Returns
Retail Dive: Zara Makes Significant Changes to its Returns Policy
Zara announced new changes to returns system, charging customers for returns of online purchases to third-party drop-off points.
Jun 09, 2022
E-Commerce Returns in the Post-COVID Era
Check out our key findings from Shopify's E-Commerce Return Rates Report covering the state of e-commerce returns in the global market.
Jun 08, 2022
Everything You Should Know About E-commerce Logistics
What exactly is e-commerce logistics? And how can retailers better elevate their e-commerce experience in this post-pandemic world?
Mar 31, 2022
TechCrunch: DoorDash Pilots Package Returns to the Nearest Post Office, UPS or FedEx Location
DoorDash is testing a new feature that lets customers return their packages without having to go down to the post office or standalone drop-off points.
Mar 17, 2022
Alcott Global Podcast: Transforming Reverse Logistics with Gaurav Saran CEO of ReverseLogix
In this episode of Leaders in Tech and E-commerce Podcast, Alcott Global invited Gaurav Saran, the founder, and CEO of ReverseLogix.
Mar 30, 2021
Top E-Commerce Events Every Retailer Should Attend in 2021
Don’t miss out on these handpicked e-commerce events and meet with e-commerce experts! Grow your network with this list of e-commerce events 2021!
Jan 21, 2021
Ecommerce News: Otto Group Found that Return Rates have Dropped Due to COVID-19
According to Germany-based Otto Group, one of the world’s largest e-commerce companies, return rates have decreased by 5%.
Aug 11, 2020
How To Prepare Yourself For Peak Returns Season
Retailers face a peak returns season in the first quarter of the year; with billions worth of purchases set to be returned. Keep these in mind as you plan.
Jan 11, 2019
Why Your Return Policy Is Crucial To Your Success
Your return policy might be one of the last things you might think of to encourage sales. Here's why you need to consider it and ensure it's optimized.
Nov 21, 2018
7 Questions Merchants Need To Ask Themselves
40% of your yearly revenue can be made in the last quarter of the year. Are you ready for the ecommerce peak season Ask yourself these questions.
Sep 12, 2018
Member Exclusives
Data Insights
Breaking News
Industry Events
Track your parcel here
Event Highlights
North America
Logistics & Supply Chain
Home Delivery World
Aug 31 - Sep 01, 2022 | Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia
Europe
Retail & E-Commerce
Savant eCommerce Copenhagen 2022
Sep 20 - 21, 2022 | Radisson Collection Royal Hotel
Europe
Retail & E-Commerce
Paris Retail Week
Sep 20 - 22, 2022 | Paris Expo Porte de Versailles
North America
Logistics & Supply Chain
Leaders in Logistics: North America 2022
Sep 26 - 27, 2022 | Marriott Crystal Gateway, Arlington VA
Europe
Retail & E-Commerce
eCommerce Expo UK 2022
Sep 28 - 29, 2022 | Excel London
More discoveries
Planning for Peak Season 2022: E-Commerce Shopping Trends in the United States
Aug 16, 2022
Retail Dive: Online Retail Sales in the United States to Hit $1.6 Trillion Mark by 2027
Aug 16, 2022
Funding Roundup: Major Wins for CleverTap, Locad, ReturnLogic and Others
Aug 12, 2022
PR Newswire: Purolator Transforms Transportation Sector With Its New Sortation Facility in Toronto
Aug 12, 2022
Alcott Global Podcast: Carbon Neutrality in a Shipping Company
Aug 11, 2022
FreightWaves: FedEx to Apply Peak Season Surcharges As Early As September
Aug 11, 2022
E-Commerce Logistics Race in Latin America: Which Country Performed the Best in H1 2022?
Aug 10, 2022
The Business Times: A.P. Moller - Maersk Purchases Martin Bencher Group for US$61M
Aug 10, 2022
Funding Roundup: Bizongo, Homzmart, Vetted and Others Secured Early-Stage Deals
Aug 05, 2022
How Peak Season 2022 in Europe Might Look Like
Aug 05, 2022
TechCrunch: Shopify Invests $100 Million in a Marketing Automation Startup, Klaviyo
Aug 05, 2022
ITLN: Xpressbees Names Suraj Bangera as Senior Vice President of Cross-Border Business
Aug 04, 2022
Retail Dive: Amazon Launches Same-Day Shipping for Pacsun, GNC, SuperDry, and Diesel Customers
Aug 03, 2022
E-Commerce Logistics Race in Europe: Which Country Performed the Best in Q1 2022?
Aug 02, 2022
Supply Chain Dive: OnTrac and LaserShip Introduce Transcontinental Delivery Service to Prepare for Peak Season
Aug 02, 2022
Alcott Global Podcast: Importance of Supply Chain in Stationery Industry
Aug 01, 2022
Guest Post: 10 Ways Retailers Can Inspire Customers During Peak Season
Aug 01, 2022
Funding Roundup: Early Funding Rounds Secured by Cartona, DealCart and Others
Jul 29, 2022
Vogue: Glossier Launches into Wholesale Partnership with Sephora
Jul 29, 2022
E-Commerce Logistics Race 2022: Canada vs the United States
Jul 28, 2022
Macau Business: DHL Express Names Phil Corcoran as Australia’s Managing Director
Jul 28, 2022
Top E-Commerce Retailers in the United States 2022
Jul 27, 2022
Logistics Manager: InPost Now Has 4000 Parcel Lockers in the UK
Jul 27, 2022
Marketing Interactive: L'Oréal Appoints Kenny Ng as Regional E-Commerce Director
Jul 26, 2022
Guest Post: Why Logistics and Supply Chain Management Is Important
Jul 26, 2022
Returns Management in E-Commerce
How Reverse Logistics Works
Reverse logistics is essentially the physical movement of goods during returns. It covers returns consolidation, international shipping, and other aspects concerning the movement of physical goods, whether between carriers or warehouses. Reverse logistics is also concerned with recovering value from products, materials, and parts that the final consumer has returned. In the beverage business, for instance, companies make use of empty tap containers via the reverse logistics process. Beverage manufacturers are able to reclaim the value of the containers by reusing them, which necessitates transportation planning, shipping load management, and container cleaning.
Customer Returns Policy for Online Purchases
A comprehensive and clear customer returns policy for online purchases is one of the factors that influence consumers’ purchasing decisions. In fact, 67% of e-commerce buyers do perform research on return policies before making a purchase. A clear policy will enable your consumers to return items more promptly and with less difficulty, resulting in a better return experience for online shoppers. Quicker returns also mean a quicker turnaround time; by allowing customers to return products efficiently, this increases the likelihood that a returned product will be in suitable condition for resale. Furthermore, defining clear instructions about how and when to return a product after purchase reduces the number of calls to customer support.
Free Shipping for Returns
Do you know 71% of consumers expect free shipping for returns? Some argue that free shipping for returns, or free returns, is essentially an investment in customer retention and acquisition.. Offering free shipping for returns may also boost a merchant’s conversion rate, since returns policies do play a part in a consumer’s purchasing decision. Companies should nevertheless measure the cost of returns to online retailers and the benefit of doing so before deciding to provide free returns to consumers.
Best Practices for E-Commerce Returns
Having a robust returns management process is a great way to secure repeat customers and develop a great brand reputation. When done correctly, it can also be a good way to discourage wasteful shopping behavior. Let’s take Zara as an example. This brand recently changed its customer returns policy for online purchases to reduce cost from customers who tend to over-order without the intention of retaining everything. Zara customers who return items at third-party drop-off points can deduct a £1.95 fee from their refund. Customers can additionally return online purchases for free to any Zara store.