In July, Amazon is relaxing its Voluntary Returns Rules in Germany and Italy – is it good news for your margins?
While Amazon’s 30-day Voluntary Returns Guarantee is great for building shopper trust, it can be a bit of a thorn in the side for brands, opening the door to abuse, inflated returns rates and added fulfilment costs.
But things are changing…
What’s happening?
It actually started in May, with Amazon announcing that some product categories would no longer be covered by the voluntary 30-day returns window on Amazon.de and Amazon.it, including:
- Camera & Photo
- Electronics
- Computer
- Wireless
- Office supplies & stationery
- Music
- Videos & DVDs
- Video games
Instead, returns in these categories now follow standard EU withdrawal rights – offering buyers 14 days to request a return, plus 14 to send an item back.
And from 23 July 2025, more categories are to follow suit, including:
- Books
- Software
- Games & Toys
- DIY
- Video
- Kitchen
- Car & Motorcycle
- Electronic devices for personal care
- Home Entertainment
- Large electrical appliances
And there are some total exemptions too
Some product types were already fully exempt from the voluntary returns guarantee – including:
- Customised or personalised items
- Opened hygiene products
- Perishables
- Downloaded eBooks or unsealed software
- Certain alcoholic goods
- Newspapers and magazines
Unless defective, these items can’t be returned under the voluntary scheme at all.
Why this matters to Brands
This move is likely to benefit many brands selling in Italy and Germany in the affected categories – especially those who’ve faced return fraud, product devaluation or hygiene concerns from lenient return windows.
And does it also signal a subtle shift in Amazon’s approach to one that balances customer experience with seller protection?
We’re watching closely to see how this rolls out…
So what should you do now?
If you’re selling on Amazon IT or DE:
- Reassess your return rates in affected categories – you may see improvements over the coming months.
- We anticipate more buyer confusion though, so review your product detail pages to make sure your new return policies are clearly stated and buyer expectations are managed, especially for repeat purchase products.
- Check your reverse logistics to ensure returns can be handled quickly and cost-effectively.
- Use this as leverage when forecasting your margins or setting policies across EU marketplaces
The Bottom Line
If you’re selling on Amazon.it or Amazon.de, this could be a pretty meaningful change – with the potential for fewer unnecessary returns – and more control over your post-purchase costs.
But don’t forget to update your return policies to make them crystal clear, so you can mitigate friction from confused buyers – especially those who might have bought from and returned to you in the past.
If you’d like an expert opinion on how this might impact your listings?
Our award-winning team is here to cast their commercially-focused eyes over your account, helping you to protect your margins and preserve your growth. Get in touch today.