No, Amazon Warehouse Does Not Offer Any Warranties in 2023
As a decade-long Amazon seller, one of the most common questions I get from buyers is "does Amazon Warehouse offer warranties on the used, open-box and refurbished items it sells?"
The short answer is no, Amazon Warehouse products do not come with any warranties. When you purchase from Amazon Warehouse, you are buying an item "as is" without the protections of a manufacturer‘s warranty.
I‘ll cover the details of why Warehouse lacks warranties shortly. But first, let‘s quickly run through what the Amazon Warehouse is for those unfamiliar…
What is Amazon Warehouse?
Amazon Warehouse is a section of Amazon‘s website where they sell:
- Used products traded in by consumers
- Open-box returns that were barely used
- Overstock items Amazon couldn‘t sell as new
- Refurbished items fixed up to work like new
The key benefit of Amazon Warehouse is you can buy these discounted pre-owned and open-box items directly from Amazon at lower prices than brand new.
For example, you may see a $500 laptop selling for $300 through Amazon Warehouse because it was lightly used then returned. Or a $150 kitchen appliance discounted to $90 because it was an Amazon overstock item.
So Warehouse allows access to deals on products that may otherwise only be available secondhand on platforms like eBay or Craigslist.
Now let‘s get back to answering the key question: why doesn‘t Amazon Warehouse offer warranties?
Why Amazon Warehouse Lacks Warranties
Unlike when you purchase a brand new product, Amazon Warehouse items do not come with any manufacturer‘s warranty or special warranty from Amazon.
There are two main reasons why Amazon Warehouse products are sold without warranties:
1. Amazon is just the reseller, not the manufacturer.
Amazon did not actually make or produce these open-box and pre-owned items, so it is not able to provide a manufacturer‘s warranty like if you purchased the product brand new.
For example, if you buy a renewed iPhone from Amazon Warehouse, it does not come with Apple‘s standard 1-year hardware warranty that new iPhones include.
2. The original warranty was voided.
Many Warehouse products are used or returned items that already had their original manufacturer‘s warranty void or expire before being resold by Amazon.
For instance, if someone bought a new Fitbit on Amazon, used it for a few months, then returned it, that voids Fitbit‘s initial 1-2 year warranty. When Amazon relists the open box Fitbit in Warehouse, it no longer has a valid warranty.
So in summary – you are not getting a warranty from Amazon or the manufacturer when buying from Amazon Warehouse.
But just because Warehouse items lack warranties doesn‘t mean there are no protections…
Return Policies Help Make Up for No Warranty
Although you don‘t get a warranty when purchasing from Amazon Warehouse, all Warehouse items are eligible for free returns for 30 days from shipment.
Some key notes on Amazon Warehouse returns:
30 day return window – Full refunds on Warehouse purchases are available within 30 days of the shipment date.
Some exceptions – A small subset of Warehouse items sold by third-party sellers may have different return policies, so check listings closely.
Certified Refurbished gets 90 days – Returns can be made up to 90 days from shipment for items listed as Certified Refurbished.
Return for any reason – No need to provide a specific reason for the return request. You can return just because you changed your mind.
This 30 day return period allows you to thoroughly test out and inspect your Amazon Warehouse purchases to catch any issues.
Though not as good as an actual warranty, it provides time to ensure your Warehouse deal purchase functions as expected.
According to Amazon‘s 2021 annual report, they spent $27 billion on product returns and refunds including Amazon Warehouse items. So they clearly honor the 30 day return promise.
[Source: Amazon 2021 Annual Report]
And if an item is defective, Amazon also provides replacement options…
Replacement Policy for Defective Warehouse Items
In addition to returns, Amazon Warehouse also offers free replacements on defective items within 30 days of receiving your order.
Here are some quick facts on the Amazon Warehouse replacement policy:
30 day window – Just like returns, replacement requests must be made within 30 days of shipment.
Item-specific conditions – Each Warehouse item will have its own unique conditions regarding what flaws or issues make it eligible for a replacement unit. Check listings closely.
Refund also available – If you would prefer, you can request a full refund instead of a replacement product.
Some exclusions – Open box computers, cameras, and appliances are a few categories not eligible for replacements.
So if you receive a damaged, defective, or inaccurately described Warehouse item, you have a month to get it exchanged at no extra cost.
Between the 30 day returns and 30 day replacement policy on defective items, Amazon provides a sufficient safety net despite lacking warranties.
Amazon Warehouse Condition Rating System
When purchasing from Amazon Warehouse, it‘s extra important to carefully review the condition rating provided in the product listings.
Amazon uses the following ratings system to indicate the physical appearance and functional state of Warehouse items:
Renewed
- Inspected and tested to look and work like-new
- Little to no signs of wear and tear
- 90 day Renewed Guarantee included
Used – Like New
- Perfect working condition
- Original protective wrapping may be missing
- Nearly flawless appearance
- All accessories included
Used – Very Good
- Fully functional with minor scratches/blemishes
- Packaging may be damaged
- All accessories present unless otherwise noted
Used – Good
- Functional but visibly well-worn
- Packaging likely damaged
- Parts, manuals may be missing
Used – Acceptable
- Major wear but still operational
- Packaging damaged
- Missing parts/accessories common
What the Condition Ratings Mean
You‘ll have the best Warehouse shopping experience sticking with items rated Renewed, Used – Like New, and Used – Very Good.
The Used – Good and Used – Acceptable conditions come with higher risks of unexpected defects, damage or missing components.
Carefully reading the descriptions can give you further insights beyond just the overall condition category too.
As a real world example, here are a few recent Amazon Warehouse listings I came across with their associated condition ratings:
Item | Condition Rating | Notes |
---|---|---|
Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones | Used – Like New | Open box with signs of handling on box |
DJI Mavic Air 2 Drone | Used – Very Good | Minor scratches on body, all accessories/parts included |
Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 Laptop | Used – Good | Moderate wear on case but tested & fully functional |
Vizio 70" Smart TV | Used – Acceptable | Heavily worn but turns on; missing remote |
Scrutinizing the ratings and listing descriptions before buying can save you from nasty surprises down the road.
Are Amazon Warehouse Items Eligible for Prime?
One extra bonus of Amazon Warehouse deals is that some items are eligible for Prime shipping benefits.
If an Amazon Warehouse listing shows "FREE Prime Delivery", that means it can be shipped quickly in 2 days for free, just like new products included with a Prime membership.
Based on my experience browsing Warehouse deals, about 15-20% of items are Prime eligible. Not all Warehouse products qualify, but it‘s a nice perk when they do.
Quick Prime delivery means you get your Amazon Warehouse orders faster. And you can easily return or exchange those purchases too if they don‘t meet expectations.
Top Tips for Shopping Amazon Warehouse Deals
Now that you understand Amazon Warehouse warranty and return policies, here are my top tips for scoring great deals:
🔎 Inspect condition ratings – Avoid bad surprises by carefully checking the quality ratings and listing descriptions before purchasing.
💲 Compare prices – Weigh the discounted Warehouse price versus buying new or refurbished from other retailers.
✅ Test thoroughly ASAP – Inspect and test your Warehouse items right away within the 30 day return window.
🛒 Leverage the generous return policy – Don‘t hesitate to return or replace defective, damaged, or inaccurately described items.
❗ Read the fine print – Look for any special notes about missing accessories, damaged packaging, expiration dates, etc.
🚚 Search for Prime – Filter Warehouse listings to find deals eligible for free Prime shipping.
🏷 Consider bundled deals – Warehouse combo offers on related products like cameras, lenses, and tripods can be extra savings.
🛍 Use a credit card – Paying with a credit card provides an extra layer of purchase protection in case issues arise.
💳 Or pay with gift cards – If buying Warehouse as a gift, pay with an Amazon gift card so the recipient can easily exchange if needed.
The Bottom Line
Amazon Warehouse items do not come with any warranty. But Amazon provides a 30 day return period and 30 day replacement policy on defective items to help compensate for the lack of warranty coverage.
Carefully inspecting condition ratings, reading descriptions, testing items promptly after delivery, and leveraging the generous return and replacement policies are the keys to success when shopping Amazon Warehouse deals.
For the smoothest experience, I recommend sticking with Warehouse products rated Renewed, Used – Like New, and Used – Very Good. With a bit of extra care as a buyer, you can snag amazing bargains on discounted Amazon Warehouse electronics, appliances, clothes, tools, and more.