Start your policy statement off with an acknowledgment that the customer isn’t content with the product they purchased, and you’re going to rectify the situation. This preface to your policy will help illustrate to the customer that you’re on their side.

Remember to include a statement of gratitude to show the customer that you still value their business.

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3. Provide Free Returns, Seriously

 

While there are arguments both for and against free returns shipping, the truth of the matter is customers already feel that returning a product is too much effort—stamp on the cost of shipping, and it’s no surprise why 60% of consumers won’t even consider making an online fashion purchase unless returns are free.

 

By incorporating free returns into your policy you’re giving customers reassurance that they won’t be dealing with the extra hassle of shipping cost. 

 

Increased sales are good, but wouldn’t my return rate increase?

 

Not necessarily. As aforementioned, including links to your returns policy on your product and checkout pages will give your brand some credibility with potential customers—which will ultimately sway them towards the purchase.

 

Will you get some returns? Sure, but now you have the opportunity to provide an exceptional and hassle free return experience that will convert a dissatisfied customer into a lifelong purchaser.

 

 

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4. Set Clear Cut Guidelines For The Return

 

The world is full of misunderstood text messages, we don’t need any more miscommunication in our lives.

Make sure your customers fully understand the details of your returns policy so the returns process can be handled quickly and effectively.

 

 

 

 

Laying out clear guidelines also sets limits to what your customers can return, and how that return must occur.

 

Every good eCommerce returns policy is composed of the following elements:

 

Time Frame: The period in which your store accepts a product return, and when the customer can expect a refund. Depending on the product itself and any seasonal events or holidays that occur, you might want to vary this interval.

Specify the number of days in which your consumers will receive the refund.

Return Conditions: Determine the terms for a valid return. There are various factors that you may need to look at including:

6. Personalize Your Returns Policy

Take inspiration from how this returns policy was presented and create a custom presentation of your eCommerce returns policy to re-target your buyer personas and create an extraordinary customer experience.

7. Adopt A More Liberal Returns Policy

As aforementioned, consumers are persuaded to purchase a product if they know they can return it later— this behavior translates into an increase in product sales. 

While more sales are great, retailers still need to craft a returns policy that will prevent those sales from turning into returns. 

The obvious action would be to tighten up your returns policy, right? Wrong, a more lenient returns policy can actually prevent product returns.

Lengthening The Time Frame for Your Returns Policy

According to research conducted by Narayanan Janakiraman, an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the University of Texas:

• An increase in the time consumers have to return a product translates into a decrease in return rate.
• Longer return periods alleviate the pressure consumers feel when faced with a short term return deadline.
• Consumers spend more time with the product, and are subject to what researchers refer to as the “endowment effect”, which creates an attachment to the product the longer the consumer has it in their possession.
• Consumers will forget to initiate the product return over a longer period of time.

Finding the Optimal Time Frame

Many retailers opt for a standard 30 day returns policy, and while that interval provides customers with enough time to return a product, it doesn’t come with the aforementioned benefits of a truly liberal returns policy.

Retailers should take advantage of the endowment effect and consider increasing their returns window to 60 to 90 days. While there is no magic number for your returns time frame, an interval that is too generous might be counterproductive, so make sure it makes sense to provide long term returns.

8. Thank The Customer For The Return

Product returns damage the customer experience, and while providing a seamless and hassle free return interaction will get retailers back on good terms with consumers, there still is no promise of returning consumers. Retailers need to be proactive when considering the customer experience after every return. 

Sending the consumer a thank you letter or email will show the customer how much you value you their business.

• Make sure to acknowledge the dissatisfaction the consumer endured.
• Subtly emphasize that you would appreciate them shopping with your store again

Not only does a thank you message show the consumer how much a retailer values their business, but it also opens up a new sales opportunity. By leveraging some data and buying trends that retailers collect about their consumers, the possibility of using incentives to reclaim a consumer arises.

Along with your thank you message, include a discount towards the consumers next purchase. Some retailers are smart about their returns collection and have return reason codes attached to an order. By looking at the reason for a return, retailers might be able to offer a smarter discount.

 9. Illustrate The Hassle Free Returns Process

Consumers are accustomed to easy and hassle free returns, thanks to Amazon’s prominence in online retail. Shopify retailers need to present their returns process in a similar fashion. 

Consider creating a short product return guide to include within your policy. When a consumer can visualize the ease of a return, they will be more receptive to the idea of actually having to return the product, and therefore will continue the sale.

Consumers will trust your business more if you can simplify a process and it explain it to them.

Key Takeaways:

The world of eCommerce is ripe with product returns, and having an effective returns policy is a staple for any serious retailer— however not all returns policies are created equal.

By revamping your eCommerce returns policy and modifying it to be more customer centric, you can drive sales and convert disappointed customers to lifetime buyers.

Retailers need to combine their customer centric return policies, with their logistics operations, marketing efforts, and sales forces to fully take advantage of a product return.

When crafting your new eCommerce customer centric returns policy, keep these key ideas in mind:

• Consumers look at your returns policy before they decide to make a purchase.
• Nearly two thirds of consumers won’t even consider ordering from a retailer if free returns are not offered.
• Effectively communicating your policy using a consumer oriented tone will make consumers feel like you’re on their side, and thus will trust your brand.
• A good eCommerce returns policy will be liberal in nature, and protect against return fraud—when you achieve this balance, make sure your consumers are aware of the value your returns policy offers them by making it easily accessible.
• Hassle free interactions are the key to a positive returns experience, one of your major goals as retailer is to provide an easy customer experience that your customers will come back for.

Remember, product returns signify a disappointed consumer— so each product return you receive is an opportunity to convert a lost sale into a lifetime buyer. Your eCommerce returns policy should serve as a vehicle that not only persuades consumers to purchase your products, but also gives you valuable insights about your consumers and your products.