Summary
Retail returns in 2024 are projected to reach $890 billion, up from $743 billion in 2023, driven by practices like “bracketing” (ordering multiple sizes/colors) and “wardrobing” (buying for one-time use).
Rising return rates burden retailers, costing up to 30% of an item’s price to process, while contributing to landfill waste and carbon emissions.
To address the issue, 81% of retailers tightened return policies in 2023, with some implementing fees or offering “keep it” refunds.
Sustainable resale programs and customer-friendly policies are emerging as strategies to balance costs and consumer expectations.
One thing I found odd when living in the USA was how much folks treated a shop like a library. For a small example I needed a tape measure for a job, my boss suggested buying it, using it, and then returning it. Always thought that was weird, I’d only ever return something broken or that didn’t match the description.