Let's face it. Not every Kindle book you download is going to capture your interest. Sometimes you might purchase a dud, or worse, accidentally purchase a book when you didn't mean to. While it may feel weird or disingenuous to "return" an e-book and ask for a refund (particularly after you've read some, or all, of it), it is totally legitimate and easy to do. Alternatively, you might have accidentally purchased a Kindle book and need to get your money back.
Regardless of the reason, the process to request a refund is quick and straightforward and only takes a few taps or clicks once you've logged into your Amazon account. Next, we'll show you how to get a refund on an Amazon Kindle book purchase. Since the Kindle app for Android no longer lets you make purchases, there's no way to get a refund for a Kindle book on the platform.
How to get a refund for a Kindle book purchase from your Kindle device
1. From the Kindle home screen, tap on a book you want to purchase.
2. Tap on the Buy button.
3. Once the purchase has been confirmed, you'll see the option to cancel the order. Tap on the Cancel Order link.
The download will be stopped or removed, and a refund will be added to your account.
It's worth noting that you can only cancel an order from a Kindle device immediately after you purchased it. If you want to return the e-book and receive a refund later, you'll have to do that from the Amazon website.
How to get a refund for a Kindle book purchase from the web
1. From a web browser, log in to your Amazon account.
2. Click on the Returns & Orders tab at the top right of the screen.
3. Click on Digital Orders.
4. Locate the Kindle book that you wish to return and click on it.
5. Click on Return for refund.
6. Click on Choose a response.
7. Click on the response option that best fits your situation.
8. Click Submit.
That's it! Just like the app example, your refund request should be processed no later than three to five days after you hit that submit button.
Note that you have seven days to return a Kindle book and request a refund. After that time period, you may not be able to do so and will have to contact Amazon customer service.
How to get a refund for an Audible audiobook purchase
There are two ways to refund or exchange an audiobook through Audible, and it depends on whether or not you have an Audible subscription or if you are not a member and purchased the audiobook outright.
For Audible subscribers:
1. Either from the Audible app or website, go to your Purchase History page.
2. Tap or click on the title that you wish to return.
3. Tap or click on Return this title.
4. Select the reason why you want to return the book, and then tap or click Return.
You will then receive a refund to your Audible credits.
If you are a non Audible subscriber and purchased the book outright, you will receive a refund to your credit or gift card.
Note that Audible has a right to deny exchanges, refunds, or returns if it feels customers are abusing this privilege (though I've never heard of this happening). In addition, credit card refunds may take up to 10 business days to be processed.
Making the most of Amazon's ecosystem
What's the point of having a fantastic e-reader like the Kindle Scribe or the Kindle Oasis if you don't have good content to read? Good e-books are easy to find on any Kindle tablet thanks to Amazon's robust Kindle store, but you have to purchase them individually.
If you subscribe to Amazon's Kindle Unlimited plan, you can borrow and return from a selection of one million e-books and thousands of magazines and audiobooks — as many times as your heart desires! This is much more cost-effective if you're an avid reader or like to have a vast collection at your fingertips.
Top-of-the-line e-reader
If you're looking for a premium e-reader, the Kindle Oasis is the one to get. High-resolution display, IPX8 water and dust resistance, and ergonomic design make reading for hours an absolute pleasure. It's not as expensive as the Kindle Scribe but it's built just as well.
