An Amazon seller has shocked internet users after revealing what happens with incorrect returns, and why customers can "do whatever they want."
Rebecca Martinez, 26, has spent the last three years as a full-time Amazon retailer, selling everything from clothes, shoes, household items, food, and beauty items. There is no doubt it has been a fulfilling experience, but she told Newsweek that one of the most frustrating elements of the job is when customers "try to scam" her out of a refund.
Martinez, of Florida, shared a video on social media (@findit.flipit on Instagram and @finditflip on TikTok) saying that Amazon returns are "actually disgusting." The clip explains that some customers try to return a different item to what they purchased, because, as long as they include the returns paper in the package, they get an automatic refund. Newsweek has contacted Amazon via email for comment.
Martinez said: "I knew people could return a product no matter what; however, I never expected people to return an item that wasn't even what they bought, just to get it for free.
"About four months into my Amazon journey, it happened to me. I was shocked and disgusted more than anything. It's not as common as one would think, but it usually happens once or twice every four to five months," she continued.
When customers return an incorrect item, Martinez said it's "an easy fight" to get her money back. She added that Amazon includes a slip and a sticker for every return, and this details what the product should be and the reason for returning it. In those instances, Martinez lets Amazon know that the return she received wasn't the item she sold to the customer, as well as sending across corroborating photos.
"It usually takes Amazon 24 to 72 hours to pay the seller out. Luckily, it's quite simple to get the money back; however, it's the time that you don't get back due to people being slimy," Martinez said.
After sharing this frustrating experience on social media, the video went viral with over 1.8 million views and almost 15,000 likes on Instagram, as well as nearly 1 million views on TikTok. While she likes to share every aspect of running an online business, Martinez said she hopes to show people how their incorrect returns can impact the seller.
Despite these occurrences, Martinez said that selling on Amazon has changed her life in so many ways and she couldn't love her work more. She praises Amazon for giving people the freedom to make a living in any way they see fit. But her wish is for large companies to give a little more care to the sellers who keep the business moving.
"I like to share things that I go through, and this is unfortunately part of the business. I share these scam situations in the hopes of getting it in front of the right eyes," Martinez told Newsweek. "The response to these videos is crazy. Some of the comments shocked me, and I thought I had seen the worst of it. People are dealing with these instances every day."
The clip showing what happens with these returns has amassed plenty of comments, as fellow online retailers shared similar experiences.
One comment reads: "I sell bath salts and got a soap dish returned."
Another person wrote: "I'm glad you get a break and not scammed."
A third TikTok user added: "Heck I have been getting returns lately that are things I don't even sell."
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