“My radio station used to carry your show, but this is a great replacement,” wrote Nancy in Miami, Florida. Now, friends, my free newsletter isn’t a replacement for my national award-winning radio show. The show is loaded with things you won’t find here, along with the best callers ever. Find my show on a radio station near you or as a podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Shopping smarts: Here are the things you can’t return to Amazon
Online retailers make it easy to get anything you want within a day or two, but that doesn’t mean you should go off on wild spending sprees. Here are five big mistakes to avoid when buying electronics on Amazon.
Buying things you don’t need is one thing, but it’s worse when you have something you can’t get rid of. While you can likely return that juicer you never used, it’s not the same for other products. Here’s what you need to know about Amazon’s return policies.
Amazon’s easy returns
Amazon makes it easy to return eligible purchases. Here are some places you can bring returnable items:
- Amazon Hub Lockers.
- UPS stores or Access Points.
- Kohl’s.
- Whole Foods.
- Physical Amazon stores.
You can also ship it yourself or schedule a pickup.
Returns are as simple as printing a label or having the facility do it for you. You don’t even need the original packaging in some cases. Just check the Your Orders page for details.
Not everything is returnable, however. There are time limits, and some items can’t be returned no matter how soon you try to send them back.
RELATED: Amazon-made cheaper versions of all these popular products
The ground rules
Amazon generally gives you 30 days to return an item after receiving it. Here are more specifics:
- Devices: Computer laptops, desktops and Kindles cannot be returned more than 30 days after delivery.
- Digital: You can’t return the following after purchase: downloadable software products, open software or online subscriptions after you accessed them.
- Cards: You can’t return gift cards (except as required by law) and prepaid game cards such as those for World of Warcraft, Xbox 360 Live or Wii Points.
- Hazardous materials: You can’t return items classified as hazardous materials or ones that use flammable liquids or gases.
- Damaged items: Nonreturnable items that arrived damaged or defective are eligible for a refund or replacement. If the refund or replacement option isn’t available in Your Orders, try contacting Amazon here.
- Miscellaneous items that might not be eligible for return:
- Any product missing the serial number or UPC.
- Grocery products.
- Items with special shipping restrictions.
- Live insects.
- Some jewelry orders.
- Some health and personal care items.
- Customized products.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Recall alert: Dodge SUVs and 59K car seats recalled
Regular maintenance can help keep your vehicle safe to drive. Sometimes, an automobile can roll off the factory floor with problems that are only discovered much later. When that happens, manufacturers trigger a recall. And that’s precisely what is happening with some Dodge models.
Speaking of Amazon: Bad news if you got a new Kindle Colorsoft — many people are complaining about the bottom of the color display having a yellowish tint. If you own one, contact their support for a refund or replacement. Replacements ship out next week.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
2 million popular air fryer models recalled - See if you have one
Your air fryer does a lot of heavy lifting in the kitchen. Like any device, however, these countertop champions are just as subject to factory defects as anything else.
According to an official report, specific air fryers don’t just pose a potential fire hazard. They’re melting down and starting fires.
Check your cupboard! This snack is an E. coli risk
If you enjoy the outdoors or an occasional hike, you will likely pack a few snacks for the trail. Tap or click here for five 5 health tests you can take online. There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy the peaceful nature with your stomach grumbling. But before you head out again, check your cupboard.
BMW is recalling 394,000-plus vehicles: The cars all have Takata-made airbag inflators that could explode in a crash. Affected models include 2006-2011 3 Series sedans, 2006-2012 3 Series sports wagons and 2009-2011 3 Series 335d sedans. Questions about a free replacement? Call BMW at (800) 525-7417 or download the app.
Recall alert: Over 900,000 Hatch Rest first-generation baby sound machine adapters are being recalled, because the adapter housing can come off, exposing power prongs. If yours has model number CYAP05-050100U stamped on it, get a free replacement here.
It's not just you: 2 major problems with Apple's iOS 15 update
Hot on the heels of the iPhone 13 release announcement, Apple device owners got the new iOS 15 operating system. After much hype and a 2.3GB download, the software adds extra functions and tweaks others.
You can now easily share images from one place to a chat app by simply holding down and dragging the picture. A new focus mode also helps you filter notifications and apps, and an App Privacy Report lets you see how apps use permissions. Tap or click here for the best new features.
Recall alert: Check your home for these latest product recalls
Whenever a recall is issued for a product, you know that the problem is severe. Not only does it cost the company money, but it also damages its reputation. Whatever the issue is, you should always react as quickly as possible. Tap or click to see why almost 2 million dehumidifiers were recently recalled.
Lost or destroyed your vaccine card? How to get a new one
The pandemic changed everything. Not only did much of the world come to a halt for a few months, but millions of Americans were forced to work from home. Many still are. And things are getting bad again with the Delta variant causing cases to spike. Tap or click here for an online tool that tracks the Delta variant.
MacBook not holding a charge? Apple might replace your battery for free
People love Apple products for a reason. They’re reliable, easy to use and while they may not be as customizable as devices on Android or other open platforms, the quality is a good trade-off.
That doesn’t mean Apple and Mac devices are impervious to issues, though. While these tech devices are generally reliable, Apple products have had their fair share of problems. Tap or click here to see how recent updates have been especially problematic for some devices.
Warning: Nearly 1 million Crock-Pot cookers recalled over burn risk
The holidays might look a bit different this year, but one thing that hasn’t changed in the midst of the pandemic is a focus on food. Even if you’re not having the typical huge gathering, you can still enjoy quality family time virtually. Tap or click here to find out how to host the perfect virtual holiday party.
Is it time to replace your Android battery? Signs, symptoms and fixes
Your Android phone is your everyday companion, so you notice when it’s not holding a charge as long as it used to. You’re starting to wonder if there’s a problem with the battery. That means it’s time to do a little sleuthing.
Android headphones not working? Here are 3 tips to troubleshoot
If your wireless or wired headphones aren’t working with your Android device, it could be a problem with the phone, the software or the headphones themselves. Before you toss the headphones and waste money replacing them, we have three quick and easy troubleshooting tips to try.