August 13, 2023, 2:39 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
In Amazon’s Warehouse, buyers find products that have been previously shipped and returned. TECHBOOK explains how Warehouse works and who benefits from it.
Amazon makes it very easy for customers to order items, try them out, and return them if they are not satisfied. The returned products are often still in perfect condition, sometimes only unpacked or used briefly. These are items that can be sold again. Amazon tests, refurbishes, and then offers them as “Warehouse Deals” at discounted prices on the Amazon site. TECHBOOK has taken a closer look at Amazon’s used goods.
Overview
What you need to know about Amazon’s Warehouse Deals
Warehouse Deals is a private label operating under Amazon EU SARL and part of the Amazon.com group. The corresponding products from various categories can be found on the Amazon.de site under the “Amazon Warehouse Deals” category or at the very bottom of the page.
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“Acceptable” to “Like New”–Condition determines the price
Amazon tests the sold items for functionality and assigns a quality label visible to the buyer when ordering. Depending on the condition of the item, the retailer assigns the ratings “like new,” “very good,” “good,” and “acceptable.” The condition description also provides details on any visual defects and whether accessories, manuals, or original packaging are missing. The size and location of visual defects are precisely indicated.
Warehouse items that Amazon labels as “like new” are in perfect functional and visual condition, although the packaging may be damaged and the packaging film may be missing. The item may have been removed from the packaging or returned without unpacking. Original accessories and manuals are included.
If Amazon rates the condition as “very good,” it is an item that has been unpacked once and shows slight signs of wear or cosmetic defects, such as small scratches or stains. Accessories not essential for the item’s function may be missing if specified in the description. The item sometimes comes in new outer packaging if the original packaging is too damaged.
With the condition “good,” Amazon sells items with larger cosmetic defects. The items have been used for a longer period. Original accessories such as charging cables may be missing, and the company may replace the original packaging with new packaging.
“Acceptable” Warehouse items have the worst condition of the goods still offered for sale. The items may show significant signs of use, scratches, dents, and large cosmetic defects. It is possible that original packaging and manuals are missing. Original accessories may have been replaced with third-party accessories.
Warranty and return policy
Amazon Warehouse products do not have a manufacturer’s warranty, but the two-year legal warranty is covered by Amazon. Like all other products on Amazon, Warehouse Deals can be returned within 30 days. The return policy is guaranteed by Amazon.
Shipping costs and availability
The same shipping costs apply as for all products on Amazon. This means Prime customers receive delivery free of charge, while other customers do so for orders over 39 euros. It should be noted that the offer fluctuates, and there is not always a Warehouse alternative for many products. This is because there are naturally not returned or warehouse-damaged items for every product.
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Conclusion on Amazon Warehouse: Used is worth it
Over the years, we have placed various orders with Amazon Warehouse. Reviewing the orders, we found that we did not return any of the items we purchased as Warehouse Deals to Amazon. The situation is different with new items, where we returned an estimated 10-20 percent of the orders.
Even though the quality assessment Amazon conducts before selling used goods initially sounds good, we found in our orders that the quality is not consistently the same within the categories. For example, the Xbox 360 controller was only sold as “acceptable,” while the Russell Hobbs mixer was rated “very good.” However, we received the Xbox controller in complete original packaging, including a manual and warranty card, with no scratches or other signs of use. The mixer, on the other hand, came loosely wrapped in foil in new outer packaging, with all parts scattered in the box. There was no sign of a manual, not even a note explaining how to operate or assemble the mixer.
There are also other examples where the description of scratches and damage does not match the product Amazon delivers to your home. For instance, the board game Pandemic Legacy 2 was sold as very good, with only packaging damage indicated. However, some game materials were also damaged, and compartments that should not have been visible were already opened. Fortunately, this case is the exception. In most orders, we ended up with items that showed no damage, even though Amazon sold them in the Warehouse as “very good,” “good,” or even “acceptable.”
The Amazon Warehouse Deals are a great option. We have no problem with the fact that not all products are brand new. After all, the items are significantly cheaper, offer fast Prime shipping, and come with Amazon’s 30-day return policy and customer support.