What is a returnless refund and when does Amazon refund without a product return?
Returnless refund is a convenience for the customer and a potential loss for you as an FBM seller on Amazon. In this article, I’ll explain to you exactly what it means when Amazon automatically refunds a customer without getting the item back and what you can do to avoid this. We’ll also touch on how a local return address and APRL help protect your account from unnecessary risk.
Publication date:
What Returnless Refund?
A returnless refund is when a customer receives a full refund for their order, but does not have to send the product back. In many cases, Amazon makes this decision automatically, without your consent.
For the customer, it’s a quick and hassle-free return. For you, the risk of losing the goods and your money at the same time.
Amazon calls it in the terms and conditions: “refund without requesting the goods back”.
Source: Amazon International Returns
When can Amazon apply a returnless refund?
Amazon uses returnless refunds in situations such as:
- when the product costs less than €25 / £20 – this is the threshold below which Amazon often deems it “not worthwhile” to return goods,
- when there is no local return address in the customer’s country,
- when you do not respond to a return request in a timely manner,
- when the customer is beyond the reach of the carrier,
- when the product has been marked as ‘non-returnable’ by Amazon.
📌 From 2025, if you do not respond in 3 days to a return from Germany or the UK, Amazon will refund the customer itself and charge your account. More: https://global24.com/en/blog/news-amazon-fbm-and-3-days-to-respond-on-returns/
What products are most commonly covered by returns without return?
Returnless refunds most often involved:
- low-priced products (<€25),
- goods difficult to transport (e.g. bulky items),
- fragile products, the return of which could mean damage,
- goods with a short shelf life,
- items classified as “low-value” by Amazon,
- goods for which you do not have an active returns service (address, APRL, time response).
What does Returnless Refund mean to you as a retailer?
From the FBM vendor’s perspective, returnless refund is one of the most costly risks.
- You lose the product and you do not get it back,
- A REFUND OF MONEY to the customer is automatic – no negotiation possible,
- you have no influence on Amazon’s decision,
- you bear the full cost of the entire order,
- you cannot deduct the cost of the label because none was issued.
Worse still, frequent returns without reclaiming the goods can affect your account quality stats, which in extreme cases can lead to a restriction of your selling privileges.
How to protect against returnless refunds? (local address + APRL)
Amazon gives the seller some choice, but only if you act in accordance with its policies. Key safeguards:
- Local return address – this ensures that the customer sends the product back cheaply and locally, and that Amazon does not apply returnless refund automatically,
- APRL enabled – which is Amazon’s automatic return labels. If you set them up with a local address, the customer will receive the label straight away and you will get the goods back,
- Timely response – you have a maximum of 3 days to process a return request, especially from August 2025 for Germany and UK.
We provide local return addresses in 6 EU countries and the UK, and our system handles returns in full compliance with Amazon requirements. This reduces handling costs, returns come back collectively through one channel and you have full control over the process. Not only do we offer addresses, but also a returns management panel, APRL integrations and reporting. It’s a comprehensive solution that allows you to sell internationally without worrying about automatic returns.
FBM returns can mean losses or security – it all depends on APRL and the local address. See the differences:
Summary and recommendations
Returnless refund is not a feature you can turn on or off – it’s an Amazon mechanism that will work automatically if you’re not prepared. And it could cost you more than a simple return.
What can you do right now?
- Set up a local return address in each country you sell in,
- Enable APRL and assign it to the return address,
- React to returns on a regular basis – especially for products >€25,
- Read our article about APRL and the local return address to better understand how the whole system works.
Selling on Amazon? Don’t let the system work against you. With Global24 you gain control, predictability and real savings when handling returns.
Contact us to see how we can help you secure your business on Amazon.
Do you want to be up to date?
Subscribe to the newsletter
Subscribe to the CROSS-BORDER LETTER newsletter! Learn about news, tricks and secrets in foreign logistics. Check how to sell abroad and achieve more benefits.
