Making Amazon Returns Has Never Been Easier!

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woman making return at Amazon locker

Got an Amazon item you don’t want to keep? Whether the product wasn’t what you expected or you don’t need it anymore, sending it back couldn’t be easier with all of the flexible Amazon return options available.

The best part? Shipping on returns is free for Prime members, so you’ve got nothing to lose and very little work to do to send your packages back.


Here are the 6 easiest ways for how to return Amazon items:

A hand holding a Kohl's receipt with a 25% off coupon

1. Let Kohl’s handle your Amazon returns.

If you have a Kohl’s nearby, you’re in luck! They may offer one of the easiest return methods as they’ll take care of the packing, labeling, and shipping at no cost.

When I made my first Amazon return at Kohl’s, I expected it to be a time-consuming process, but I was in and out in just 5 minutes. Plus, you’ll likley receive a 25% off Kohl’s coupon just for making your return there. That’s a win-win in my book!

How to return Amazon items at Kohl’s:

  1. Request your return for your order from Amazon’s online return center.
  2. Choose Kohl’s Dropoff option.
  3. Check your email for the QR code.
  4. Take your product to the Amazon return kiosk at Kohl’s and show the QR code from your smartphone.

We asked our Hip2Save community what their favorite Amazon return method was, and the vast majority chose Kohl’s because of the hassle-free process and ease.


A UPS storefront

2. Take your returns to a local UPS store or schedule a pickup from home.

Don’t want to leave home to handle your returns? You’re in luck, thanks to UPS’s convenient shipping options. You can easily schedule a pickup from your address as long as your items are packaged and labeled or your driver has received the shipping label from Amazon. Depending on the item, there may be a small pickup charge, so be sure to check for fees through your Amazon return center first.

If you live near a UPS store, you’ll be happy to know that most Amazon items are eligible for free packing, labeling, and shipping in-store as long as you provide the Amazon return code. You literally just bring in the item and they do the rest – all for FREE! 🙌

How to return Amazon items at UPS:

  1. Select your return method from the online return center.
  2. Take your returnable items to your local UPS store and show the return code provided by Amazon.
  3. They’ll handle the rest!

How to schedule a UPS pickup:

  1. Select the UPS pickup option from the online return center.
  2. Schedule the pickup date.
  3. Pack and label your items for pickup.

an Amazon locker in a Whole Foods Market store

3. Head to your nearest Whole Foods Market for quick and easy returns.

Since Amazon acquired Whole Foods Market in 2017, they’ve been working hard to make things easier for their valued Prime members. Nearly every Whole Foods store now has an Amazon Locker so that you can take care of your returns while you check things off your grocery list.

Just bring your package along with the QR code, and your package will be on its way in no time, with no extra fees.

How to return Amazon items at Whole Foods:

  1. Submit a return request through the online returns center.
  2. Check your email for your package’s specific dropoff code.
  3. Take your package to a Whole Foods location with an Amazon Locker and enter your exclusive dropoff code on the touch screen display.

A USPS truck in front of a house

4. Mail your Amazon packages via U.S. Postal Service.

What’s easier than simply placing your unwanted items in your own mailbox? If you have access to a printer, the USPS shipping method is probably the easiest return route you’ll find.

Again, you’ll want to check for possible shipping fees associated with your items, as many third-party Amazon sellers don’t offer free returns.

How to return Amazon items via USPS:

  1. Repackage the items you wish to return.
  2. Print off the return label from Amazon and place it on the box.
  3. Place your outgoing package in the mailbox for pickup.

Hip tip: Keep a few used Amazon boxes on hand for future returns, so you don’t have the expense of purchasing new boxes.


A woman returning a package at an Amazon locker

5. Drop off packages at an Amazon Hub Locker in your area.

Shipping packages directly from your house or apartment isn’t always the easiest route, but fortunately, Amazon Hub Lockers are readily available in over 900 cities.

Items returned via Locker Hubs should be smaller than 18x14x12 inches, properly packaged, and labeled. Additionally, you can also have Amazon orders sent to your Locker Hub for easy pickup.

How to return Amazon items at a hub locker:

  1. Search for a hub locker in your area by zip code, address, store name, or a landmark.
  2. Submit a return request through the online returns center.
  3. Check your email for your package’s specific dropoff code.
  4. Take your package to a locker location and enter your exclusive dropoff code on the touch screen display.

Hip tip: If a third-party seller charges a restocking fee for your returned item, try submitting a fee dispute and request a full refund.


An Amazon go physical storefront

6. See if there’s a physical Amazon store in your area.

If you live in one of these cities, you can take the items you want to return to a physical Amazon store for a full refund within 30 days. Larger items may not be eligible for return at some Amazon store locations, so you’ll want to confirm shipping standards with the store first.

How to return Amazon items at a physical store:

  1. Locate the nearest physical store in your area.
  2. Double-check shipping standards before you head to the store.
  3. Select Amazon in-store drop off from Amazon’s Return Center.
  4. Bring the return items, along with their original packaging and receipt (email or printed) to the store.

Are you an Amazon addict like me? Get the most bang for your buck with these 15 cheap subscribe & save items!

Join The Discussion

Comments 22

  1. je

    There’s also the option to drop off in Amazon Fresh locations if you have one nearby.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Thanks for the tip! We’ll have to look into that option too!

  2. andyscottage

    Just last week my local UPS store made me pay for a box. They said that my bar code label was different than my other two upc items. I frankly think they just wanted to make some additional money .

    • Linds

      Most of the time it says my UPS will pack my return, but once in a while it will tell me I have to pack it up. I don’t know why sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn’t.

    • Donna B

      We had that happen too…they wanted to charge me for packaging! We brought it back home and boxed it up ourselves!

  3. frugal-fit-sexy

    I do all my returns via UPS pickup. I just put the item in the same package or box and they pick it up the next day. I just placed the box on my doorstep and the driver picks it up put his label on it and I’m done. Can’t get any easier.

    • SamShops

      I do this too! It’s wonderful because I never have to leave home! Returns to my Kohl’s are terrible because the amazon drop off is way in the back of the store. It was ok before the pandemic but now I don’t want to go in if I don’t have to

    • Krista

      I tried to do this just this week with 2 returns and my UPS person did not pick up, although he did drop off more packages, so he was at my door anyway. I had to cancel my returns, resubmit, and then take one to Kohl’s and one to an Amazon locker. So UPS pick up reliability might be iffy depending on where you live and who your driver is. =) (I’m just outside Seattle)

      • OniT4Now

        I would say it’s probably “who your driver is…” because I never schedule a pickup, but have frequent drop-offs…the other day the driver rang the bell because he saw my package sitting inside the front door when he dropped another one off…he said, “Do you want me to take that with me?” Most of my UPS drivers are top notch awesome!

  4. Kitty

    I bring my item to UPS and they scan the return code on my phone. They package and ship free!

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Awesome! 🙌

  5. GAmommyof4

    Make sure that you check that you get your refund! I made a return via UPS store. According to the tracking number the store gave me the item was returned to Amazon in 3 days. I waited weeks for my refund, Amazon app kept saying that I would receive a refund a few days after the product arrived. I finally called Amazon and had to explain things to the customer service before my refund was issued. The same thing happened to my father a few weeks later.

    • Carrie M.

      This happened to me as well with a $150+ return after Christmas. It took multiple calls to Amazon and asking to speak with a manager before I was able to get it resolved. Once I escalated it, I had the full refund the next day.

  6. thaonguyen

    I don’t like to make return at Ups. Even I am a prime members and the item said “ free return “ but they still charge me for labels print out and packaging. I have no problem with kohl but ups always got me upset. I have to call amazon to complain about it. Amazon give me fund for it but it’s still annoying me those.

  7. kerri

    Aahhhh nice thank you. Added this to my Hip List for future reference too !

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      Yay! SO glad you could add it to your list, Kerri! Happy this was helpful!

  8. H

    When I choose return- amazon tells me where I have to take it. Sometimes it’s Kohl’s, sometimes it’s ups store. If I choose to take to ups store when it tells me I have to go to kohl’s- there’s a $6 charge to do that. Annoys me!

  9. OniT4Now

    I would say it’s probably “who your driver is…” because I never schedule a pickup, but have frequent drop-offs…the other day the driver rang the bell because he saw my package sitting inside the front door when he dropped another one off…he said, “Do you want me to take that with me?” Most of my UPS drivers are top notch awesome!

  10. Lisa

    Never knew about most of these options. I love the convenience of online shopping but hate dealing with returns.

  11. 4shankogirls

    UPS does not let you “literally just drop it off”. I’ve had to buy a box there because my item was not in the two boxes it came in. The first was oversized and had some paper in it the second was the box the item comes in. No where was that posted on my return on Amazon website.

    • Amber (Hip Sidekick)

      Hi there! It seems that can vary by location or by the options you choose with Amazon. We have been able to drop our items off as noted above. Hoping this helps.

  12. Maria Tortolani

    UPS has failed to return items that were dropped off to them. Amazon then charges the customer for the items the customer returned, but has no proof, thanks to this set up. You get a tracking number, but if only 2 of the 3 items you returned are claimed to be received by Amazon, you pay for the item you did not keep. That’s the real story no one is covering. Amazon holds no responsibility for how they arranged the UPS drop off. No one holds either company responsible for the fraud. The UPS that did this to me fired a few guys for doing it to people over the summer, but the problem remains, as UPS is a franchise. I tried a brand new UPS store and the “know it all” worker tried to skip giving me a tracking receipt and kept talking over me as I asked questions and tried to explain my concern. They can’t be trusted.

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