Overview

Amazon.de is now applying its Refund at First Scan (RFS) policy to seller‑fulfilled returns, a feature that until now was limited to Fulfilled‑by‑Amazon (FBA) orders. The change takes effect immediately and means that shoppers who use Amazon’s prepaid return label will see their refund posted the moment the carrier scans the package, even before the seller receives or inspects the item.

Key Points

• Instant refund trigger — A refund is automatically issued as soon as the carrier’s barcode scanner records the return label, for example when DHL scans a German‑bound parcel at the local depot.
• APRL dependency — The RFS mechanism only activates for returns processed with Amazon’s Prepaid Return Label (APRL); disabling APRL removes the seller from the program entirely.
• Abuse detection — Amazon cross‑checks the buyer’s return history and the item’s price; a high‑risk buyer returning a €500 electronic device may be excluded from automatic refunds.
• SAFE‑T protection window — Sellers have 60 calendar days to file a SAFE‑T claim if the returned merchandise arrives damaged, incomplete, or different from the original listing.
• Refund responsibility fallback — When a return does not meet RFS criteria, the seller must issue a refund within two business days after receiving the item, or Amazon will intervene and pay on the seller’s behalf.
• Notification workflow — Each RFS‑processed refund generates an email alert; sellers must verify that their Seller Central notification settings are enabled to avoid missing these updates.

How Refund at First Scan Works

1. Customer initiates return with APRL — The buyer selects Amazon’s prepaid label in the Returns Center; the system prints a QR‑coded label that includes the order ID and SKU. For instance, a customer returning a pair of leather shoes receives a label that, once attached, links the return directly to the original listing.
2. Carrier scans the label — When the package is handed to the carrier (e.g., DHL, Hermes) and the barcode is read at the first sorting hub, Amazon’s system registers the scan event as “first scan.” The moment the scan registers, the platform credits the buyer’s account with the full purchase amount, minus any applicable restocking fees.