Full refunds
Shopping & refunds
Orders that never arrived, warranties stores try to dodge, price adjustments, return policies and the federal rules behind them. How to get your money back from Amazon, Temu, Shein, and any retailer.
- ShoppingPackage never arrived, or arrived damaged or wrong? You're owed a refund (and the seller can't blame the carrier)Under the FTC's Mail Order Rule sellers must ship when promised or refund; under the UCC the risk of loss stays with the seller until you receive the goods. Marked delivered but missing, damaged in transit, wrong item, or "contact the carrier" excuses: the exact steps, the 30-day rule, and the chargeback that closes the case.
- ShoppingAmazon A-to-z Guarantee: how to get a refund when a third-party seller won't (and what to do if Amazon denies it)Most Amazon problems are solved in two clicks, but third-party seller orders that never arrive, arrive wrong, or where the seller ignores you need the A-to-z Guarantee. Eligibility, the 48-hour rule, the 90-day deadline, how to word the claim, appeals, and the chargeback backup that Amazon can't block.
- ShoppingTemu, Shein, and AliExpress refunds: the in-app rules that actually get your money backThese platforms refund more often than people expect, if you use their own buyer protection windows and evidence rules. Temu's 90-day returns and Purchase Protection, Shein's 35-day returns, AliExpress's 15-day Buyer Protection dispute, what to photograph, "refund without return," and the chargeback when the app says no.
- ShoppingProduct broke? Your warranty rights beyond the store policy (Magnuson-Moss, implied warranty, and credit card extended warranty)Every product sold by a merchant comes with an implied warranty that it works, whether or not the box says so. Written warranties are federally regulated, "warranty void if opened" stickers are illegal, and your credit card may add a year of coverage. How to make a warranty claim that gets honored, when you can sue for the repair cost plus attorney's fees, and lemon law basics for cars.
Refunds, returns, and warranties when you buy something
Store return policies are voluntary, but several legal protections are not:
- Orders that never arrive: under the FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Rule, sellers must ship when promised (or within 30 days if no date was given) or offer you a refund. Until the package reaches you, the risk of loss is generally the seller's, not yours.
- Defective products: an implied warranty that the product works for its normal purpose applies to most purchases from merchants, and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act regulates written warranties. "Warranty void if opened" stickers generally aren't enforceable.
- Marketplaces: Amazon's A-to-z Guarantee, eBay's Money Back Guarantee, and the buyer-protection programs of Temu, Shein, and AliExpress can refund you when a seller won't, but each has its own deadlines.
- Credit card protection: if the seller refuses, a chargeback for goods not received or not as described is usually available for 60 to 120 days.
How to get your money back
Contact the seller in writing first, keep screenshots and tracking, then use the platform's guarantee, then your card issuer, then a complaint to your state attorney general or the FTC. The guides below cover each step for the most common cases.