Find the best Warehousing & Fulfillment company by filling out the form below, or Click Here to continue reading our page Reverse Logistics and Customer Returns Management Services
Let’s face it, if you sell something online, you are likely to run into scenarios where people want to return the product for a refund. The product may be perfectly fine, it is just a fact of retail that people will return things. If you want to make the return process run just as smoothly as the selling process, you need to effectively plan for customer returns. Hopefully you will not need to handle many returns of your product (or the product that you sell), but by planning for returns ahead of time, the process of handling the returns when they happen will be much easier to deal with.
The biggest thing to worry about when planning for returns is to assume the customer is going to make a return. Until that return window has passed, the customer may very well decide they do not want the product and initiate the return process. If you assume they will make the return, you will be better prepared for the possibility that they do want to make a return. Now, you may be thinking that this frame of mind is rather pessimistic, and maybe it is. But isn’t it better to be prepared for a return and not have to worry about it, than to not be prepared and scramble when the call comes in? Being ready for a return does not mean not cashing the check, but it does mean taking the necessary steps to ensure that should a customer want to make a return, the process is hassle-free on both ends.
By clearly spelling out your returns policy on your website with relevant links on your shopping pages, you’ll not only provide users with the information they need to understand your policy, but you’ll also build credibility. Providing a point of contact for questions about returns, whether an email address, an instant chat, or a phone number will give them easy access when they do need to reach out to you. Some of the things that you’ll have to consider about your policy is whether or not a customer can return a product without a returns authorization by a company representative or if they need to get approval for a return, as well as how the customer will initiate the return, who will pay for the shipping related to the return, and how the customer’s account will be credited.
If you want to step things up, prepare for the return by issuing a return label. This is becoming more common among online retailers. By shipping the product with everything the customer needs to ship it back, you are welcoming them to return it if they are not 100% satisfied. This is the kind of customer service you want to provide, the kind that thinks in advance about the customers and what they may want. Hopefully very few of your customers will take advantage of prepaid mailing labels and return forms, but those that do want to return something are likely to buy again from your company thanks to the hassle-free return process.
If you do not want to pre-issue return slips and mailing labels, you need to make sure that it is easy for customers to obtain these forms – and where they need to go to obtain the forms online. Even if you are not going to pay for return shipping (make sure the customer knows this upfront), you still should make it easy for customers to print out the necessary forms for you to handle the return. Oftentimes, companies that don’t include a return slip and shipping label in the package will at least include an insert that provides a website address where returns information can be accessed.
The easier it is for customers to get what they need to make returns simple, the more likely they are to continue using your business. But seriously consider paying for return shipping as a courtesy for them not liking the product, especially if you have free shipping to the customer from your warehouse.
Your contact information is held in the strictest of confidence. We will contact you before we connect you with vendors so that we can learn about your situation, obtain any of your contact preferences, and answer any of your questions.
YOU have control over your contact details:
We Care About Your Privacy. Your information is shared with only pre-screened providers. You may opt out of communication at any time. View our Privacy Policy.
Why Warehousingfulfillment.com?
I want to say thank you for your help in finding a warehouse so quickly. Your service was amazing. I received replies the same day and have selected a company that will work well for us. I definitely recommend your services.
They really listened to our requirements and then matched us with great vendors that could meet our specific challenges.
I just wanted to say thank you so much for setting me up with these vendors. I have found pricing better than I ever expected to find.
View More