Demand Reimbursement of Shipping Costs When Returning Products

When returning products purchased online, consumers often forget that they have not only paid for the product but for the shipping as well. Therefore, it is important to expect reimbursement for both amounts. Shipping costs are not same as postage costs. When a retailer sends an item, they may or may not include return postage, but that is a separate matter.

What to Expect When Returning Products

State laws vary regarding how merchants should handle returns and reimbursements. Also, retailers can have different return policies, but if consumers are given a period of time to make a return, the seller must respect those terms and refund the full amount, including the shipping costs. Though consumer protection laws exist to safeguard buyers in cases where merchandise may be defective, it is the responsibility of the person making the purchase to be aware of what the return policy of each retailer is.

How to Demand a Full Refund

If a consumer is within the merchant’s timeframe for returning products and they do so correctly, meaning the item is unused and returned intact, then they should expect a full refund, including shipping costs. If the retailer fails to reimburse the total amount, a consumer should contact them immediately and seek restitution. If need be, a formal letter can be written and legal counsel can be sought.

Though the majority of online retailers will respect their own return policies, mishandling of returns can lead to only partial reimbursements. It is therefore up to consumers to be vigilant in checking that they’ve been credited the full amount of the purchase and the shipping fees when making a return.