Enlarge image

Photo: Funke Photo Services / IMAGO

Is the laptop fast enough?

Does the TV fit on the shelf?

Does the camera take good pictures?

Anyone who buys from Amazon will have to decide much more quickly in the future whether they want to keep the product.

The US group is shortening the return period for numerous goods from 30 to 14 days.

This emerges from a message to marketplace sellers that Amazon sent on Wednesday.

Accordingly, customers will soon have to return electronic devices such as cameras, routers and PCs after two weeks at the latest.

The shortened cancellation period also applies to video games, Blu-Ray films, music CDs and office supplies.

The new rule should apply from April 25th.

At SPIEGEL's request, Amazon confirmed the new deadlines.

“The return policy and return date will continue to be clearly marked under the product price,” emphasizes a spokesman.

Amazon devices such as televisions, streaming boxes and tablets from the Fire series are excluded from the cut.

The old deadline of 30 days also still applies to completely renewed electronics from the “Renewed” range.

more on the subject

  • TV sets in the test: This is what Stiftung Warentest says about the new Amazon televisions

  • Apple TV 4K, Amazon Fire TV Cube and Roku Express 4K: Smaller, cozier, more pragmatic - streaming boxes in the testBy Matthias Kremp

  • iPad, Samsung Galaxy and Amazon Fire HD: How to make tablets childproofBy Jörg Breithut

Halving the return period is a drastic cut by Amazon.

“30 days were very generous,” says IT lawyer Alexander Bräuer in an interview with SPIEGEL; the legally required minimum is 14 days.

In Bräuer's opinion, Amazon saves money on returns.

“The longer the right of withdrawal applies, the higher the return rate may be,” says the online law expert.

Return transfer takes longer

What does the regulation mean in practice?

According to Bräuer, you can take a television from an online retailer out of the box in the living room and try it out – similar to how you would in a specialist store.

Anyone who returns the TV within the deadline will get their money back, says Bräuer.

You don't have to give a reason for this and you don't even have to include the original packaging.

However, nothing is allowed to break.

“It is clear that the goods must be returned in the same condition, otherwise Amazon does not have to refund the full purchase price,” says the IT lawyer.

And if the device is completely destroyed, Amazon doesn't have to pay anything.

The situation is different with CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays.

Anyone who tears open the cellophane of shrink-wrapped films or video games essentially uses up the goods.

Then Amazon does not have to take the goods back, but can still do so.

“This is a voluntary service,” says Bräuer.

Some of the goods are then disposed of.

Retailers like Amazon are repeatedly criticized for this throwaway policy.

If you want to return your goods to Amazon, you can find the menu item on the website under “Returns and Orders”.

Amazon offers to transfer the money back in the same way as when ordering or to provide the amount as Amazon credit.

According to the US retailer, such a credit refund only takes up to four hours.

If you would rather have the money transferred to your checking account, you will have to wait up to seven days.

Alternate, Cyberport and Co. offer longer deadlines

Other electronic online retailers such as Alternate, Cyberport and Digitalo also offer a return period of 30 days.

Discounters such as Aldi and Lidl also give customers a month to decide whether to keep an item from the online shop or send it back.

It remains to be seen whether the Amazon decision has a signaling effect and affects other online retailers.