Mobile phones that are fulfilled by Amazon are no longer eligible for refund, as per a change made by Amazon India's return policy page on February 7. Buyers will no longer be able to return the mobile phones purchased on Amazon unless the item is damaged, missing, or defective, as per their new returns policy.

"All mobile phones that are fulfilled by Amazon, purchased on or after 7th February 2016, will have a replacement only policy. Mobile phone items that are fulfilled by Amazon will no longer be eligible for refunds," a statement posted on Amazon India's returns policy page states.

Users who have received a defective or a damaged mobile phone fulfilled by Amazon will be eligible for a free replacement within a period of 10 days of purchase. "In case you have received a defective or a damaged mobile phone that is fulfilled by Amazon, you will be eligible for a free replacement," Amazon states.

The returns policy still applies to a broad variety of categories for a period ranging from 7 to 30 days after receiving the product, where consumers can return an item if they no longer need it. Amazon India also maintains a page of a dozen-odd categories where items are not eligible for a returns policy, ranging from baby and personal care products, jewellery, software, and video games.

In contrast, while Amazon is doing away with its returns policy for mobile phones, Flipkart in October last year introduced a returns policy that lets customers return a mobile phone if they are not satisfied with it within 10 days, refunding the entire amount paid by the customer, including shipping and gift wrapping charges. Products in the Fashion and Books categories, along with products sold by Flipkart Advantage sellers can be returned within 30 days of delivery. However, the returns policy does not apply to certain specific categories such as innerwear, lingerie, socks, and clothing.

Snapdeal users cannot just return an item if they are dissatisfied with it. Its 7-day returns policy, which applies to most categories, including mobile phones, states that a user can return the product if it was in the wrong colour, size, varies from description, is damaged or has missing parts or accessories. According to its terms and conditions, for electronic items, Snapdeal requires a document from the brand/OEM's service centre confirming that the delivered item was defective. "Returns/replacements will be accepted for only those items which are found to be faulty/ defective. We will carry out a quality check to validate the complaint before processing any request for refund/replacement," Snapdeal's return policy page states.

Disclosure: Amazon India and other e-commerce websites may be seen as competitors of Gadgets 360's marketplace.

Affiliate links may be automatically generated - see our ethics statement for details.