Amazon wants to increase its service level for consumers and require resellers on its international Amazon marketplaces to provide either a local returns address or cover the return shipping costs.

Amazon wants to increase its service level for consumers and require resellers on its international Amazon marketplaces to provide either a local returns address or cover the return shipping costs.


Provide customers with a local returns address or free returns shipping

In an email to resellers on its international marketplaces, Amazon writes: “Customers who purchase through Amazon expect that they will be able to return products hassle-free. To ensure a uniform policy on returns it is necessary that all resellers either 1) provide a local returns address in the country of origin of that particular marketplace website or 2) cover the return shipping costs. For example, if you sell through Amazon.de, you will need to provide a local returns address in Germany or provide free shipping to your customers when returning items.” Amazon resellers have the option of uploading a returns label for an authorised returns shipment or updating their returns address on the marketplace system.
 

Amazon has set resellers an ultimatum

All resellers must follow these rules, even if they sell products outside of their home countries. All vendors must implement these new requirements by 12 March 2015, as they may otherwise lose their sales licence. In an email to its marketplace resellers, Amazon writes: “All resellers including those who ship to a country other than that of the respective marketplace website must follow this directive. Your sales licence may be revoked if you fail to implement this requirement by 12 March 2015.”

Salesupply’s efficient remedy

For many Amazon marketplace resellers the cost of covering returns shipping could be very pricey, especially if they ship small amounts, low value goods or large items. International Amazon resellers can decide whether they want to outsource returns and returns processing to ensure a hassle-free returns process. Salesupply will then ensure that you have a local returns address and offers local returns management in all relevant countries. We have created our new Amazon International Returns Service for Amazon resellers. Click here for more information.

If you sell on Amazon’s marketplace and are interested in having a local returns address or in any other cross border ecommerce services you’re sure to find what you’re looking for among Salesupply’s portfolio of internationalisation services: among other things, we offer localisation, marketing support as well as fulfilment services.