Zara has become the latest retailer to charge retailers who return items purchased online. Customers now have to pay £ 1.95 for a return on clothing, plus the cost of their return. Items purchased online can still be returned free of charge in stores.
High Street firms like Uniqlo and Next are already charging online returns.
Online shopping is more prevalent in this epidemic. But consumers are more likely to return items purchased online than in-store, raising costs for retailers.
Analysts say some retailers may be following Zara in charging a refund.
‘I will buy five items and keep one of them’
Boohoo hit as shoppers return a lot of clothes
“It’s a growing trend, the epidemic started and will continue. As online shopping continues to grow,” said Nick Carroll, Mitel’s co-director of marketing research.
Allowing free refunds in stores can help bring people back to stores, said Mr Carroll.
“You also return products to stores faster, more expensive, and you have the opportunity to shop unexpectedly when consumers are in stores.”
Internet purchases have skyrocketed during the epidemic. But this also means a significant increase in the number of retrieval items because they are not equal. Or not the same as expected.
For fashion retailers, refunds can be expensive.
Earlier this month, Fashion Boohoo said a drop in profits was in part. Due to a decline in its annual profits.
‘It’s not fun’
Zara’s decision to suspend free posting has been criticized by some online customers.
One person wrote on Twitter. “Zara is making changes to your free money now calling your customers and not making an announcement about it? It’s not right.”
Another said he was “very disappointed” with the move, adding: “The best is expected of you. The best, quality products do not charge.”
But one praised the decision for its environmental impact. Saying it was “a very good step to help stop C02 emissions”.
A Zara spokesman told the BBC. “Customers can return online purchases to any Zara store in the UK for free. Which is what most customers do.
“The £ 1.95 fee only applies to the return of products to foreign companies’ dumps.”
By law, people have the right to demand full refund of products of unsatisfactory quality. Objective or unsuitable as defined, as long as it is done within 30 days of ownership.
Zara is not the first and will not be the last big seller to start charging refunds by post. Stores have been longing to benefit from the development of online sales, but none of them want headaches and the cost of processing returns.
Return to the store can be processed immediately
When a return to the store can be processed immediately, and physically returned to a railway ready for resale. A very different image from the internet.
There is an environmental impact of return delivery vehicles. That many buyers are very aware of, but the epidemic of buying and returning directly to your home will be difficult to break out without getting financial assistance from customers.
A real win in stores will force customers not to return items online at all. Zara hopes to get the rest of the money at a refund that keeps customers from returning without delay.
