You’ve just realized you need to cancel an Amazon order, but a quick check shows it has already shipped. Your heart might sink a little, thinking you’ve missed your chance. It’s a common situation, and the good news is that all is not lost. While the process changes once your package is on the move, you still have clear options to return the item or refuse its delivery.
What to Do When Your Package is Already on its Way
Once an order has entered the shipping process, the immediate cancellation button disappears. Amazon’s systems are incredibly fast, and items are quickly scanned, packed, and dispatched from their fulfillment centers. At this stage, you cannot cancel the order in the traditional sense, but you can intercept it. The two most effective paths are to wait for delivery and initiate a return or to refuse the package outright.
The Easiest Path: Initiating a Return After Delivery
For most people, the simplest solution is to wait for the package to arrive. Amazon has a very customer-friendly return policy for a vast majority of items sold by Amazon or fulfilled by Amazon. As soon as the item is delivered, you can go to your “Your Orders” section on the website or app, locate the item, and select “Return or Replace Items.” You’ll be guided through the reason for the return and will receive a return shipping label. Often, returns are free, and your refund is processed quickly once the item is received back at the warehouse.
Considering the “Refuse Delivery” Option
If you know for certain you do not want the item and want to avoid the step of opening the box, you can refuse the delivery. When the carrier attempts to deliver the package, simply tell them you are refusing it. The carrier will then mark it as refused and return it to sender. Once Amazon receives the unopened package back, they will process your refund. This method can take a bit longer, as the package has to travel back to the fulfillment center, but it is a perfectly valid approach.
A Quick Look at Your Refund Timeline
It’s helpful to know what to expect after you’ve taken action. For standard returns, your refund is typically issued within a few days of the warehouse receiving your return. If you refuse delivery, the refund process begins once the carrier scans the item as returned. The funds can take a few extra days to appear in your account depending on your bank. In both cases, you will receive an email confirmation from Amazon confirming the refund.
While you can’t stop a package mid-shipment with a click, the process for handling an order you no longer need is straightforward. By choosing to return the item after it arrives or refusing its delivery, you can easily get your money back and keep your account in good standing.
Leave a Reply