Returns do happen one way or another. Unless you have a policy for no returns, that will upset people, especially if you charge a lot of shipping fees to send it back.
When items are broken, not the correct size, or even the incorrect color, a lot of companies grow critical of businesses. This is something that makes some companies fear a return strategy. However, this is something that does happen, but you have to remember it does waste money, time, resources, and also the space within the warehouse.
Returns have increased too, and with the issues of supply chains and shortages as well still being a problem, there are returns that are also creating more pressure too than they did beforehand. A returned item is not sorted, caught in transit, or maybe it’s something that customers can’t get. It’s a struggle, but here are some strategies to handle returns in a better manner.
First, have Return Management
This is your first step. You want to make sure that you’ve got returns management. This is something that offers different types of aspects, such as customer support, and even managing the inventory.
They take care of the returns. They talk to the customer, then, they receive it, they stock and restock it, and manage the inventory.
You want to reach out to the customer
If they’re not happy, they’ll talk to you.
You need to talk to them and reduce the damage to your reputation. This is also a way to boost the loyalty and the satisfaction of customers that are there. hearing these concerns, offering differ options based on these policies, and also taking charge is good. This can include a return, refunding, or even exchanging this product.
Remember it’s ultimately their Decision
They’re the ones with the final say. Customers will determine this, so you have to keep this in mind.
Are you offering only store credit? Do they have to pay back the shipping? Will the refunds take up to six weeks to post? This can be annoying for customers, and they might just stop it all there.
Make sure that the terms are decent enough, so that if they do want this, they proceed with this, so that they can get their returns fast.
Get that Product Back
Remember that you need to get that product back as well. that way, you can proceed with it.
A lot of times, with 3PL services, they usually offer prepaid shipping. The customer gets this, so they just need to send it back. That’s indeed the best way of going back to the company.
Delivery, Assessment, and Returns
When you get the product back, the people running the returns will open this and look at the damage. They can choose whether or not this can get back onto the warehouse shelves so another can purchase.
For some items, like exchanging for a different size, the damage is minimal. But for items broken beyond repair, they’ll have to just go and be tossed away, and you’ll have to replace it.
You also need to look at whether or not this got damaged during the transit, or if the item was faulty. This can also help with business practices too.
Finally, it gets back onto the shelves, and you want to make sure that it gets back, and you make sure that it’s also fine as well. make sure to inspect this so that you are able to check and see where the problems lay, and prevent them from happening once again in the process of your shipping services.