- Amazon will begin charging for returns via UPS in some cases.
- Some customers have taken to social media to bash the $1 charge.
Amazon will start charging for some returns delivered via UPS, and customers of the e-commerce giant aren't taking kindly to the new $1 fee.
The company will add the charge only if there is another free-return option — such as a Whole Foods, Kohl's, or Amazon Fresh store — the same distance away or closer, Insider's Avery Hartmans reported.
"We always offer a free option for customers to return their item," Eileen Hards, a spokesperson for Amazon, told Insider in a statement. "If a customer would prefer to return their item at a UPS Store when there is a free option closer to their delivery address, a very small amount of customers may incur a $1 fee."
Though the fee is small, many customers took to social media to voice their displeasure with Amazon's delivery services, spouting claims of damaged, lost, and low-quality orders.
"They need to learn to ship things better then," one Twitter user wrote. "I've gotten so many items from Amazon damaged because they don't package products in appropriate shipping bags or correct size boxes."
"Y'all can't even get my packages to the right address after constantly telling y'all (@amazon) that y'all have the wrong location on," wrote another user.
Underneath many of the social media comments railing against Amazon's shipping practices, the company was quick to offer help and responses — each of which was tagged with what appeared to be the name of an Amazon worker.
"We're so sorry to hear about the missing package! Just to clarify, do you currently have a missing order that's been marked as delivered here: http://amzn.to/NAYourOrders? Keep us posted! -Andrew," wrote the Amazon Help Twitter account.
—Amazon Help (@AmazonHelp) April 13, 2023
UPS wasn't safe from customer criticism, either. Some Twitter users took to bashing the shipping company for its handling of packages as well.
"I ordered 2 smart watches ordered at http://Amazon.com. @UPS said they delivered to my rear door, which is impossible because I live on an upper floor apartment. So if they're going to charge a fee they may want to make sure their shipping partners are doing their part," one user wrote on Twitter.
UPS joined Amazon in similarly responding to such comments and offering assistance as needed.
"Hello, Bekah. I am sorry to hear that you have not received your package. Please DM us your tracking number, delivery address, email, and phone number. So we can follow up. -Mayra," UPS responded in a tweet.