Returns are a real issue for eCommerce businesses. Many online stores deal with more returns than brick-and-mortar shops, and since profit margins for these businesses are already stretched thin, returns could have a significant negative financial impact on eCommerce stores.
But, putting a number on the impact of returns can be tricky because there are so many factors to consider. To minimize the impact of eCommerce returns on their business, online merchants must understand why these returns are being made and how to create a good return policy.
Between 2021-2025, the eCommerce industry is predicted to grow by $11 trillion. By the end of 2024, $6 trillion in eCommerce sales are expected to be reached. Managing customers' expectations is an important part of creating a viable eCommerce return policy. Here are a few things customers say they want from eCommerce returns:
If you handle returns well, returns can actually be an opportunity for more business. While returns can be tricky to navigate, all eCommerce businesses will need to find a solution that works for them and their customers if they want to avoid the significant burdens that returns can bring.
Dealing with the challenges of returns is important, too. Returns fraud has become a big issue for many online retailers; additionally, most retailers simply don't have the right technology to deal effectively with returns, such as being able to properly identify and track why returns are being made or who serial returns are.
Reverse logistics can incur significant costs for retailers, though many of these aren't immediately obvious. The cost of processing a return can be up to 65% of the total selling price, which can eat into your profit margins, especially if you're offering free returns.
When a product is returned, a retailer has to factor in the following costs:
According to The Conversation
Then there are non-financial costs to consider. If customers find they can't return their purchases - or if your shipping policy is hard to find or understand - they can easily become frustrated. This could lead to a slew of customer complaints - or worse, negative reviews about your products and business.
There are many legitimate reasons why a customer may need to return a purchase they made online. The one problem in eCommerce is that a customer can't really see, touch, or try on a product before they make a purchase; this means when the product finally arrives, it might not be suitable.
Here are some interesting stats as to why customers have to return a product they purchased online:
The biggest reasons for returns are because the item is:
The rise of online shopping has seen a corresponding increase in eCommerce returns fraud. This is when a customer makes a purchase and then returns it in order to benefit financially from the returns process. This results in your business losing money and inventory.
“Wardrobing,” where a customer purchases an item, wears it and then returns it, is a popular - indeed, commonplace - scheme. In fact, wardrobing has become such a problem that big retailers like ASOS and Harrods have introduced blacklists for customers they've identified as being “serial returners.”
Three ways to identify if your business is a victim of returns fraud are:
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Some retailers overlook returns simply because it's a headache. You have to figure out how to get the products back without their being damaged; then, there's the cost of processing these products. But it's important that you put some thought into handling eCommerce returns. If they're not handled carefully, they can significantly damage your bottom line and cause you to lose customers. However, having a good policy can build trust with your customers, encouraging repeat business and higher lifetime value. This trust translates into building major promoters of your business.
51% of online shoppers say that they avoid retailers with a strict return policy.
Obviously, it's important that you have a solid return or exchange policy, and that it's easily accessible for customers. Here are a few benefits of having a visible, easy-to-understand return policy:
Your eCommerce returns policy will depend on exactly what type of business you are and what products you sell. But, customers should easily be able to figure out how to return a package.
Here’s a cheat sheet for creating a good returns policy for your eCommerce store:
The Easyship shipping policy generator can also help you figure out how to handle reverse logistics and the type of return policy you need for your online store. You'll need to think about things like whether you'll offer returns as well as exchange, whether you can offer free return shipping, and how to deal with returned items.
The key to communicating your return policy is integrating it throughout your customer's journey. Many innovative businesses have recognized that a customer-centric return policy is more than a customer service tool, instead, if used well, it becomes a powerful marketing tool.
It's crucial that you communicate this clearly with your customers. Your customers should easily be able to figure out how to return a package to your store. The best way to do this is to link to your policy from several obvious places on your website and throughout the purchase process. This way, the onus is on the customer to take the time to read it - they can't say they simply didn't see it. This will help set the right expectations before a purchase is made.
Make your return policy easy to find, here are a few places where you should link your policy:
If you want to avoid products being returned because they don't fit or don't meet your customers' expectations, you need to give them the tools they need to make a purchase they won't want or need to return. This is where it's important to have a great product page.
Your product pages should have:
Nomad Goods is a great example of a retailer that highlights their returns policy within their sales process, thus, fully interweaving it within their customer buying journey. They feature top product FAQ, in addition to reviews directly in the product page, which is followed by a video highlighting the material and usage for clients.
Reverse logistics can become a pain point for any eCommerce business. Businesses need to account for the postage cost of the items being sent to a vendor, restocked and/or discarded, as well as the human capital that goes into these operations.
Returns will become much simpler if you consider outsourcing part or some of the manual process. Establishing a standard process for the handling of returns truly helps streamline this process.
Here are a few parts of the returns process that can be automated:
There are many web-based providers that can integrate or provide the above solutions, like Easyship. Learn more about Easyship fulfillment services.
While having a comprehensive shipping policy is key to a holistic return policy, using the right services to shipping these returns will enable you to save both time and money on your operational costs.
While the exact services provided - and costs - will be different from each provider, you'll want to do your research to find the best option for your business.
Here's what you should be looking for in a returns service provider:
Easyship was built with entrepreneurs in mind. Store owners can quickly integrate the shipment software with their store, customize shipping rules, and even send return labels with every generated label. Global merchants can use our shipping rates calculator to find shipping discounts with global couriers.
Returns don't have to be a bad thing for your eCommerce business. Clever retailers understand that eCommerce returns provide an opportunity to grow their business, improve their profit margins, and engage their customers. You simply have to know where these opportunities lie.
For the most part, eCommerce returns are considered a nuisance for customers and a necessary evil for retailers. However, you may be surprised to know that there are a few rather useful silver linings to the cloud of product returns. A savvy online retailer will use returns as a means of building their business and customer retention.
Here are a few ways returns could benefit your company:
When looking at today's state of eCommerce, the average eCommerce return rate is at least 30%, compared to the 8.89% of brick-and-mortar stores. Thus, in order to build out a profitable returns policy, knowing your return rate is vital. To get this ratio, run your monthly sales amount, then divide refunded by total sales. Note: you have to wait for the return duration to complete to have a holistic view.
Users with a high return rate aren't always a bad thing. Create profiles of your most and least profitable customers by coordinating return rates with net sales. For example, your most profitable customers can have a ~35% return rate because they buy a lot, but they also return a lot. With more targeted operations, this represents an opportunity to maximize profit.
For example, with an average rate of return being 30%, if your shop sold $15,000 in products monthly, that's $4,500/month in returns. That's $54,000 in revenue gone each year.
It's also important to evaluate your pricing strategy regarding its impact on return rate. For example, if you were to buy a t-shirt from Zara for $10 and it lasts 30 days, you would most likely be okay with this. But if you purchased the same shirt from Supreme for $60 and it lasts only a month, satisfaction rates would plummet while return rates would soar. But just think, if Supreme played with its pricing in regard to its return rate and perceived brand value, and adjusted the price, to say $30, the return rate could drop because the value to the consumer was not violated, and the retailer could in turn could make a lot more profit.
Here's how:
The best - and most successful - online retailers understand that a good returns policy can go a long way in growing their business. Here are three major businesses that have aced the reverse logistics game.
Return Policy: Full refund within 365 days of purchase, as long as items are unworn and in original packaging; exchanges are given store credit in the form of an eCard. Free return shipping with UPS is provided within the US.
"Our best customers have the highest returns rates, but they are also the ones that spend the most money with us and are our most profitable customers. Zappos' modus operandi is not to give its purchasers the cheapest footwear on the block, but to give them the best service: hence, a 365-day returns policy, and free two-way shipping."
— Craig Adkins, CEO
Details: This online shoe retailer figured out a winning shipping and returns policy way back in 2010. They discovered that customers who make a lot of returns are also the ones who make a lot of purchases. Because shoes are tricky to fit properly, Zappos needed a returns policy that would encourage customers to take a chance - and reassure them that they could return shoes that didn’t fit.
Return Policy: Unused purchases made through esteelauder.com can be returned through UPS within 1 year of purchase date. Customers can request a free return label and UPS pickup within the US.; returns are free for the US.
Details: Makeup returns are notoriously wasteful - because of hygiene issues, returned cosmetics are usually destroyed and disposed of immediately. To prevent this, this major cosmetics company invested $1.3 million in scanners to help put viable returned products back into stock. This led to a savings of $500,000 in labor expenses and created a secondary profit stream worth up to $250,000 each year.
Return Policy: Ikea allows returns to be made within 365 days of purchase, as long as they remain new and unused, even if you’ve assembled them.
Details: This Swedish homeware retailer has a very generous eCommerce returns policy that embraces their customers. They offer returns and exchanges, as well as an extended 1-year returns period. Perhaps more importantly, though, they use language that makes their customers feel valued. A quick read shows many references to “love,” a calculated move to ensure that customers know they’re at the heart of Ikea’s business decisions.
As you can see, there's a lot to think about when it comes to eCommerce returns. But, creating a good return policy and showing your customers how to return a package is just the first step. Any smart eCommerce merchant will also be considering how to reduce their return rate while taking advantage of the benefits that can be accrued with returns. They will also find ways to optimize their returns process. However, the first step to managing eCommerce returns is having a proper understanding of why they happen in the first place.
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