Overview
- About 72% of merchants now charge for at least one return option, with fees most commonly applied to online purchases sent back by mail, according to the National Retail Federation.
- Published examples show per‑package charges including Zara at $4.95, J. Crew at $7.50, JCPenney at $8, Macy’s at $9.99, and T.J. Maxx and Marshalls at $11.99.
- Some categories face steep restocking charges, with Best Buy reported to levy a $45 fee on certain activatable electronics such as smartphones, tablets, and drones.
- Most retailers continue to offer free returns at physical stores, steering shoppers to bring items back in person to avoid shipping costs.
- Holiday return windows have been extended into January, with Target accepting returns until Jan. 24 and Amazon, Macy’s, and Walmart until Jan. 31, as the NRF estimates roughly 15% of annual sales will be returned.