The e-commerce consolidation allows you to purchase any type of product, as well as return it, from the comfort of home. According to idealo.es, some stores have begun to put an end to free returns that imply that the delivery person has to go to the consumer’s home to pick up the shipment. In fact, the textile design giant, Inditexhas implemented a charge of €1.95 for this type of service since February of this year.
Although the company founded by Amancio Ortega explains that this new policy has not affected their sales, the latest survey conducted by idealo.es indicates that 35% of those surveyed would stop buying in stores that charge for online returns.
This is not the only negative news for stores apply this surcharge, since, among the different response options, 59% affirm that they would give priority to those businesses that maintain free returns. Some consumers, however, prefer to opt for other options, such as store returns. Thus, 16% of those surveyed would make returns in the physical store if they are free. This idealo study highlights that only 6% of surveyed consumers say they would continue buying the same and would be willing to pay to return unwanted products.
When analyzing the study data by gender, men are the most determined when it comes to stopping buying in establishments that adopt this position, with 32% of those surveyed choosing this option, compared to 27% of women. For their part, women opt to a greater extent for stores that do not charge for returns (54%), while the percentage drops to 50% in the case of men.
The willingness to pay for returns also varies depending on the age of consumers. In this sense, 32% of those surveyed between the ages of 55 and 64 admit that they would stop buying in stores that adopt this new policy. On the other hand, millennials between 25 and 34 years old are the ones who would least mind paying for this surcharge and would continue shopping as before (13%). For their part, those over 65 are the ones who would give more priority to establishments that do not charge for this type of refund, with 56%.
“The possibility of being able to buy and return products from home represents a significant environmental impact, as well as an economic one for companies. To reduce it, more and more brands are adding to the charge for returns, while the return options in stores or at collection points remain free. This decision will necessarily affect the consumption habits of Spaniards” points Kike Aganzohead of communication at idealo.es.
