Can You Return An Ebook On Amazon (Return Policy Explained)

With the vast collection of books on Amazon, there is a high chance for book lovers to purchase an ebook they don’t need and may want to return it. But then, can you return an ebook on Amazon? 

Whether you’re planning to start buying ebooks on Amazon or planning to start publishing your books on the platform, you have to understand the company’s return policy. 

So, in this post, we’ll discuss Amazon’s return policy and other related information about the subject. Read for more details. 

Can You Return an ebook on Amazon?

Yes, you can return an ebook you bought from Amazon within a stipulated time. Normally, you can get a refund when you return the book within seven days of purchase. 

If your request for a refund is approved, Amazon will credit the same account you made the payment from. 

Can Your Request To Return An eBook on Amazon Be Declined?

Yes, Amazon can decide against approving your request for a refund if you have read a portion of the book.  

Now, let’s get something very clear. Amazon did not state the specific number of pages buyers need to read to warrant a rejection of their request for a refund. They only stated 10% of the book. 

A Handy Tip: Amazon has the right to reject a refund request in cases of return abuse. This happens when a buyer has a high rate of return requests. In this circumstance, they may decide to deny your refund request regardless of how much of the book you have read. 

Why Is My Kindle Book Not Eligible For A Refund? 

If you tried returning an ebook you bought from Amazon and failed, it could be as a result of one of several reasons. Amazon has a strict return policy, and the company is customer-centered. So, if your request for a book return was denied, here are the possible reasons for that. 

1: You have passed Amazon’s seven days return window:

Amazon’s return window starts the first day you purchase an ebook from the online store. During this window, you can request a refund of a book and get your entire money back. 

Note also that whether Amazon will return your money or not is subject to the company’s decision. If they feel you’re not eligible for a refund under other circumstances, they may decline your request for a refund. 

So, if you are planning to return a book you purchased from Amazon after seven days, you’re wasting your time. You won’t get a refund from the company, no matter how genuine your reasons are. 

The seven-day window applies to every book on the Amazon online store unless stated otherwise. As you know, policies can change in an instant.

2: You have read a portion (10%) of the book:

If you bought the wrong book and decided to read a few pages before returning it to Amazon, you may likely not get a refund from the company. 

Amazon will know you read the book in the first place. They can also tell how much of the book you have read. 

Authors have been complaining about getting a high return since “Life Hack” started teaching people the way to read books for free on Amazon and get refunds. Authors believe if the process continues, it will affect their income massively. 

Imagine feeling that you have earned money for your book, and in a few days, that money is taken from you. Of course, you’ll feel devastated. Anyone in this situation will feel bad. But that is what authors think when they see readers return their books. 

The painful part about this is that some of the readers are intentionally returning books they bought from Amazon after reading a few pages. Many are abusing the e-commerce giant’s return policy. 

If you have read a portion of a book you bought and are planning to return it, your request will likely be denied.  

A Handy Tip: Authors need encouragement to keep writing. Buying books and returning them without proper reasons is unacceptable behavior. 

There is no reason to purchase a book if you don’t have any intention to keep it or read it. Requesting a refund for a book is like stealing from authors. 

Readers buying books to pirate them should put themselves in the authors’ shoes. Would you want someone to treat your business the way you’re treating others’ business? Of course, you won’t.

Authors deserve to be encouraged. They also deserve to get maximum compensation for their books. 

3: You have been flagged for placing a large number of book return requests in the past:

The fact that Amazon is the biggest online bookstore and e-commerce retailer is not by chance. The people behind the company worked hard to get to the position they are today. 

Amazon uses sophisticated technology that makes shopping on the platform a breeze. They also track customers’ activities on the platform.

So, if you’re one of those buying different books to request a refund, know that Amazon is aware of your illegal activities. You might be surprised that the next time you place a request, it will be denied. 

So, keep in mind that Amazon is tracking your activities on their website and will strike when you place multiple book return requests. Even if you purchased the books by mistake, multiple refund requests signal to Amazon that a buyer doesn’t have good intentions.

Things You Can Do To Make Amazon Approve Your Return Request Faster

As professional book cover designers and avid ebook readers, we understand the resources, time, energy, and sacrifices authors invest in creating their books. We also respect their hard work and would love to support them in any way we can. 

You can get a refund for an ebook if you accidentally bought the book. Everyone is prone to mistakes. However, ensure you follow Amazon’s guidelines to increase your chances of getting a refund. 

Here are the things you need to do to get a refund if you accidentally bought a book from Amazon. 

• Get ready to return the book within seven days. You can’t do anything once this return window closes. 
• Don’t download the book to your device. The fact that you clicked the “download” button in the first place is a sign to Amazon that you need the book in the first place. 
• Avoid opening the book. If you claimed you purchased the book by mistake, then you don’t need to open it when you’re going to request a refund. 
• Ensure you haven’t been placing multiple refund requests before. If you have, Amazon might place a ban on your account and deny your refund request. 

A Handy Tip: Amazon can change its return policy anytime. They’ll also notify customers on their email list about the changes. So, check your email from time to time if there are new changes to Amazon’s return policy. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

• How long does an Amazon refund take after book return request approval?

Once your book return request is approved, Amazon will refund the money you paid for the book back to your account within 3-5 days. 

Note that Amazon won’t send the money to a fresh account. Instead, the funds will be paid into the account you made the payment for the book. 

• Will Amazon make a partial refund if I have read the book?

Amazon doesn’t make partial refunds. You’ll either get a full refund or no refund. 

Note also that once you open the book, your chances of getting a refund for the book diminish. Amazon may also decide against honoring your refund requests once you have consumed around 10 percent of the book. 

• Do authors make money when books are returned?

Unfortunately, authors don’t make a dime when buyers request a refund. Once the refund request is approved, Amazon collects the entire royalty paid to the author and sends it back to the buyer.  

Conclusion 

Can you return an ebook on Amazon? Yes, you can return a book to Amazon and request a refund. 

Amazon will return the money you paid for the book once your request for a refund is approved. But note that the e-commerce giant has a guideline for return that you must respect. 

You can’t return a book once it exceeds seven days or you have read about 10 percent of that book. Amazon may also decide against honoring your refund request if your account shows that you have been abusing the process. 

Authors deserve maximum compensation for their books. They deserve encouragement from buyers. And that encouragement will come when you purchase their books. 

However, if you’re an author, getting a quality and irresistible cover design for your books should be your priority. At eBook Cover Design, we help authors make their books catchy with cover design. You can contact us now to find out how we can help your journey to be a smooth one.