Are returns to Amazon for safe for expensive purchases made via gift cards?

sleepy_bear

I got an iPhone XR 128GB from Amazon during prime day (It was direct from Amazon and not the market place). I wholly paid for it with gift card credit I saved up over the years,

The device has been playing up. I contacted Apple who tried lots of steps and are now saying that I need to take it to an Apple store (which is quite far away, especially as I don’t drive and public transport isn't that great). Plus, the store said they would take a week to fix it, which means two trips.

I contacted Amazon, who said that they don't have the size/color in stock, but if I post it back to them, they will issue a full refund to my gift card account and I can either wait until that size/color comes back in stock or get another one.

I was about to post it, but my friend said returns like this to Amazon are a terrible idea, as they ban people for returning expensive items. Plus, as Amazon are going to issue the refund back to my gift card credit, if they then ban my account, I'd lose all that money. Plus the return goes through regular post which isn't especially safe for such items.
The fault is also intermittent, so they could reject the return upon receipt.

I have made three returns to Amazon in the past for screen protectors I got, as they had sent the wrong ones. So I am not sure if that puts my account at risk.

So is my friend correct? Googling around there seems to be lots of horror stories.

elsien

I absolutely would not be sending an expensive phone back to Amazon by regular post.
You need to make sure that however it is returned it is insured for the correct amount in case it goes awol.
When you go to do the returns label, what options is it offering you?

sarah1972

I always do amazon returns though the post office as they scan my phone when I drop them off so its processed once the barcode on your phone is scanned as it proves its been sent off by you.

I would go back onto Amazon chat to tell them your concerns and see what they suggest.

I have sent back numerous things to Amazon over the years and never had my account blocked?

qsk

sleepy_bear wrote: »

I was about to post it, but my friend said returns like this to Amazon are a terrible idea, as they ban people for returning expensive items.

Does your friend have personal experience? If so, he is probably regarded as a serial "loaner" by Amazon.

sleepy_bear

Thanks for all the help everyone! My friend also said to read the returns label carefully, as it says that the refund is estimated.

I contacted Amazon and they said that they cannot guarantee the full refund, as because, the fault only occurs intermittently, if the fault doesn't occur when they receive it, then they will only give a partial refund.

I think I might just find a way to get the Apple store instead. Sounds like the Amazon option is a bit risky!

EDIT: Now the lady in the Amazon chat is saying she's not sure about this and will get a specialist to email. I will update if Amazon provides a different response.

qsk wrote: »

Does your friend have personal experience? If so, he is probably regarded as a serial "loaner" by Amazon.

No, personal experience. But he knows of people who have had problems!

Redredrobin

Is there a local phone/computer store that can fix it ? My old iphone had a problem that Apple said would take a week to repair however i have an excellent repair shop locally who fixed it overnight .

sleepy_bear

An update on this: I managed to speak to an Amazon manager on chat who said I would definitely get a full refund. However, when I asked him to confirm it an email, his email mentioned that the refund is based on the fulfillment center inspecting the fault.

I think it would be safe to send it back. However, since then Apple got in touch and said I can fix the issues by following some steps, so I will give that a try first!