Walmart shoppers can return merchandise bought through the web that is shipped and sold by Walmart.com without having to leave their residences. Shoppers can now set up a time for a return via the retailer’s new Carrier Pickup by FedEx service, which is complimentary and will remain in place after the holiday season, according to a Monday (Dec. 21) blog post.
“We know the easiest return for a customer is one they never have to make. But we, too, know the reality of being gifted a third air fryer or that ugly Christmas sweater … that wasn’t actually intended to be ugly. Combined with a year unlike any other, we knew it was time to look at our return policies and processes to ensure they were safe and headache-free,” Linne Fulcher, vice president, customer strategy, science and journeys, Walmart U.S., said in the post.
The retailer also said it made it simple for shoppers that don’t have access to a printer to also return items. Those shoppers can choose “Drop off at FedEx” as their return method when making a return request on Walmart.com or the Walmart App and receive a return code/quick-response (QR) code.
They then can take the packaged return in addition to the QR code to any FedEx Office store. A FedEx worker will then scan the QR code, print a complimentary return label, affix it to the package and ship it back to the retailer.
The retailer is also making some modifications to the returns process for shoppers who still want to return their items in retail locations while maintaining its usual extended holiday return policy in place. For instance, the retailer will open alternative places within the store in many locations to conduct returns and “help maintain social distancing guidelines.”
In separate news, Narvar, the customer experience company, is teaming with real estate investment company Simon to help allow for simpler retail returns.
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