Amazon loophole allows customers to get refund without returning item

The rule demonstrates the online retailer's power compared to that of small independent businesses, who wouldn’t be able to afford such a policy

Amazon's policy only applies to products under £10

(Reuters)

A contractual loophole reportedly allows Amazon customers to get their money back for items they have bought from the website without having to return their purchases.

The unofficial policy from the online retailer means shoppers can keep the product and get a refund, but only if it costs less than £10.

Consumer’s watchdogs told the Daily Mirror that the rule demonstrates Amazon’s retail power compared to that of small independent businesses, who wouldn’t be able to afford such a policy.

“It shows the power of the retailer that it can swallow costs in a way an independent shop could not,” a consumer group told the paper.

One shopper reportedly bought a box of pens for £8.25 from the website and was given a refund when she tried to return it.

“I couldn’t believe it but I think it’s good customer service. It’s nice to get the money back and not have to queue in the Post Office,” she told the paper.

Amazon declined to comment on the report when contacted by The Independent.

The UK has for some years been a major market for Amazon and earlier this year the company announced that it intends to expand its UK workforce by 5,000, despite the uncertainty unleashed by Britain’s vote to leave the EU.

Shares in the company hit an all-time high last month after it posted strong results for the first three months of the year, largely spurred by fees from its Prime offering, its media streaming services and advertising revenue.

The wealth of Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos has grown by $65bn in the last five years, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index.