Why do some retailers make returning gifts difficult after the holidays?

The growth of e-commerce, now almost 10 percent of retail sales, has contributed to a soaring rate of returns. Return rates of online purchases are much higher than for in-store purchases. For apparel, it’s as high as 30 percent online vs. 8 percent for store purchases.

The cost of offering free shipping on returns and processing those goods is not cheap. That’s why brick-and-mortar retailers encourage in-store returns. Shoppers like that too because there’s no wait for your money back, although Amazon credits accounts as soon as you slap on a return label.

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