Americans Frustrated as Online Return Policies Grow More Complex and Costly
Online returns are becoming harder and more expensive, with 68% of retailers charging fees. Shoppers share their frustrations.
POLICY WIRE — City, Country — Retailers across the U.S. are making it increasingly difficult for consumers to return unwanted online purchases, with rising costs and stricter rules fueling widespread dissatisfaction.
New data reveals that 68% of retailers now impose return fees, a significant increase from 43% five years ago, according to tracking platforms like Loop Returns. The average cost for processing a return is 27% of the original purchase price, per Optoro, while negative feedback about return policies has been linked to a 1.6-star drop in merchant ratings, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
📄 POLICY WIRE WHITEPAPER PUBLISHED: PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY PRIORITIES
Industry changes include shorter refund windows and more complex procedures. For example, major retailers such as Macy’s, Talbots, and Home Depot have reduced return periods, with some seasonal items limited to just 30 days. Amazon and other platforms also monitor frequent returners, flagging certain products and issuing warnings to users who return items often. Despite these measures, many shoppers continue to voice their concerns on social media.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
