Convenience is often cited as the top reason why shoppers head online rather than in store. But for retailers, this shift results in a few inconvenient truths.

First, the shift has resulted in plummeting same-store sales in brick-and-mortar locations.

Second, these online transactions all too often become a two-way street. The National Retail Federation says the amount of merchandise returned increased by 52 percent from $171 billion in 2007 to $260 million in 2015.

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