Anonymous
01/10/2026 20:30
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:I didn't even know you can ask UPS to print the label. I am surprised they only charged $6.01 for that. OP is incredibly entitled to think UPS should do it for free.
They don’t charge $6 for that. They charge $1 or $2 to print a label. I assume the other $4 was for a shipping bag for OP’s return item.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 20:30
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
OP,
You need to read your return options CAREFULLY. They depend on the item. For some items, there are no free return options. Generally when you buy the product they tell you whether there is a free return option.
Generally items that are sold and delivered by Amazon are free returns, and those sold by third party sellers may be free, or not.
I generally return via Whole Foods, because since I nearly always buy free return items from Amazon, that is my free and easiest option. You show a QR code to the machine at WF and it prints out a label and gives you a bag for your items. It's super easy and customer friendly.
But again... your particular item may not have been returnable for free.
You need to read your return options CAREFULLY. They depend on the item. For some items, there are no free return options. Generally when you buy the product they tell you whether there is a free return option.
Generally items that are sold and delivered by Amazon are free returns, and those sold by third party sellers may be free, or not.
I generally return via Whole Foods, because since I nearly always buy free return items from Amazon, that is my free and easiest option. You show a QR code to the machine at WF and it prints out a label and gives you a bag for your items. It's super easy and customer friendly.
But again... your particular item may not have been returnable for free.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 20:24
Subject: Re:Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:UPS stores are franchised. They set prices for servcies. This was probably their label printing charge. They genrally don't charge just to "accept" a package (because UPS pays them a fee to do so).
Likewise, never walk into UPS with an item and say "I want to ship this". THey will charge ot box it up, and the UPS rates they charge are retail rates. Instead, prepare the shipment on ups.com and print the label at home so you just need to drop it off there. The shipping rates are 40% less typically (same for DHL and FedEx.. and USPS but to a lesser extent).
You are incorrect, based on the Amazon agreement, they will charge a fee - while taking it to staples or Whole Foods or wherever would be free and no label needed
Do any you know why our Amazon returns always suggest Staples but we live much closer to Whole Foods? Does the same Staples QR code work at Whole Foods too?
Anonymous
01/10/2026 20:22
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:I went online to start a return for a $30 item. I was not given a code to take to the UPS Store like is typically done. I was given a copy of the return label and instructed to print it. This has never happened before so I went to the UPS Store (that I have gone to for years) thinking one of the 3 codes on the return label could be scanned for the return.
Instead they wanted $6.01 to return this item. I emailed the shipping label to the store, they printed it out and attached it to the package. I paid for them to open the email, print the label and the paper it was printed on and also for them to attach it to the package. This is what the employee told me I was being charged for.
That’s $6.01
Needless to say, it’s frustrating.
I wrote a review on Yelp and they are defending their policy. Is there any other way to return an Amazon package that actually is free?
Most UPS stores are franchises funded by SBA loans to foreign immigrants.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 19:04
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
I didn't even know you can ask UPS to print the label. I am surprised they only charged $6.01 for that. OP is incredibly entitled to think UPS should do it for free.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:38
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
I print the labels and attach at home before I go to the UPS store.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:32
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I went online to start a return for a $30 item. I was not given a code to take to the UPS Store like is typically done. I was given a copy of the return label and instructed to print it. This has never happened before so I went to the UPS Store (that I have gone to for years) thinking one of the 3 codes on the return label could be scanned for the return.
Instead they wanted $6.01 to return this item. I emailed the shipping label to the store, they printed it out and attached it to the package. I paid for them to open the email, print the label and the paper it was printed on and also for them to attach it to the package. This is what the employee told me I was being charged for.
That’s $6.01
Needless to say, it’s frustrating.
I wrote a review on Yelp and they are defending their policy. Is there any other way to return an Amazon package that actually is free?
They have always charged to print a label like that and you are totally Karen for writing a negative review. Next time print the label yourself at home.
+1. WTF OP.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:28
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:the UPS store will charge you for anything you need. need a piece of tape? pay up.
Aw, not my store in Falls Church, they are so helpful!
Which one? I need all the free tape they have.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:21
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:the UPS store will charge you for anything you need. need a piece of tape? pay up.
Aw, not my store in Falls Church, they are so helpful!
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:20
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:Op you are losing the forest for the trees.
You were charged by ups to print something. They have always had this fee. Whether Amazon or otherwise. For some Amazon returns, Amazon has a system with ups (or other vendors) where you don’t need a label or box at ups. This return did not have that feature. Had you read the instructions, you would have seen that first step was to print out the label. Because you chose not to do that, ups charged you their standard (Amazon agnostic) label printing fee. You’ve chosen not to pay for a printer or ink, so the trade off is you’ll periodically have to pay a label fee. It’s terrible that you complained on yelp about a small business (franchise) because you ignored Amazon instructions.
And fwiw ups had a ton of ridiculous fees like this. Always had. Like twenty years ago the time they charged me $4 for a 12 inch strip of packing tape to seal a box. UPS makes their money through fees, like a lot of other businesses.
I was at usps over the holidays using my own packing tape (in a corner out of the way) to seal boxes. This crazy man grabbed my tape, screamed at me for hogging it and proceeded to run away with it. USPS wouldn’t help me and the man wouldn’t give it back to me. He refused to understand that usps doesn’t give out free tape. I had to stand there and let him use it excessively before he gave it back to the front desk and not me. The whole thing was wild.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:19
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
the UPS store will charge you for anything you need. need a piece of tape? pay up.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:17
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
I will say that Amazon options just changed a lot January 1. I used to be able to return at kohls but now had to go to ups. No box or label needed but I definitely only select the fee option.
You were rude to give ups a bad review.
I fed up with Amazon shipping recently. I just went to buy a sweatshirt and it seemed all the options showed 10 day delivery!
You were rude to give ups a bad review.
I fed up with Amazon shipping recently. I just went to buy a sweatshirt and it seemed all the options showed 10 day delivery!
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:16
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
You are at fault. You choose the return option when you initiate the return. It specifically tells you the options and cost.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:13
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Op you are losing the forest for the trees.
You were charged by ups to print something. They have always had this fee. Whether Amazon or otherwise. For some Amazon returns, Amazon has a system with ups (or other vendors) where you don’t need a label or box at ups. This return did not have that feature. Had you read the instructions, you would have seen that first step was to print out the label. Because you chose not to do that, ups charged you their standard (Amazon agnostic) label printing fee. You’ve chosen not to pay for a printer or ink, so the trade off is you’ll periodically have to pay a label fee. It’s terrible that you complained on yelp about a small business (franchise) because you ignored Amazon instructions.
And fwiw ups had a ton of ridiculous fees like this. Always had. Like twenty years ago the time they charged me $4 for a 12 inch strip of packing tape to seal a box. UPS makes their money through fees, like a lot of other businesses.
You were charged by ups to print something. They have always had this fee. Whether Amazon or otherwise. For some Amazon returns, Amazon has a system with ups (or other vendors) where you don’t need a label or box at ups. This return did not have that feature. Had you read the instructions, you would have seen that first step was to print out the label. Because you chose not to do that, ups charged you their standard (Amazon agnostic) label printing fee. You’ve chosen not to pay for a printer or ink, so the trade off is you’ll periodically have to pay a label fee. It’s terrible that you complained on yelp about a small business (franchise) because you ignored Amazon instructions.
And fwiw ups had a ton of ridiculous fees like this. Always had. Like twenty years ago the time they charged me $4 for a 12 inch strip of packing tape to seal a box. UPS makes their money through fees, like a lot of other businesses.
Anonymous
01/10/2026 18:08
Subject: Paid for Amazon return at UPS
Anonymous wrote:OP: I do not have a printer at home because I have no need for one. This is surprising to me because I have done this before at this UPS Store and never been charged. I guess I was lucky.
Also, the label Karen has been assigned to any white, blonde female who questions or expresses any frustration, quietly or not. I look like the epitome of what people think of as a Karen. More of us need to get a fire in their belly. Living life is going to cost all of us significantly more as the year goes on. Let’s all sit back and watch while we call each other names.
You are conflating standing up for yourself and standing up for yourself when you're in the wrong.