High Product Returns Affecting Benefits of Home Deliveries

Delivery businesses are strongly linked with the retail industry, and a lot of the growth in the courier industry over recent years has come down to an increase in online shopping. E-commerce is booming, and it is easy to see why. As well as benefiting anyone working in courier jobs, it also provides many advantages for consumers and also for the environment in terms of lower emissions due to fewer journeys.

But now UK experts have criticised retail practices for the high level of returns, suggesting that it is damaging the benefits that delivery services provide.

Warning from Industry Professionals

Multimodal 2015, the biggest transport and freight event in the UK, was held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, and attended by many people in the industry working on courier jobs. At the event, leading industry spokespeople warned bad sales tactics were having an impact on deliveries.

Home deliveries are a positive thing for many reasons, including leading to a reduced number of car journeys to buy products, helping to cut congestion and lower emissions. Internet shopping is also more convenient for many shoppers, and it is very much here to stay. But according to some sources, a high number of customer returns is affecting these benefits, and this is a problem that retailers are having to deal with.

Online Retailers Seeing High Returns

According to figures, returns of up to 60% are causing problems in the e-commerce environment. This figure is much higher than the typical rates for normal businesses. Not only is this costing billions for retailers every year, but it is also having environmental costs. Anyone who works on courier jobs will know that a higher number of returns means (naturally) more vehicle movement, and this in turn creates more pollution and congestion.

Part of the problem could come down to retailers trying to make easy sales by not being specific enough in their product descriptions. When customers feel they have been mis-sold, there is a larger probability that they will send the product back.

Challenge for Retailers

Drivers working on courier jobs they are helping to reduce emissions on a daily basis, because fewer vehicle journeys are required to make purchases. It is therefore frustrating when such consumer practices mentioned above are increasing return rates. Although as a delivery driver there is little to be done, it's to be hoped online retailers realise they need to describe their products better in order to reduce returns, making them more profitable and helping to make sure all the benefits of online shopping continue.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 3,000 transport exchange businesses are networked through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.