Wayfair, Macy’s and Other Retailers Will Charge Return Fees in 2024
Shopping online has long been a convenient and relatively inexpensive way to buy everything from clothes and accessories to electronics and home goods, especially when you can simply pack up everything you don’t need and send it back for free. This made it easy to transform your home into a private walk-in closet or test products before using them. However, in many cases, those days are over thanks to a reduction in free returns and an increase in the number of customer-paid return shipping labels or restocking fees deducted from your refund.
While not all of these fees are completely new, the number of merchants who are charging them is growing. According to logistics company Happy Returns, more than 80% of retailers charge fees for some return methods.
Retailer Return Fees in 2024
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Abercrombie : $7.
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Amazon : $1 off UPS returns on select items.
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Anthropology : $5.95.
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Backcountry : $6.99.
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DSW : $8.50 (free for VIP Gold and VIP Elite members)
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H&M : $5.99 (free for H&M members).
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J.Crew : $7.50
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Macy’s : $9.99 (free for Star Rewards members)
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Madewell : $7.50 (free for Madewell Insiders)
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Nike: Varies by sender (Free for Nike members).
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Ray : $5.99.
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Wayfair : $4.99 or more.
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Zara : $3.95.
Some major retailers, including Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, Nordstrom, Sephora and Lululemon, still offer free returns on online purchases. Others, such as Williams-Sonoma, require customers to pay return shipping on some orders.
How to avoid paying return fees
The best way to avoid return fees is to minimize the likelihood that you’ll have to return money at all.
Plan your purchases better
Research products thoroughly before purchasing, read return policies carefully, and control impulse purchases. Don’t buy items just because they’re on sale or just to try them on unless you’re sure you’ll keep them. If you want or need to shop online, start factoring in restocking fees as part of the cost of your order.
Join retailer loyalty programs or membership programs
As noted above, many retailers waive return shipping and/or restocking fees for customers who join their membership programs. In most cases, you simply need to create a free account and log in before making a purchase. Some loyalty programs have additional benefits if you reach a certain spending threshold.
The trade-off is that you’ll receive a lot of marketing and promotional emails – a small price to pay for access to free returns and other perks.
Returning goods in store
Most retailers that charge a fee for online returns will accept them for free in store. If you have a brick and mortar location near you, you can avoid the fee by leaving your item in person. Amazon returns are accepted at Kohl’s, Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh.
Resell items
If the return deadline has passed or the refund you receive is significantly offset by fees (for example, on small ticket purchases), consider reselling the item instead of returning it.