Amazon Laptop Returns Policy: Ultimate Guide

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As the number one retailer on the planet, Amazon stocks a huge variety of tech including a full range of the latest laptops from brands such as:

  • Apple
  • Dell
  • Asus
  • Samsung
  • Lenovo
  • HP
  • Sony

If you’ve purchased a laptop from Amazon or are thinking of doing, it’s important to understand what their returns policy is in case you decide you’re not happy with your purchase.

To assist you there, we’ve covered what Amazon’s laptop returns policy is, how long you get to make a return, how to return it, when to expect a refund and we’ve even looked at some of its main competitors to see how their policies compare.

Keep reading to find out more…

What is Amazon’s Laptop Returns Policy? The Short Answer

If you order a laptop from Amazon but want to return it, you will have 30 days from receipt to swap it or receive a full refund. You need to return your laptop in like new condition with all its accessories.

You can return a laptop for any number of reasons such as:

  • If you ordered by mistake
  • If your laptop is defective
  • If it has dead pixels
  • If you no longer want the laptop
  • If it’s a duplicate order
  • If it’s an unwanted gift

Amazon’s policy does stipulate that returns can be made within the first 30 days of receipt for laptops that didn’t start, are in a damaged condition, or are still in an unopened box.

So that would indicate that you may have issues returning a non-defective laptop to Amazon if you have opened and used it but then want to return it. We would advise speaking to an Amazon rep using Amazon’s help center if you fall under this category.

Moreover, in respect of alleged defective units, Amazon stipulates that they may charge a 15% restocking fee calculated against the price of the product if they receive back your laptop and find it not to be defective.

What is Amazon’s Laptop Dead Pixel Policy?

Amazon does not have a dead pixel policy for the laptops it sells, this is usually a policy implemented by laptop manufacturers under their warranty terms.

You can read our articles about the dead pixel policies of the following brands:

If your laptop has dead pixels, you are not under any obligation to inform Amazon and you can simply return your laptop within the 30-day window subject to the above.

We’d advise speaking to a rep at Amazon’s help center before returning it for the reasons set out above (i.e. to make sure they won’t charge a restocking fee).

We recommend doing this instead of relying on the manufacturer’s dead pixel policy which is often fairly restrictive and requires numerous dead pixels before they will accept a return.

Related Post:
Amazon iPad and Tablet Return policy

How to Return a Laptop to Amazon

You can only return a laptop to Amazon using their online returns procedure but it couldn’t be easier to initiate a return.

Simply do the following:

  1. Log in to your Amazon account
  2. Locate the returns and order section in the top right on desktop (on mobile you need to go to your purchased items which can be reached by clicking the little grey man at the bottom of the app)
  3. Choose the option to “return “or “replace” (if on mobile just click the product in your list of recent purchases)
  4. Provide your reason for a return (there is a drop-down menu to choose an option)
  5. Complete the details confirming your reason for return
  6. Pick your preferred returns method
  7. Print the returns label

Does it Cost to Return a Laptop to Amazon?

man with broken laptop

It shouldn’t cost you anything to return your laptop to Amazon.

They generally have a free returns option for anything weighing below 50lbs which will cover most, if not all, laptops.

They also don’t charge a re-stocking fee unless you return a laptop that you said was defective and turns out not to be, which is then calculated at 15% of the sale price.

You should note that other companies such as Dell and Lenovo charge around 15% if you purchase a laptop from their online stores and want to make a return.

How Long Does the Returns Process Take?

Amazon aims to deal with your return within 3-5 business after the courier has delivered the laptop back to their returns center.

So, all in all, expect to receive a refund within about 7-10 business days in our experience (i.e. to allow time for the laptop to be received, the return processed and the money to arrive back in your account).

However, times may vary depending on your bank or card issuer so bear this in mind when you’re waiting to see your bank balance reimbursed.

I’ve Lost Packaging or Accessories Will this Cause a Problem?

You should be fine if you’ve only misplaced minor packaging.

However, you’re likely to encounter more of a problem if you’ve lost key components like the battery, charger, software, or case (if it comes with one).

If you return your laptop with missing accessories or damage in any way (perhaps through attempted modification) Amazon does stipulate that they may charge a restocking fee based on the damage to the product or the cost of the missing accessories. This is likely to be higher than the usual 15%.

If you have lost accessories or damaged your laptop, we’d advise speaking to someone at Amazon’s help center to let them know before you make your return so you know what to expect.

Amazon’s Beyond 30-Day Laptop Return Policy

Unfortunately, Amazon makes it quite clear in their returns policy that computers including laptops cannot be returned after 30 days.

However, if you’re just outside that period or if your laptop has developed a fault, we’d still recommend speaking to someone over at Amazon’s help center as they’re usually very helpful in our experience and may be able to offer some flexibility.

If your laptop has developed a fault outside the 30-day window then remember that most laptops come with a guarantee of at least a year and in our experience, Amazon will usually be prepared to deal with the return for you if the product is still under warranty.

We’ve looked into the warranty lengths of some of the main brands to help you out:

BrandWarranty
Apple1 year
HP1-3 years
Dell1-5 years
Samsung1 year
Asus1-2 years
Acer1 year
Lenovo4 years

Another option is to have a look at your home insurance policy to see if it covers refund protection, accidental damage, or fault cover. You may be able to make a claim against your policy in certain circumstances, albeit there will usually be a deductible to pay.

The final option is to sell your laptop on a site like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Laptops often have good re-sale value (especially Apple Macs). You can often also sell laptops for spare parts if your unit is defective or broken.

How Does Amazon’s Laptop Returns Policy Compare?

We’ve taken a look at the market and pulled up the returns policies of some of Amazon’s competitors in case you’re thinking of replacing your laptop using another store or if you’ve not yet pulled the trigger and purchased one yet.

Here is what we found:

Competitor Returns Window
Costco90 days
Best Buy15 – 60 days (60 days with membership)
Walmart 30 days
Dell30 days with a 15% restocking fee
Lenovo.com30 days with a 15% restocking fee

Final Thoughts

Amazon’s 30-day returns policy for laptops is fairly middle of the road against the competition.

It’s clearly not as generous as Costco’s but then again you aren’t paying for a membership fee on top.

It is in line with Walmart’s policy and the one provided by manufacturer stores such as Dell and Lenovo, albeit they do charge restocking fees where Amazon doesn’t.

Given the convenience of using Amazon, free delivery for many orders (especially for Prime members), and hassle/expense-free returns, we reckon Amazon is a fairly good shout if you’re looking for a place to source your next laptop.

Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

About the author

Oliver graduated from law school in 2008 and has practiced exclusively in the field of civil litigation for the last 10 years. He has a wealth of experience and expertise in litigation involving large financial losses and a special interest in consumer law. He has achieved numerous 7 figure settlements and has been involved in multi-billion dollar class-action consumer lawsuits against companies such as the Volkswagen Group. Away from the law, he is a consumer information and personal finance writer, having been featured in key publications such as Yahoo Finance, GO Banking Rates, NewsBreak, MEL Magazine, and many more.



-Chief Editor and Founder

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