Every wonder what happens to products returned by your customers? Amazon uses technology to check returns for functionality and safety, it said in a post on its corporate blog in Germany. It uses X-ray scanners, machine learning, drone cages, and special testing facilities.
Amazon’s largest European returns center is located in Slovakia and is 60,000 square meters. It features 3.8 kilometers of conveyor belts and employs up to 3,000 employees.
After employees check condition, products are automatically assigned to one of the following categories using machine learning:
- Items in new condition : These items are unused or unopened, so they can be resold as new on Amazon. Many returns fall into this category.
- Amazon Returns : Items that are almost new but have damaged packaging or minor cosmetic defects are eligible for Amazon Returns and are sold at a reduced price. These items will undergo a more detailed evaluation later.
- Donations for charitable purposes or to clearance retailers: If a product is not sold as new or via Amazon returns, it can be donated to a non-profit organization to help people in need, or it can be sold to clearance retailers.
- Recycling and energy recovery: Sometimes it’s immediately clear that an item is unsaleable or dangerous, e.g., broken glass or leaking liquids. These items are recycled or used for energy recovery, an environmentally friendly process that generates electricity.
The facility uses X-ray technology to detect counterfeits, identify unauthorized repairs, and recognize potential safety risks. And in a “drone test room,” employees fly returned drones to check battery performance, camera functionality and stability.
You can read more about how Amazon processes returns in Europe on the AboutAmazon.de blog.
