Hi all, first time having to send anything back to Amazon for refund. Wondering if there any particular benefits of using the local ParcelPoint service vs handing it over to Australia Post. Anyone have any postive or negative feedback either way.
Cheers
Both Australia Post and Parcel Point returns are free, however, I noticed that when I selected the Amazon reason for return as 'change of mind', then they charged me the return postage fee. I changed my reason to 'not suitable' and it was then free return.
The hassle with Aust Post though is, at least in my experience, you need to have a label printed and stuck on the package (this may have changed in recent times). With Parcel Point, I only need to package the return item and then the store prints and puts on the return label.
I happily used Aust Post when I was at work and could print, as nerdycat mentioned, it's good to know the parcel has been receipted. But since lockdown, Parcel Point is my choice as I can just drop off the package.
Did Parcel Point provide you with a receipt?
I normally return via Auspost where I prepare the package with labels and etc, drop it off and they provide receipt a tracking number. It is then reflected in Amazon almost immediately.
But due to the lockdown, I don't have access to a printer, so I went with the Parcel Point option. Packed the item (just a 6 buck usb adaptor) and got the local Parcel Point to print a label and off it went. When I asked for a receipt, all I got was an abrupt no receipt and some vague message of someone will something.
Now, its 5 days later, and nothing on Amazon and no other notification. Not particularly concerned since its just a cheap adaptor, but I definitely won't be returning anything valuable via that particular Parcel Point outlet at the very least.
The only time you get a Parcel Point notification is if you have an account with them - at least that's what I was told. So my experience is the same as yours in that I did not get a notification.
For Amazon AU sold items, my refund was immediate. I literally dropped off the parcels and within a few minutes my refund was processed.
For items sold by sellers through Amazon AU, which may be the case for your item, then it's a longer process as that seller needs to receive the item and only then will process the refund.
I too was spooked when I had no activity on a refund for a $200 item in the above second scenario, but it eventually came through after a bit over a week. The above refund clarification was provided by Amazon after I contacted them about the refund delay.
My one was fulfilled by Amazon, so I guess there will be a wait. But yeah, seems like it might be a good time to invest in a printer and give Parcel Point a skip from now.
Not sure of PP but whenever I've returned (free) using Auspost, Amazon has processed the refund the day after the parcel was scanned at the Postoffice.
Same day even sometimes which is great.
Thank you all. I ended up using option to print label at home and dropped to my local post office, with free return postage via amazon. The P.O just scanned and gave me a receipt for each parcel with the code on it for tracking. Fingers crossed for safe return and quick refund process.
Pleased to say refund on my Visa card was in shortly after lunchtime yesterday - less than 48hrs after lodging at the post office. Frankly I'm impressed, especially given I"m in QLD - return address was Sunshine VIC and we have a pandemic going on/Victoria in lockdown.
Yeah, returns via Auspost is great, once they get the lodgement tracking info through, they process the refund.
Just to add my experience with Parcelpoint for an Amazon return as well (3rd party seller fulfilled by Amazon) …
The Parcelpoint location is within walking distance and the closest post office I need to drive and park at busy shopping centre, so being a fairly low value item I thought I'd give PP a go.
Opted to print my own label though to be sure I'd have something to track. So I dropped off the parcel, the guy scanned it and said the same thing about me getting and email or txt with the tracking info (of course which I didn't because obviously that goes to Amazon who booked it)
Anyway, I was able to track the parcel on PP using their barcode on the label. Was in transit the next day, and then after 3 more "in transit" scans, I got an email from Amazon saying they'd received it and processed the refund. This is 1 day shy of two weeks after I dropped it off. PP still shows it as in transit though.
The barcode looked like an Auspost one, I tried tracking on there and while it added as a valid eParcel it never changed from Pending.
So my takeaway is PP was convenient, ok for low value stuff, not sure if transit took longer due to COVID or is normal. If you choose the no label option, just be sure to snap a pic of the label they print out so you can track the barcode on the PP site.
Depends on how amazon has asked for it to be sent back. They will either provide you a label you print off or give you an address to post back to.
From previous experience Parcel point there is no real receipt for having dropped off the parcel, i told amazon chat I had dropped it off over a week ago with no update on the items returned they manually refunded me.
When I sent back with Australia post myself to an address provided by them they refunded me the postage once I emailed them a copy of the receipt. When I did it this way Australia post gave me a tracking number. Which I also emailed to amazon. I also kept checking to see when they received it and asked for a refund again.
Parcel post easier in that I didn’t have to deal with paying for the postage but didn’t like lack of acknowledgement when they got the postage back and no tracking type thing I could follow.