Brands tightening policies on holiday returns
The busy shopping season isn’t over yet for retailers because consumers will now be heading back to stores for those returns.
At least 33% of shoppers are expected to return unwanted gifts before the end of January, according to the e-commerce company, Red Stag Fulfillment.
Making the returns process just as smooth as those holiday deals should be a major focus for retailers but that’s changing for consumers who prefer online returns.
Before dropping that unwanted gift in the mail, keep in mind many companies will charge a restocking fee or the cost of a return label as some hope to discourage what’s now viewed as an environmental and financial hit.
According to the returns management platform parcelLab, 40% of shoppers were told to keep the items they didn’t want while 60% of all returns made their way back to a warehouse. Overall, 62% of consumers said they are “unlikely to shop with a retailer that provides a poor returns experience.”
The company also said 51% of shops don’t offer free returns, a reminder that it doesn’t hurt to check whether you’re able to do that holiday return at a nearby store to avoid any additional fees.