How to contact Amazon if you’ve received an incorrect item
It is so easy to be disappointed when things don’t go according to plan. When it comes to dealing with major retailers or any business for that matter, you rightfully deserve more of an “under promise, over deliver” mentality, rather than the other way round. The aim is customer satisfaction before anything else, and you, the customer deserve value for money.
There is no excuse for shoddy service or for continuous errors that leave you frustrated. With that being said, we have to, however, acknowledge that mistakes will happen from time to time. Human error is a given, and there is a fallacy attached to the notion of perfection in every interaction. Amazon generally gets their orders right, but there is the odd occasion that results in incorrect shipments.
But I didn’t order this!
There is a certain level of anxiety linked to you placing an order and waiting patiently for your delivery. It arrives, and you find that you’ve received the wrong item. Luckily, there are ways to fix it. While every retailer has a returns policy, the choice of whether to pay for your return or not is yours. With Amazon being the largest e-commerce site in the world, you’d want to make sure that you have all your ducks in a row before contacting Amazon regarding your incorrect item.
Wrong item or wrong delivery?
Before we begin, please note that there is a difference between an incorrect item and an incorrect delivery. An incorrect item implies that you did order and pay for something, but received an item that does not match your order. An incorrect delivery would be a purchase that you did not make and have received in error.
Track your order
With that out of the way, it is important to verify that you have actually received an incorrect item, so your first point of reference would be to track your order to ensure that you haven’t received someone else’s order. Once you’ve established that it is indeed your package that you’ve received, you would need to contact Amazon, return the item, and request a refund or exchange. Remember that the return must be done within 30 days of receiving your package, or you will be liable for the costs related to your incorrect item and the new one.
Select a return reason
There are many reasons that you would deem an item to be “incorrect”. The cardinal rule when you contact Amazon is to give a proper reason. Remember that your items will be checked against the reason for return, so be honest. The last thing you’d want is to have to pay for your return, or worse, be banned from the site. And yes, there have been cases where consumers were banned due to misinformation.
Amazon has provided an extensive list of returns on their site. I, therefore, need to clarify that selecting the wrong reason could land you in hot water and prolong the return or refund process. This piece focuses primarily on how to return an incorrect item, with ways to contact Amazon.
Be clear on the reason for your return. To simplify this for you, and to make the process as smooth as possible, from the list on Amazon, the only option to select in the case of a wrong item being delivered is the one below:
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The wrong item was sent – use this if you’ve received something completely different to what you’ve ordered, not just an incorrect size or colour.
If you’re returning an item due to reason of incorrect size or colour, remember that these exchanges must meet the criteria as listed on the website, and, again, the reason for return must be applicable. You could perhaps select ” Inaccurate website description” if the colour you’ve received differs from the website. If you’re uncertain, clarify this when you contact Amazon directly or through the Amazon support live chat.
Contact Amazon support or Amazon live chat
There are various ways in which you can contact Amazon. The Amazon returns centre customer service department is open 24/7 for your convenience, and you also have the option to call the Amazon support number and speak to one of their friendly consultants. Alternatively, you may decide to contact them via the website, where you will be assisted through the Amazon live chat support.
Return Costs
This is where it gets a bit tricky. The basic understanding that this is a business that deals with thousands of consumers on a daily basis will help. And of course, not everyone is honest, and with so many scammers out there, it’s understandable that the integrity of every return is questioned. The Amazon policy states that you may be eligible for free shipment for your return, and while this is obviously to protect themselves, they’re generally not too tough on consumers. As with other retailers, free shipment for your return would be scrutinized and granted chiefly if Amazon was in error. If, however, you return an item and the reason isn’t the result of an Amazon error, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Getting your refund
The next step would be telling Amazon where to send your refund, should you choose not to replace your incorrect item. You could opt for a credit to your Amazon account or a refund to your credit or debit card. This refund will take approximately three days once the return is received by Amazon. Regardless of your method of refund, be sure to clearly identify your option when you contact or call Amazon. And be patient; the refund will take time.
Deciding how to send the item back
Amazon support will require that you select a return shipping method. You’re not forced to select the default option, especially considering that you’d have to leave home to have the parcel sent back. The most convenient would be UPS, and on the odd occasion that Amazon charges for your return, this amount will be deducted from your refund.
Package and return
The last thing left for you to do is to package your item and return it. Follow the instructions that you receive from Amazon for the letter. This should be as simple as printing a packaging slip, but, you don’t want to create any further issues by minor error. Place the item in a well-sealed box, and you’re ready to post it off through whichever method you’ve selected.
The primary takeaway from this is that while mistakes happen, honesty is always the best policy. We can’t always rely on the notion of the customer being right, and a giant like Amazon would have to balance guarding their own interests against stellar service. It is rather amazing that Amazon has achieved this balance, and looking at the technology that they’ve employed shows how focused they are on putting their customers needs first. Remember to check-in before your check out, but if you find yourself in a situation where you need to return an incorrect item, call the Amazon support number or contact them via the live chat support for a fast and friendly resolution.
