Although ecommerce has made retail more accessible to the public, it has taken away the advantage of being able to see a product “in the flesh” before making the decision to purchase it. With goods such as clothing, this is an important aspect of a sale. As such, the rise of ecommerce has brought with it a …
Read MoreAs return rates continue to rise, the cost associated with processing returned merchandise—whether back on the shelf or returned to the vendor—is becoming a major pain point. Consider this: it costs twice the amount to process an online return for resale as it does to sell it the first time around. What’s more, by the …
Read MoreThe Wall Street Journal recently wrote about how changing smartphone markets are opening up business opportunities in the used phone sector. According to the article, five years ago, about half of used phones purchased from auctions run by California-based B-Stock Solutions went to U.S. buyers, and the other half went to customers internationally. Now, about …
Read MoreIn an effort to drive customer loyalty, retailers are stepping up their game when it comes to the ease of returning items: special ‘returns’ entrances, pop up kiosks at the mall for items purchased online, year-long deadlines, third-party apps, and label-free returns are among the options. But a happy return for the customer is a …
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2017 saw a lot of excellent phones get released, but it also signified a pretty steep shift in the cost of the devices we know and love. Apple’s iPhone X debuted with its infamous starting price of $999, the Galaxy Note 8 and Google Pixel 2 XL can both set you back $950, and the newly announced Galaxy …
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Longer upgrade cycles and an increasing number of consumers opting to buy used models poses a threat to future sales of flagship models from the likes of Apple and Samsung, argue industry commentators. Back in 2014, the average upgrade cycle was 23 months – likely attributable to most consumers upgrading every two years, while a …
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(image source: appleinsider) According to a Wall Street Journal analysis published Wednesday, more consumers are buying refurbished versions of previous years’ models or keeping old phones for longer, rather than opting for more expensive new models. As a result, premium smartphones such as the iPhone and Samsung Galaxy S are now likely to have three or four owners …
Read MoreThe smartphone industry has a culprit to blame for slumping sales: Its old devices remain too popular. Flashy phones of yesteryear, particularly Apple Inc.’s iPhones and Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy S handsets, are getting refurbished, and U.S. consumers are snapping them up. Many shoppers are balking at price tags for new phones pushing $1,000, and …
Read MoreRetailers still celebrating their strongest holiday sales in years now face the less-pleasant task of disposing of billions of dollars in returned merchandise. Often, retailers offload rejected clothes, appliances and toys for pennies on the dollar through a vast ecosystem of resellers, ranging from outlet stores and online auctions to flea markets and salvage dealers. Read full …
Read MoreIt’s not a bright, shiny moment showcasing the best of human nature. The practice called “wardrobing” happens when consumers purchase an item from a retailer, use it, and then return it for a full refund. It’s usually done with pricey clothing, hence the name. On Super Bowl weekend, it happens with TVs. According to B-Stock …
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