My Experience Using Amazon Locker To Make A Return
I purchase a lot of stuff from Amazon, mostly snacks for the kids lunches, but I don’t do many returns. Most of the time when I do returns I ship them back via USPS. There have been a few occasions where that is not an option so I went to a UPS store. This time around USPS wasn’t an option but an Amazon locker was. There was one located a half a mile from my house which was a ton more convenient than going to the UPS store.
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The Process
When I went through the return process I selected Amazon Locker. I then prompted me to choose which locker I wanted to use. They seem to be on the inside of stores unlike many UPS lockers that are placed outside. That means some have closing hours etc. I selected the 7-11 that is open 24 hours, score!
You still need to box up and label your return like you would have if you were shipping it out.
Here is the process I followed when I arrived at the store:
- When I went to the store to process the return I touched the screen to activate it.
- I then punched in the code that Amazon gave me in the return paperwork.
- A locker popped open and I tried to fit the package in (it did not fit but there were size maximums on the Amazon paperwork so I wasn’t worried).
- There was an option that said “my package doesn’t fit”.
- It prompted me to close the open locker and then a larger one opened up.
- I placed the package in that locker and closed the door.
- The process was complete.
I am sorry I didn’t get more pictures of the screen when the item wouldn’t fit. I had not planned on writing up a review on it but I enjoyed the process so much that I decided it was worth it.
Final Takeaway
The Amazon Locker process was easier and more enjoyable than going to the post office or to a UPS store. You don’t need to interact with anyone and it is a quick and painless process. If I am returning a small object that fits in a regular mailbox I would probably still go that route but otherwise I will use an Amazon locker going forward.
The return was credited into my account the next day. But I have to imagine the time frame on that depends on what day it is and how often they pick up at the locker.
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I would advise not to use the locker if you can. You don’t get any receipt or confirmation that you dropped the parcel off. I did mine days ago and it still says I need to drop it off. Pretty concerned now. Searching the internet I found this is just how it works, and it can take weeks to show up, if it ever does.
Never will I again use the locker to return an item. I may never use Amazon again after this. I returned an $800 phone via the locker. 2 weeks later no refund and no notification that it was even dropped off. I contacted customer service today and was told there was an issue and someone from Amazon would contact me. They sent me an email asking me to contact the carrier to have it tracked. I replied back letting them know this was dropped off at an Amazon locker so they should be able to track it. I got the same lame email as the first in response to my reply. So I started another chat with customer service agent to see if I could get more help. This time the guy told me they had received my return and it had not been processed yet but would be soon. Then I noticed on my order page that the return had been cancelled. Back to customer service I went but this time I opted to have Amazon call me so I could better explain. In the end I was told I never dropped it off and no refund would be issues. I had them escalate to a supervisor and was told them same by them. I sent them screenshots from the Amazon app that showed the item was on its way back. This was dated a few days after I dropped it off. To me this means Amazon picked the item up. But this did not matter to Amazon. They are refusing to refund me. I am so frustrated. Problem is I have no proof I dropped it off so I am sure my CC company will not be much help. Anyways just a warning to others thinking of using the lockers. Don’t do it. Take it to a shipper and get a receipt.
So if I’m going to use an Amazon locker do I attach the QR code to my box like a return shipping label? My instructions from Amazon had said I don’t need to package the item at all but I really don’t mind that part.
Not my experience using Amazon locker for return. I returned my item to an Amazon Locker 2 days ago and the status of my return on Amazon stills says to print the label and return the item. Pretty annoying!
I am guessing someone hasn’t been there to scan it yet.
HI Bridget, how many days did it finally take for someone to pick up from the locker? Im concerned about mine
I use them for delivery. One plus: If Amazon says Monday delivery, I frequently change the delivery from my office to the box near my house. More often then not the product is delivered Saturday or Sunday.
Nice tip on getting quicker delivery – thanks Juan!
The full time RV community(there are quite a few of them) use these all the time all over the country.
Interesting Carolyn – thank you for sharing. Do you drive all over the country?
Thanks for the info – I have seen lockers around town but I assumed they were for deliveries, and not returns. I’ll have to check that out — there’s some purchases that I HAVEN’T made because I might want to return the product, and the overhead cost of shipping a product back negates the savings of having purchased it online — this “return via locker” idea changes the economics of some of those decisions…
Glad I could help out – I will be using it in the future for sure.
So, a more key question is how is it to pick up there? How quickly do they deliver to these lockers? Is it usually a two – three hour pick up (given certain areas)? Or ?
I am not sure I have never used them for pick up and probably never would since I just have things dropped at my house. But it could be beneficial in areas where package theft is an issue. I think it will all depend on how close you live to a distribution center but I doubt it would be any different than home delivery time frames.