Product Returns

Ho ho no! It’s that time of year: holiday returns are on the horizon. Whether a problematic electronic item, an ugly sweater, or a piece of jewelry that missed the mark, around 18 percent — close to $170 billion worth of merchandise — once purchased/gifted/unwrapped, will be heading back to U.S. retailers this holiday season.…

Millennials and Gen Z represent a significant portion of today’s consumer base, and their preferences are shaping the future of retail, especially in e-commerce. With the peak holiday shopping season upon us, to remain competitive and profitable retailers must align their strategies with the expectations of these younger generations. Meeting their needs not only drives…

As we think back on the Olympic Games, it’s easy to marvel at the dedication and preparation that athletes pour into their training. That same spirit is found in retail, as the industry gears up for its own kind of Olympics: the holiday season followed by the inevitable surge in product returns. Returns present a…

For anyone who has ever worked in the service industry, “the customer is always right” is a motto so essential it borders on creed. But has the time come for us to admit that we’ve helped blur the lines between customer empowerment and customer entitlement? A single glance at return rates and impact reveals we've…

Go to any retail store and the associates likely have some spooky stories to tell when it comes to returns fraud and abuse. For instance, imagine a box arrives for a returned computer and all that’s inside is a heap of heavy rocks. Unfortunately, fraudsters and organized retail crime (ORC) groups are only getting craftier…

The dark web is the equivalent of the group chat where e-commerce retailers know they’re being talked about but definitely aren’t included. With endless information existing on how to abuse retailer terms and conditions, steal personal data, and more, the dark web has fostered an environment where fraudsters feel comfortable expressing their views and freely…

The pandemic accelerated a massive rise in e-commerce, and with that, retailers have experienced a significant uptick in returns — reaching $743 billion in the U.S. last year alone. This sea change has contributed to both increased costs for retailers and a new era of returns behaviors from shoppers. Many retailers are facing shopper habits…

Valued at $785 billion in 2021, the B2C international online shopping market is projected to grow tenfold by 2030, reaching $7.9 trillion. International markets present brands a key opportunity to drive growth and revenues. But selling overseas does bring about numerous complexities which, if not taken into account, can hinder growth and dig into profit margins.…

Everyone knows product returns are a problem, but now the National Retail Federation (NRF), in research with Appriss Retail, has spelled it out in stark terms: total returns for the retail industry amounted to $743 billion in merchandise in 2023. In addition, the total return rate as a percentage of sales in 2023 was 14.5…

Walmart is raising its return shipping rates for seller-fulfilled orders, citing "changing market conditions," according to an update posted this month on the Walmart Marketplace website. While the retailer doesn't make its return shipping rates public, the company told Talk Business it’s the first rate increase in two years. Walmart marketplace allows third-party sellers to…