[REVISION HISTORY]

Amazon return policy changes and recommerce strategy

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What changed

2026-08-31 14:30 UTC → 2026-09-01 20:55 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Amazon has announced a change to its return policy for numerous product categories in Germany, effective September 1, 2026. The company will transition from its previous 30-day return window to the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal for many items, including baby products, beauty, electronics, and furniture. Certain categories, such as clothing, will remain exempt with a 30-day period. In conjunction with these policy shifts, Amazon is launching its ‘Second Chance Deal Days’ (also referred to as ‘Second Hand Deals’) from September 1 to September 10, 2026. The event offers discounts of up to 50 percent on tens of thousands of returned, used, and refurbished items across categories like technology, gaming, kitchenware, and DIY tools. Featured brands include Apple, Samsung, Sony, Beats, and LEGO. For the first time, the event will include luxury items, such as designer bags from the seller Luxclusif. This initiative is part of a broader European recommerce strategy. Amazon has invested between 3.5 billion euros and 4 billion dollars between 2024 and 2026 to enhance its returns, inspection, and refurbishment processes. The company reported that European second-hand sales exceeded 2 billion euros in 2025, with customers saving approximately 380 million euros last year. Currently, Amazon offers over 60 million refurbished and returned items in Europe, with customers saving an average of 20 percent compared to buying new products. As the event approaches, Amazon noted that in Italy, the most popular categories for second-hand purchases include PCs, consumer electronics, kitchen appliances, and DIY products. To assist with purchasing decisions, the company is also utilizing AI-generated review summaries.

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