If you’re thinking of sending back a disappointing gift you just received over the holidays, the return may bring even more disappointment.

Americans have grown accustomed to free returns, but a growing number of retailers are charging fees as returns squeeze retailers’ bottom lines.

Macy’s, Abercrombie, J. Crew, H&M and other companies have all added shipping fees for mail-in returns.

And it’s not just the big mall brands, either. Eighty-one precent of merchants are now charging a fee for at least some methods of returns, according to Happy Returns, a logistics company that specializes in returns.

  • @SpaceNoodle
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    3211 months ago

    As if they wouldn’t just charge a “restocking fee.”

    • @Ep1cFac3pa1m
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      3211 months ago

      I worked retail for 15 years, and the only time we charged a restocking fee was if we couldn’t sell it as new, and there was nothing wrong with it. If you returned it brand new, full refund. If you opened it and/or used it and decided to return it, 15% restocking fee. That seemed reasonable to me.

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
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      1011 months ago

      If you can see the item in real life and compare it to other products before you buy, you’re less likely to need to return it.