Last month, Amazon shoppers expressed concerns about a new returns policy the company recently introduced. According to FinanceBuzz, this return policy includes changes such as limiting the return window to just 30 days for most items.
However, part of the updated policy has alarmed buyers. According to FinanceBuzz, Amazon may discover that someone is violating its return policy. If someone is found to be misusing the policy, “you may be charged restocking fees when you make returns or be unable to make returns in the future.”
This policy change has reportedly resulted in some buyers' returns not being processed or refunds being withheld while the returns are “investigated.”
Now another user on TikTok has issued a warning for people who shop on Amazon. According to TikTok user Shantell (@shantellg2012), she placed an order for $300 about a month ago. The money was withdrawn from her account a few days later.
“Tell me why I woke up yesterday to another fee of like $300,” she says in her video, which currently has over 958,000 views as of Sunday. The total quantity was less than she ordered, she says. “So I’m like, what is this?”
Surprised, Shantell looked at her card statement – and then saw that the original charge had been removed. Calling Amazon to get answers didn't help either, as she claimed they only told her that this late charge was the “new policy.”
“She couldn’t give me an explanation. She couldn’t tell me why or any of it,” Shantell says. “She just said this is our new policy and that’s it.”
This and other issues are causing Shantell to rethink her relationship with Amazon, she says.
“I’ll be done shopping on Amazon soon,” Shantell says. “I like the convenience they offer, but it's not worth it – because they won't come back and charge me a month or two later when I don't have as much money left in my account.” You just take it again.”
@shantellg2012 🚩 🚩Start washing your statements! Ignore my illness too…#fyp ♬ Original sound – Shantell🌻
As some commentators noted, it was possible that the original charge was simply an “authorization hold.”
“They are imposing an authorization freeze,” one user said. “Your bank will lift the hold if the merchant doesn’t complete the payment within that many days. This happens to me all the time at Walmart.”
“That’s not two charges,” echoed another. “The first fee is a pre-authorization. Your card will actually be charged when we ship.”
Others simply shared their complaints with Amazon and how they resolved similar issues.
“I now use Amazon gift cards. Or Afterpay,” one commenter offered. “You can’t double charge something that isn’t there.”
“For all online orders from anywhere, I always delete payment information after payment is completed,” a second added.
The Daily Dot contacted Amazon via email and Shantell via TikTok direct message.
*First published: December 24, 2023, 9:00 am CST
Braden Bjella
Braden Bjella is a culture writer. His work can be found in Mixmag, Electronic Beats, Schon! magazine and more.
