Amazon is issuing refunds to customers for certain returns, some of which were initiated years ago. This action follows a recent internal review by the company, revealing a small group of returns where refunds had not been completed or items returned were not correctly verified. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed that the company has resolved the payment issue and is implementing changes to improve customer communication regarding unresolved returns.
Bloomberg was the first to report on this development. According to the spokesperson, customers do not need to take any action to receive their refunds. This decision comes after a class-action lawsuit against Amazon, alleging failure to refund some returns, was allowed to proceed by a judge.
On social media, users have reported receiving refunds for items returned some time ago. One instance involved a LinkedIn user receiving nearly $1,800 for a television returned seven years previously.
During the announcement of its first-quarter earnings, Amazon’s CFO, Brian Olsavsky, noted that the company faced “one-time charges” affecting its North American and international operating income. These charges were related to unresolved customer returns and costs associated with inventory management due to anticipated tariffs.
Amazon has faced previous criticisms over its returns and refund processes, including a class-action lawsuit alleging double charges for returned items that had initially been refunded. The company does not disclose the volume of orders or returns in its financial reports.
In addition to its e-commerce operations, Amazon is involved in various sectors, including streaming services and Amazon Web Services. The company reported $155.7 billion in net sales for the first quarter, with a net income of $17.1 billion. As of Thursday, Amazon’s market capitalization was valued at $2.17 trillion.
