13 Items You Can’t Return on Amazon

’Tis the season to load up on holiday sales and deals and also to return some of them. In 2022, 13 percent of online orders were returned in November and December, a 63 percent increase from 2021. This year is expected to be similar, with consumers on track to spend between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion on holiday cheer.

If you are among the millions of people who do their shopping on Amazon.com, you’ll want to check the return policy before filling up your shopping cart. Not everything is returnable, including these items.

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1. Hazardous materials

If you get or give a gift that has hazardous materials, including flammable liquids or gases, don’t expect to return it. These products, including lighters and some nail polishes, will not display a “free returns” message on the product detail page.  Your only recourse, according to Amazon, is to contact the manufacturer directly.

2. Electronic devices

Laptops, desktops, e-readers and other digital devices are returnable, if you act within 30 days, or less, depending on the brand. For the 2023 holiday season, most electronics purchased between November 1 and December 31, can be returned until January 31, 2024. For Apple products, you only have until January 15, 2024, to return them. The electronics need to be in the same condition as the date of purchase to be eligible for a return.

3. Digital downloads

Digital downloads of books, games, music, movies and software make great gifts but they are not returnable. Amazon will give you a break if a book or song was accidentally purchased. You have seven days to request a return or refund. If a book was partially read, you may not be able to return it. For a music download mistake, Amazon says to contact customer service within seven days of the accidental download.

4. Gift cards

You can purchase gift cards from a slew of vendors, but make sure you’re getting the right one. Amazon will not let you return gift cards and prepaid game cards.

5. Food and spirits

Groceries, including those from Amazon Fresh, can’t be returned but may be refunded or replaced. The same goes for beer, wine and spirits.

6. Customized handmade gifts

From candles to jewelry, if you buy from Amazon’s handmade marketplace it's easy to return the items unless you personalize them. Items purchased with customization options other than size and color can’t be returned. If there is a misspelling or error in the configuration, inscription or design due to a mistake by the third-party seller, you are protected by Amazon’s guarantee.