You could get over £700 from Amazon for buying dodgy goods

In a blog post today, Amazon said it was increasing the protection offered under its A-to-Z Guarantee.

The company explained: “Now, in the unlikely event a defective product sold through Amazon.com causes property damage or personal injury, Amazon will directly pay customers for claims under $1,000—which account for more than 80% of cases—at no cost to sellers, and may step in to pay claims for higher amounts if the seller is unresponsive or rejects a claim we believe to be valid.”

It added: “We’re excited that these innovations create a more trustworthy shopping and selling experience for customers and sellers in our store… Amazon is going far beyond our legal obligations and what any other marketplace service provider is doing today to protect customers.”

From 1 September, you can make a claim by contacting Amazon’s customer service who will investigate and arrange a payment if the seller does not respond. If it works as seamlessly as the company described, it’s a big step forward for buyers’ confidence in the platform.