Does Amazon Refund Reward Points? (Yes, But It Depends)

Amazon’s Shop with Points program lets you pay for items with reward point, the most popular being Amazon Rewards Visa Card points. These points can be used to partially pay for an order, and the rest of the amount will be covered by a credit-card.

You can request a refund or return the item if you make a mistake. This can be quite confusing. We’ve covered everything you need about Amazon’s refund policy.

Amazon Will Refund Reward Points

Amazon will refund any reward points that were applied to a purchase, if requested. You can pay for a purchase with reward points or subscriptions to Amazon Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Music Unlimited.

Amazon’s Shop with Points program treats reward points as any other payment method. You can shop and buy gifts with your points, and then have them refunded.

What happens to Amazon Points when you cancel?

After you cancel your order, you will be able to request a refund. Amazon will reimburse you the points if the seller accepts your request for a refund.

Amazon generally refunds points within 48 hours if you cancel your order before it is dispatched. Amazon will also reimburse points used to pay part of an order, and the remainder to your credit card.

Is My Order Eligible For A Refund?

Amazon will automatically refund your order if you cancel before it ships. An order can be returned and a refund requested after delivery. Amazon will not accept returns on any product ordered by third-party sellers.

Below is a list that we have curated of products that are not returnable to Amazon. The return policy for each product and seller will vary. You can ensure your safety by checking if the order you have placed is refundable under Your Orders before you choose Return or Replace Item.

Amazon will show a message if your item is within its refund policy. If the item is not within Amazon’s refund policy, the message will not be displayed.

Amazon cannot accept returns on the following products

Gift certificates
Prepaid game cards
Organic products, such as groceries and live insects, are available
After software and subscriptions have been accessed,
Products that are classified as hazardous materials (e.g. flammable liquids).
Computer laptops, desktops, and Kindles exceeding 30 days after delivery

You cannot purchase items via Shop with Points

Although most Amazon products are refundable, they are not all redeemable through reward points. These items are not eligible for Amazon reward points.

Kindle eBooks
Pre-order Items
Digital downloads
Amazon Music songs
Amazon Appstore Apps
Subscribe and Save Items
Order items using Buy Now
Prime Memberships with TD Bank Rewards

Notable: You can’t buy individual Kindles or Amazon Music titles. However, you can use points for Kindle Unlimited and Amazon Music Unlimited subscriptions to request a refund.

What is the time it takes for Amazon to refund points?

The time taken to refund your points depends on the Amazon reward points that you have used. Amazon generally refunds points within five business days of processing the request. The processing time for a refund request can vary depending on the card issuer.

What happens to points or cashback earned when you cancel?

You can’t keep any points earned or cashback when you cancel your order. If your request for a refund is granted, Amazon will deduct any cashback or rewards earned.

What happens to Amazon Points in Unfulfilled Orders

Amazon will reimburse reward points if your order is not fulfilled within 30 days.

How to Request a Refund for Amazon Reward Points

Amazon rewards points can be refunded by visiting their website or calling customer service.

Once you have followed these steps, you can submit a request for a refund. Amazon can take anywhere from one week to thirty days to review your request for a refund. It can take up 5 business days for your points to appear in the account after they are approved.

How to Request a Refund for Amazon Points over the Phone

If you prefer to ask for a refund by phone, please call 1-888-280-4331 (toll free number) or 1-206-922-880 (international number).

Amazon may place your number in a waiting list if you contact them by phone. This allows you to be more specific about your problem and provide a solution immediately. If that happens, an agent will contact you whenever they are available.

You will also need to prepare a mobile device that is paired with your Amazon account.

How to check the progress of your Amazon refund

Amazon allows you to quickly track the status of your refund request. Here are the steps to check the status of your refund request online.

You can reach Amazon customer service at 1-888-283-4331 if you have any questions regarding the status of your request for a refund. You will need a mobile phone that is linked to your Amazon account. A text message will be sent by the customer service agent to that mobile phone with a verification code.

Additional Resources

Amazon offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use help library on its returns and refunds policy and COVID-19 restrictions. It also has updated holiday policies and other information. If you need more information on a specific purchase, their knowledge database will provide details about the returns policy for each product category.

Amazon policies resources:

Refunds and returns
Shipping and delivery
Recalls and product safety

Additional resources:

How to change your payment method in Amazon After Purchase
Is Amazon Apple Pay available?
What should you do if Amazon delivers the wrong item?
What should you do if Amazon delivers an empty package?
What if Amazon sent the wrong address?
Does Amazon cover stolen packages?

Conclusion…

Amazon’s Shop with Points program allows you to use reward points for purchases or refunds, just like you would with other payment methods. Amazon points allow you to cancel or refund any item purchased, as long as it has not been shipped.

Amazon will automatically refund reward points if you cancel your order within 48 hours. You can request a refund even after the item is delivered. The points will be reflected within 5 business days. The refund processing time can vary depending on the seller. It may take up to a week or 30 days.

Do you have any tips or tricks for Amazon’s Shop with Points customers who have had to request a refund? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.