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The more retailers sell this holiday season, the more will likely boomerang back as returns in the new year.
That’s especially true this year due to the surge in online selling, with the ongoing pandemic keeping customers from shopping indoors or limiting their numbers when they do. E-commerce soared 31.2% year over year in October and 32.4% again in November. And a quarter of that, on average, is likely to be returned, with even higher rates for apparel and electronics, according to A.J. Hernandez, CEO of crossborder parcel delivery firm SkyPostal.
Others peg typical e-commerce returns at closer to 30%. Either way, that’s already a lot of sales going in the wrong direction. But for several reasons, retailers could see the rate go even higher.
Today’s consumer purchases happen more rapidly than ever, making returns an unavoidable aspect of the shopping experience. Every year, billions of dollars worth of returned goods make their way back to retailers, often resulting in excess inventory. Many of these…