Overview
- Nearly one in four internet orders in Germany is returned in full or in part.
- Fashion dominates returns at about 90% of items, and Zalando says roughly half of its ordered items are sent back on average across its markets.
- An EHI survey of 124 large retailers reports persistently high return rates, with most firms seeing stable levels year over year.
- Processing a return typically costs retailers about €1 to €15 per item, with additional climate impact from extra transport and reconditioning.
- A €1.99 return fee could cut returns by up to one fifth according to one academic estimate, and a YouGov poll suggests a quarter of consumers would send back fewer items under such a charge.