Is this the end for bespoke goods and a wake up call for 3rd party sellers that use Amazon.co.uk? Or a really good move for buyers?

Amazon has had a bit of a beating from us over the past few months, being aggressive with price parity, response times for messages and very short notice on changes that could cripple some businesses have really not helped what is a super productive platform to makes sales upon.

But now there is a new hurdle, take a read of the following notice that is being sent out today to 3rd party Amazon sellers.

Dear Seller,

To ensure a consistent experience for buyers, Amazon sellers are required to have return policies that are at least as favourable as Amazon’s own return policies. To help provide the best experience for buyers, we will be updating the return information in the Returns section of your Amazon.co.uk storefront page on 6 August 2012 to clarify that buyers may return products to you in accordance with Amazon’s return policies.

The updated return information will direct buyers to Amazon’s return policies and will continue to give buyers the ability to contact you for information about any more favourable policies that may apply. If your inventory includes Fulfilment by Amazon items, your Returns section will
continue to reference the Amazon return policies.

See this Help page for more information about Amazon’s return policies:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/?nodeId=502480

If you have questions, please contact our Seller Support team by clicking the Contact Seller Support link at the bottom of any seller Help page.

Kind regards,
Amazon Services Europe

In Short…

Yep in-short…

“You’re having Amazon’s returns policy whether you like it or not“

And that means if you’re selling bespoke goods or have got specific returns polices, to all intents-and-purposes, it doesn’t matter as the buyer is being sent to the Amazon returns page regardless.

Hidden Bonus?

This might actually be a bonus because in the three places they mention and link to “Amazon Communications Manager” from the help page for contacting “third party sellers” none of them actually go to the “Amazon Communications Manager”.

Count them and you’ll see what I mean:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=hp_502480_faq_con?nodeId=3149541

So instead the buyer is left with the contact us button which is for Amazon’s own support. But it get’s even better, as you follow the support process through, its really easy for the buyer to select the option for the issue and end up being suggested to phone Amazon as a recommend option.

Take a look at the screen shot below and you’ll see what I mean. If you were a buyer, you’d click the big fat phone button wouldn’t you!?

Your Thoughts?

So over to you, is this good, bad, or does it not really matter?

Let me know in the comments box below.