The Most Common Amazon Seller Return Scams

At Up Boxed- we see A LOT of Amazon Returns. In 2025, we anticipate seeing 50,000 Amazon returns! But- not all returns go smoothly.

Issues that we often see with returns with Amazon surround third-party sellers. Amazon uses third party sellers in order to offer more of a variety of products at lower prices. However, there are some third-party sellers that try to subvert and manipulate the returns process in order to attempt to prevent you from successfully returning your merchandise.

Some of the most common returns scams that we see on Amazon are:

-Sellers (particularly sellers based in China) sending fake labels, and labels for carriers that do not exist. We also see these same sellers demanding return shipping to China, which costs you more than the item is worth.

-Sellers providing "blurred out" labels that do not scan or are illegible

-Sellers providing fake addresses and company names that do not exist, resulting in customer-paid shipments to not be delivered successfully.

-Sellers not responding with labels, or customer inquiries at all

-Sellers providing fake labels that simply say that the customer is responsible for all shipping

-Sellers providing highly realistic but fake UPS labels, that result in shipments not being able to be shipped out. Please Note- if you utilized a drop box for this at somewhere other than UP Boxed, you would drop off your package believing that it would be good to go, however, the package would be lost or confiscated by UPS. At UP Boxed, we verify for you!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

-Stay consistent!! Complete the return process. These sellers know that they are complicating the process and they are counting on you to just give up and not say anything. Be consistent, and let others know!

-Use Amazon customer service as your ally. You can call customer service at 1-888-280-4331. Say "speak to an associate" when you get the automated service to speak to a live agent. They can assist you with a label to return your item, reach out directly to sellers, and potentially help flag stores not following the returns policy.

-Leave a negative review! Let other buyers know of the seller/scam so that they will not buy from that seller and are warned in advance. If sellers accrue negative reviews, the store can be shut down.

-Drop off items at UP Boxed. UP boxed has the highest success rates in the industry for returns. We will do what we can to assist and can help determine if labels are authentic.

-Buy from reputable stores. Check reviews to look for issues with returns, and avoiding purchasing items listed with sellers who have these issues.

KNOW THAT IT IS NOT All BAD

Most Amazon returns are completely timely and without issues. Likewise, most third-party sellers are reputable companies and at times are even small, local businesses! `Take the time to reward and promote third party sellers that do good work, and help raise awareness for those trying to "beat the customer".

UP Boxed is located at 3924 State Route 281 in Cortland. We are open Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm, Saturday 10am-3pm.

-Written by Alan McCormick (c)2025