Returns Tips: Decrease Your Return Rate While Adding Value

Intro

In the age of e-commerce, customer experience is everything.

As a result, e-commerce brands must strive to provide their customers with a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience. One of the most common issues faced by e-commerce brands is a high return rate. This can be a major source of frustration for both customers and brands alike. Fortunately, there are steps that e-commerce brands can take to reduce their return rate while still providing an excellent customer experience.

1.) Prevent Unnecessary Returns Upfront

The first step for e-commerce brands to take is to ensure that their product descriptions are accurate and up-to-date. Accurate product descriptions are essential for customers to make informed decisions and reduce the likelihood of returns. This includes providing detailed product information such as measurements, materials, and colors, as well as high-quality product images. Additionally, e-commerce brands should consider offering product videos to give customers a better sense of the product.

2.) Create a Simple Returns Policy

The next step for e-commerce brands is to provide customers with easy and convenient return policies. This can include offering free returns, flexible return windows, and clear instructions on how to initiate a return. Additionally, e-commerce brands should consider offering store credit or discounts for customers who return an item instead of a full refund. This encourages customers to shop again and reduces the likelihood of returns.

3.) Offer a Loyalty Program

E-commerce brands should also consider offering a loyalty program or rewards program to reward customers for their loyalty and encourage them to shop again. This can include offering discounts, free shipping, and exclusive access to new products. Additionally, e-commerce brands should consider offering a subscription service to make it easy for customers to shop regularly.

4.) Provide Great Service to Everyone

Finally, e-commerce brands should strive to provide excellent customer service. This includes responding quickly to customer inquiries and providing helpful and friendly customer support. Additionally, e-commerce brands should consider offering live chat or virtual shopping assistance to provide customers with the help they need when shopping. There are also popular returns plug-ins that can help too. For example, a popular Shopify returns plug-in app called Loop Returns that might help you offer customers a more straightforward & automated returns process.

TL;DR

By taking these steps, e-commerce brands can reduce their return rate while still providing their customers with an excellent shopping experience. By providing accurate product descriptions, offering flexible return policies, and providing excellent customer service, e-commerce brands can ensure that their customers have a positive shopping experience and are less likely to return items.

How Ramp Can Help

While many 3PL’s do not offer returns services, Ramp does. In addition to accepting & processing customer returns, Ramp works to provide our brands with useful strategies and tips to help in decreasing returns rates without sacrificing the customer experience.

Would you like to learn more about how Ramp can help with your fulfillment & returns needs? To get in touch with one of our logistics experts, please get in touch here.

Ready to get started? Get connected with one of Ramp’s logistics experts today.