments, Luggage & Handbags2	30 Days	30 Days
Electronics, Software, Video Games, Toys, Baby, Home & Kitchen 3& Health & Personal Care, Pet Supplies, Office & Stationery Supplies	10 Days	10 Days
Mobile Phones, Tablets, Laptops, Desktops, Monitors, Cameras, Camera lenses8	10 Days	Not Eligible
Precious Jewellery4	10 Days	10 Days
Kindle	Visit Kindle help pages for Kindle-specific returns policy
Tires, Rims & Oversized Items (Automobiles)5	10 Days	10 Days
Large Appliances – Air Conditioner, Refrigerator, Washing Machine, Dishwasher, Microwave	10 Days	Not Eligible
Car Parts & Accessories, Bike Parts & Accessories6, Helmets & other Protective Gear, Vehicle Electronics	10 Days	10 Days
Fasteners, Food service equipment & supplies, Industrial Electrical, Lab & Scientific Products, Material Handling Products, Occupational Health & Safety Products, Packaging & Shipping Supplies, Professional Medical Supplies, Tapes, Adhesives & Sealants Test, Measure & Inspect items, Industrial Hardware, Industrial Power & Hand Tools	10 Days	10 Days
Furniture7	10 Days	Not Eligible

However, there is one silver lining to the policy, if you have purchased a refurbished mobile, tablet or laptop, you can return the product for a refund within 10 days from purchase date.

What do Competitors offer?

Among the three, Snapdeal seems to offer the best 7 day return and refund policy. If the electronic items or mobile are defective or damaged, you can get a refund within 7 days from Snapdeal.

Flipkart’s policy on refunds looks slightly ambiguous – Their policy page states:

Refunds are issued when

• Seller cannot provide replacement
• In-line with Buyer Protection, when a dispute has been ruled in your favour

Seller allows Refunds on select categories under certain conditions. Please check with the individual Seller’s Returns Policy.

So in case of Flipkart too, refunds are possible, but they are conditional.

Interestingly, Amazon US has a generous 30 day no-questions-asked refund policy!

It’s obvious why Amazon India has done it – they might have come up with numerous instances when customers may have take undue advantage of refund policy, forcing them to take action.

These eCommerce sites already operate on wafer thin margins and sometimes sell products even at a loss to shore up competition. Incessant and undue refunds definitely put a lot of strain on them, and hence this move!

What do you think…Do let us know in comments!