Amazon Shortens Return Window for Select Categories
Starting June 23, Amazon will shorten the return window from 30 to 14 days for several product categories across Germany and Italy, including Tools & Home Improvement, Personal Care Appliances, and Automotive.
This change applies to seller accounts only, regardless of fulfillment method, and marks a shift in Amazon’s broader approach to balancing customer convenience with operational cost efficiency.
Why This Matters
From our point of view, fewer returns mean better bottom-line margins for sellers. But there may be a trade-off: less forgiving return windows can lead to more frustrated customers, especially when the product doesn’t meet expectations.
That frustration often shows up not as a return, but as a negative review. And that’s where brand perception, not just profit, is on the line.
What to Watch
Categories like Personal Care Appliances or Automotive see high return rates when product specs are unclear or compatibility is misjudged.
If those returns can’t be made easily, unhappy buyers may take to reviews to voice their dissatisfaction, not just with the product, but with the perceived customer service experience. As we've covered in a previous analysis, reviews don’t just reflect sentiment, but also they shape performance.
Front Row's Take
There’s no immediate action item for brands, but the direction is clear: reduce friction before the sale happens. That means tightening PDP content, clarifying specs, improving images, and heading off misalignment early.
For brands looking to monitor impact, Seller Central offers useful tools. These surfaces can help identify patterns and spot issues before they snowball:
At Front Row, we’re already working with clients to identify high-risk ASINs and refine PDP content accordingly. Returns may go down, but expectations usually don't.