Inksky
Buying an e-reader without holding it first is the norm now — most people order online and hope for the best. The return policy is your safety net. Here’s what each major retailer offers, what they don’t tell you upfront, and how to make the most of your trial period.
Return policies at a glance
| Retailer | Return Window | Restocking Fee | Return Shipping | Refurbished Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 30 days | None (most items) | Free (prepaid label) | 90 days |
| Kobo (Rakuten) | 30 days | None | Free | Varies by region |
| B&H Photo | 30 days | None | Free | 90 days |
| Best Buy | 15 days | None | Free | Varies |
| reMarkable | 100 days | None | Free | 1 year (refurb) |
Amazon: the easy default
Amazon’s 30-day return window is generous, and the process is frictionless — print a label, drop the box at UPS, refund processes when scanned. There’s no restocking fee for e-readers (Amazon only charges restocking on certain high-value electronics). The refund goes back to your original payment method, not store credit.
Kindle-specific notes: Amazon will accept returns on Kindles even if they’ve been registered to your account and used. Just deregister the device (Settings → Your Account → Deregister) before returning it. If you bought a Kids Edition Kindle, the 2-year warranty replacement applies separately from the return window.
Watch out for: If you bought during a promotion that included a free trial (Kindle Unlimited, Audible), cancel those before returning or you’ll get charged when the trial ends. The device return doesn’t automatically cancel the trial.
Kobo (Rakuten): straightforward, but slower
Kobo’s official store offers a 30-day return policy with free return shipping. The process is handled through Rakuten’s customer service rather than an automated portal, which means you’ll need to contact support to initiate a return. Response times are generally within 24 hours.
Kobo devices must be returned in “like-new” condition with all accessories. The return is processed once the warehouse receives and inspects the device — expect 5-10 business days from shipping to refund.
B&H Photo: the enthusiast’s choice
B&H specializes in prosumer electronics and carries Boox devices, reMarkable, and sometimes niche e-ink products you won’t find at Amazon. Their 30-day return policy is solid, with free return shipping and no restocking fees for e-readers. The return process is entirely online, and B&H’s customer service is famously helpful.
B&H is a particularly good option for Boox buyers, since Boox devices bought directly from the manufacturer can have slower return processing and higher return shipping costs (often shipping back to China or a regional warehouse).
Best Buy: short window, but local convenience
Best Buy’s 15-day return window is the tightest of the major retailers — half of Amazon’s. However, for My Best Buy Plus members ($49.99/year), the window extends to 60 days, which is the longest in the industry. If you’re buying an expensive device like a Kindle Scribe or reMarkable and want maximum time to evaluate, the membership pays for itself in return flexibility alone.
The advantage of Best Buy is in-person returns. You can take the device to any store, get an immediate refund, and avoid shipping entirely. For quick decisions, this is the most convenient option.
reMarkable: the 100-day trial
reMarkable offers the longest return window in e-readers: 100 days from delivery. This is a deliberate strategy — the company knows that reMarkable’s value proposition (distraction-free writing and reading) takes time to appreciate. If you return within 100 days, shipping is free both ways, and there’s no restocking fee.
Refurbished reMarkable devices come with a 1-year warranty — better than the 90 days most companies offer on refurbs. If you’re buying a reMarkable 2, the refurbished option from reMarkable’s own store is arguably a better deal than new, given the warranty length.
How to test a device within the return window
Don’t just unbox it and admire the screen. Actually use it:
- Load your actual content. Send a few books you regularly read — the formatting of your specific library matters more than the demo books.
- Read in your typical conditions. Bedside at night (test the warm light), outside in daylight, on public transit (test one-handed holding and page-turn ergonomics).
- Test battery drain. Use it for a full day of reading and note what percentage remains. Compare to the advertised battery life.
- Check for screen defects. Dead pixels, uneven front lighting (look at a dark screen in a dark room at max brightness), and yellow tints along edges are all valid reasons to exchange.
- Try the features you’ll actually use. If you bought it for library borrowing, borrow a book. If you bought it for PDF annotation, mark up a paper. Don’t assume features work as advertised — verify.
- Keep the box and accessories. Everything must go back for a full refund. Missing the USB cable or stylus tips can result in a deduction.
What to do before returning
- Deregister the device (Kindle: Settings → Your Account → Deregister; Kobo: Settings → Accounts → Sign Out; Boox: Settings → Accounts → Remove account).
- Factory reset after deregistering, even though it’ll be wiped at the warehouse. It’s good practice.
- Remove any screen protectors or cases. They won’t refund accessories separately unless you return them too.
- Take photos of the device before packing it — proof of condition if the return is disputed.
Which retailer to buy from
For Kindles, Amazon is the obvious choice — best return policy for the ecosystem. For Boox, B&H is better than buying direct. For reMarkable, buy from reMarkable for the 100-day trial. For Kobo, either Kobo’s store or Amazon (which also sells Kobos) works fine, though Amazon’s return process is more automated. For any device you’re unsure about, Best Buy with a My Best Buy Plus membership gives you 60 days to decide — unmatched flexibility if you’re comparing multiple devices.