Returns news and archive

Returns fraud is costing UK retailers 1.3 billion pounds a year: Here’s how to fight back in 2025

Returns fraud isn’t new. But for UK retailers in 2025, it has reached a level of urgency that can no longer be ignored. In a recent Loop survey, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of UK-based brands said rising returns fraud was the trend having the biggest financial impact on their business. From wardrobing (wearing and returning) to serial...

Retail

Loop and Global-e partner to streamline cross-border returns for fashion brands

As fashion retailers intensify their focus on international expansion, operational efficiency has become paramount. In a move aimed at reducing friction in global returns, commerce operations platform Loop has announced a strategic partnership with cross-border e-commerce specialist Global-e. The collaboration seeks to simplify returns...

Retail

H&M to increase UK return fees

Swedish fashion giant H&M is joining the widening group of retailers increasing their return fees in a bid to tackle alleged abuse of the policy. From February 3, 2025, the company will be increasing its fee on returned items from 1.99 pound to 2.95 pounds, which will be deducted from refunds made by all UK customers. The fee will not be applied...

Retail

UK post-Christmas returns higher this year

As British consumers returned to work last week after the festive break so did 1.51 billion pounds worth of unwanted items back to retailers, according to home delivery specialist Parcelhero. New data from Parcelhero reveals that post-Christmas returns on January 2 soared by 6.8 percent, compared to the same day last year, while Royal Mail...

Retail

British consumers will shop elsewhere if a retailer charges for returns

New research commissioned by UserTesting has found that the rise in brands and retailers charging for returns is driving consumers elsewhere. Four in five consumers stated in the survey that they would shop elsewhere if a retailer began charging for returns, with 63 percent of Brits adding that they would also be more likely to shop in a...

Featured

Retail

E-commerce returns surge poses challenges for retailers

The e-commerce sector is grappling with a surge in product returns, a trend that is squeezing profit margins and forcing retailers to reassess their policies. This shift comes as consumer expectations for frictionless returns clash with retailers' need to maintain profitability and reduce environmental impact. ASOS, the online fashion retailer,...

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Business

Could Asos be scrapping free returns?

An email sent out to Asos customers last week has people wondering if the British e-tailer will be joining its slew of fast fashion peers in scrapping free returns in the UK. Online speculation arose upon the release of an email to the retailer’s “regular” customers, which read that it would be updating its “Fair Use Policy in relation to...

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Retail|Interview

Conversion up – Returns down: Sizekick wants to make webshops more profitable using AI sizing advice

Munich-based startup Sizekick wants to help fashion and sports retailers reduce returns in online commerce through precise sizing advice. Deep learning models and the Hohenstein Institute's huge body database ensure accuracy. The topic of returns is as old as online retail itself. Clothing brands in particular have to (learn to) live with the...

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Business

Alo Yoga and Steve Madden partner with Reshop on faster refund service

Newly launched refunding platform Reshop has announced lifestyle brand Alo Yoga and footwear label Steve Madden among its first partners, each one set to implement the company’s returns process to enhance customer experience. Reshop’s concept revolves around speedier refunding, removing the wait time for shoppers to get their money back by...

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Business

PrettyLittleThing reportedly deactivating accounts of serial returners

Weeks after introducing fees for returns, PrettyLittleThing (PLT) is now seemingly doubling down on its efforts to put a stop to serial refunders, with it now circulating that the fast fashion retailer is believed to be deactivating the accounts of such individuals. According to an email seen by the BBC, a number of shoppers had been informed...

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Business

PrettyLittleThing introduces returns fee

PrettyLittleThing has joined a number of its fast fashion counterparts in the introduction of returns fees despite having previously stood by its free returns policy on social media last year. Through the newly introduced policy, PrettyLittleThing returns will now cost UK customers 1.99 pound, the total of which will be deducted from a customer’...

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Business

Oh Polly to begin charging 'serial refunders' nine pounds for returns

Fast fashion retailer Oh Polly is hopping on the bandwagon of charging for returns with its own policy that is hoping to put a stop to serial refunding. A new return fee policy introduced by the e-tailer will now be based on a consumer’s rate of returns in the UK. If a shopper wishes to return up to 50 percent of their order, for example, they...