My Experience with Amazon:
Amazon doesn’t take responsibility for sellers providing used and repaired laptops. They also make the return process as difficult as possible. I’ve been an Amazon customer since its inception. I added gift cards to my account, trusting I could use them to buy a laptop during a sale.
1. I bought a laptop in October 2024. It showed that the warranty had already started three months earlier. I contacted the manufacturer by phone and email, only to find out that the laptop had already been registered by someone else. They couldn’t update the warranty, and I couldn’t purchase a new one either, as that’s only allowed within 30 days of an original sale. So, I requested a replacement or return and that’s where the real trouble began.
Amazon Logistics, a separate company, holds the delivery associate responsible if a returned product has issues. So when you place a return request, no one shows up to collect the item, and the delivery associate marks it as customer not available or product verification failed.
I kept emailing Amazon for a month. Eventually, they said the return window had closed. I escalated the issue, and finally, someone from Amazon helped by placing a return request under the wrong product category, which didn’t require verification. After two months of effort, the laptop was finally picked up. Two months of hassle just ridiculous.
2. After that incident, I was hesitant to make another purchase, but I was stuck with the Amazon Pay gift card balance. So, I gave it another shot in January. The same sequence of events followed, and the product was finally returned by mid-February.
3. Now aware of how likely it was to be scammed again but still with money stuck, I gave it one more try. I bought another laptop. This time, it was clearly refurbished(I recorded the unboxing). Not only was it used, it was repaired. I showed it to a friend who repairs laptops, and he confirmed that the seller had fixed the display panel. I went through the same frustrating return process yet again.
From all this, I can say with confidence that Amazon is being used as a scam platform by certain sellers. I sent a complaint to Amazon, and they replied that they are just a platform, so they can’t ensure product authenticity. When I brought up the return issues, they said Amazon Logistics is a separate organization and couldn’t be contacted directly unbelievable.
I also tried posting a review on Amazon, but got a reply stating that criticism of the seller, delivery process, or the platform itself is not allowed.
Through this ordeal, I also realized that laptops are actually better priced on the manufacturer’s websites, with more peace of mind. Amazon inflates prices before sales and reduces them slightly during the sale period just a marketing gimmick.
Verdict: Based on my experience, I can confidently say that buying laptops on Amazon is risky. Amazon doesn’t take any responsibility after shipping, and sellers use the platform to scam customers. Amazon claims they have no control over how their platform is used. If you’re buying a laptop, I highly recommend purchasing directly from the manufacturer. Trust me, it’s nearly impossible for third parties to offer lower prices without cutting corners. For example, Lenovo includes a mouse and bag for free extras you won’t get on Amazon. You’ll also find genuine bundles like discounted headphones. In effect, the total cost is the same or even cheaper.