Overview

On February 8, 2026 Amazon activated its mandatory Prepaid Return Label (APRL) program, obligating eligible Fulfilled‑by‑Merchant (FBM) sellers to supply prepaid return shipping through Amazon’s Buy Shipping Services. The change removes the previous exemption for items priced over $100, shortens the refund window, and caps label insurance at $100, forcing sellers of high‑ticket products to overhaul their returns handling.

Key Points

• High‑value exemption removed — FBM sellers can no longer shift return‑shipping costs to buyers for products above $100, ending a long‑standing loophole.
• Refund window halved — Standard FBM orders must be refunded within 7 days of receipt, down from the prior 14‑day period.
• Insurance limit set at $100 — Every prepaid label includes only $100 of coverage, regardless of the item’s actual price.
• Processing time adjusted — For returns that are not “Refund at First Scan,” sellers now have 4 calendar days (instead of 2 business days) to issue refunds after the return is logged.
• Exempt categories unchanged — Hazardous materials, digital goods, certified pre‑owned watches, and oversized/heavy items remain outside the APRL requirement.
• Seller‑Fulfilled Prime (SFP) unaffected — SFP participants already use Amazon’s prepaid return flow, so the mandate does not alter their operations.

How the New Prepaid Return Label System Works for FBM Sellers

1. Automatic label creation — When a buyer clicks “Return” in their order details, Amazon instantly generates a prepaid shipping label via Buy Shipping Services. Example: A customer returns a $75 kitchen gadget; the system emails a PDF label without any seller interaction.
2. Buyer prints and ships — The customer prints the label, attaches it to the package, and drops it off at the designated carrier. Example: The buyer uses a UPS drop‑box, scans the label, and the package is on its way within hours.
3. Carrier scan triggers refund eligibility — Once the carrier scans the package at the origin facility, Amazon flags the return as “in transit” and notifies the seller.