New Study Reveals Return Policies of Top Retailers
- Over 50% of top online fashion retailers do not offer free postal returns
- Fees range from £1.99 to £3.99 for postal returns
- Some retailers offer free collections or return labels for disabled customers
- Fashion retailers are taking steps to reduce returns
A recent study by Which? has revealed that over half of the biggest online fashion retailers do not offer free postal returns. The consumer choice firm analyzed the returns policies of the top 20 online fashion retailers, including Asos, Boohoo, and Amazon, finding that 12 do not provide this service for free. Fees range from £1.99 to £3.99, with some having specific fees and processes for returning items while others leave it up to the customer to arrange and pay for postage. Zara, River Island, and New Look outline their fees on product listing pages, but other retailers do not explicitly state that customers must pay for returns during checkout. Sports Direct is the only one in the group’s research that accepts online returns by post, while those with physical stores offer free in-store returns. However, this policy may discriminate against disabled consumers who cannot easily access these locations. Some retailers like JD Sports, Next, and Zara have stated they will provide free collections or return labels for customers unable to make in-store returns. Fashion retailers are taking steps to reduce returns, with Oh Polly introducing a new policy that charges up to £8.99 for some customers based on their return rates.
Factuality Level: 8
Factuality Justification: The article provides accurate and relevant information about online fashion retailers’ returns policies, including specific examples of fees and processes. It also mentions efforts by some companies to reduce returns and the potential impact on disabled consumers. However, it includes a brief mention of unrelated news about Frasers Group without providing further context or relevance.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides relevant information about online fashion retailers’ returns policies and their impact on disabled consumers, as well as recent efforts by some companies to reduce returns. It also mentions specific examples of retailers’ actions. However, it could benefit from more in-depth analysis or discussion of the broader implications of these policies.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Online fashion retailers and their customers
Financial Rating Justification: The article discusses returns policies of online fashion retailers, which can impact consumer spending habits and potentially affect the financial performance of these companies. It also mentions specific fees for returns, which could influence customer behavior and purchasing decisions.
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: Other
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: Minor
Extreme Rating Justification: There is no extreme event mentioned in the article.
www.retailgazette.co.uk 
