When you return an Amazon product, do they check the serial number?

mrochester · 21 Nov 2016 at 20:07

Hi all

I'm returning a product to Amazon after buying the exact same product for half the price. Rather than sending back the now opened product purchased at the full price, I'd like to send back the new unopened one. Does anyone know if Amazon check the serial number of the product on return or will they simply be happy it's the same product being returned?

Many thanks

M.

mrochester · 21 Nov 2016 at 20:38

I should mention both products have been bought from Amazon, I'm not trying to send back a product purchased elsewhere.

mrochester · 21 Nov 2016 at 20:56

Rozzy85 said:
If it's high value then they may check. We never checked anything less than £50 and would issue a refund if it's unopened and not damaged but high value goods like TVs and laptops would be subject to further investigation.

It's a £55 item.

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 08:29

Rifte said:
It will be fine. As long as its EXACTLY the same product, all they will do is scan the barcode on the box, log it back into their inventory and issue you a refund.code

Just make sure the EANs/product codes are the same and their scanner wont go nuts when they scan it back in.

Job done.

Yes it's exactly the same item, slashed from £55 to £27. Luckily my first order was less than 30 days ago!

I'll send back the new product and keep the one I've already opened and used.

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 09:08

tom_e said:
Next time just have a chat with their help desk they'll normally issue a refund for the difference because they know if they don't this is exactly what people will do anyway.

It was Amazon Prime Now so it has a different customer service centre than the normal Amazon stuff.

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 09:29

Diddums said:
Just send the opened one and stop being shady.

Lol is it less shady to send back the used product than it is to send the unused product?

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 09:39

D3K said:
Why didn't you talk to their customer service before buying a new one, and say you want it at the cheap price or you'll send it back?

I just ordered it there and then when I saw it at the cheaper price and didn't want to risk going out of stock or going back up in price.

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 10:10

Diddums said:
Of course, why wouldn't it be? For all they know you're sending them stolen goods. Why are you even asking this question? It's not really hard to figure out is it?

You were the one who said it was better for me to send back the used product than the unused one!

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 11:05

Diddums said:
Exactly, which is what I meant. Imagine if the product gets found somewhere and it turns out it's stolen and gets tracked back to them, they'd then be facing an investigation, hence why they'd probably prefer to have the original item back.

Obviously I'm not saying you'd send back a stolen item, I'm just trying to explain why a company would want the original back instead of a replacement.

I understand that but we are talking about my situation, not a hypothetical.

mrochester · 22 Nov 2016 at 11:14

Diddums said:
They don't know that though, do they? All they know is that they sent out a product with serial no. x and got back a product, although exactly the same, with serial no. y.

I've seen companies go through investigations and I can tell you no decent company would take even the smallest chance at risking anything, it could lead to bad press and damage their reputation or worse.

Hence my question whether Amazon check these things when you return at item. It doesn't bother me in the slightest which one I return, it would just be better for Amazon to get the unused one back.