Return conditions

What’s changing for Amazon shoppers this Christmas

Many Amazon items are subject to a longer return period this Christmas. But there are numerous exceptions.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/fabiomax, Pasko Maksim – stock.adobe.com)

Amazon has revised its returns policy for this year's Christmas shopping season. For most items, the return periods have changed to the benefit of consumers. But there are stumbling blocks ...

What to give as a present? Even just a few days before Christmas, some of us are still faced with this question - and therefore turn to Amazon for help. With a market share of twelve percent (excluding Marketplace), the US retail giant is the undisputed number one online retailer, according to data from RegioData Research. A further 17 percent is attributable to its own marketplace. The Otto Group and fashion retailer Zalando follow a long way behind in second and third place with a share of five and four percent of domestic online retail respectively.

In addition to price, product selection and shipping, the ease with which items can be returned is one of the main reasons why consumers order from the market leader. And to make sure it stays that way, it has revised its returns policy for the 2024 Christmas period to allow longer return periods for purchases - but different rules apply for many product categories that are particularly popular as gifts.