Returns made through Returnly’s system increased by over three times on Saturday (Dec. 26) in contrast to an average return day in the United States, according to a Tuesday (Dec. 29) press release.
The digital return experiences and post-purchase payments company said the logjam effect caused by all-time high volume, very lengthy return windows and slower action from shoppers is anticipated to delay reimbursements for customers, in addition to resale turnaround.
Returnly Founder and CEO Eduardo Vilar anticipates a large backlog of returns on the heels of very high holiday sales, bringing about “unpredictability and longer refund times for consumers.”
“At Returnly, we give shoppers instant access to credit to ensure they get the right item even before returning the wrong one — ultimately helping retailers offer shoppers a predictable and consistent returns experience during these challenging times,” Vilar said.
Returnly also noted that the return journey begins on Dec. 26 as shoppers initiate returns online, but that brands should anticipate longer than typical wait times for their items to ship. It took shoppers nearly seven days to send back returns in January of 2020.
The company said that retailers should get ready for a bigger gap and a lengthier return season, with more individuals seeking to steer clear of large groups of people and fewer people returning to their regular office routines.
In addition, Returnly pointed out that shoppers “started reaching progressively deeper into their closets to return older goods” at the onset of the pandemic.
The average age of returns, which the company defines as the length of time from making an order to “return creation,” has greatly increased on a weekly basis, starting in the middle of March and reaching a high at the beginning of August at 20 days.
As previously reported, the National Retail Federation foresees that approximately 13 percent of products, or merchandise valued at approximately $101 billion, sold during this year’s holiday season will be returned.
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