Returns are no longer a minor cost of doing business. They now shape how people shop and where they choose to spend. In a global survey of more than 6,000 consumers, Rithum found that returns are not just common. They are often planned. Shoppers are buying with the intent to send items back, and most now see flexible return policies as a basic expectation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, the financial impact is growing. The retail industry is losing $890 billion each year to returns. While 88% of consumers expect free returns, that expectation comes at a high cost. Many shoppers admit that their returns could have been avoided. Better product information or clearer sizing could have helped. Younger consumers, especially Gen Z, are also more open to return limits when framed around sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly half of all consumers have stopped buying from a retailer or brand because of a poor return experience. The cost is not just lost revenue. It is lost loyalty. But when handled well, returns can create an advantage instead of a liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 2025 Global Returns & Profit Impact Report looks at the patterns behind return behavior and highlights where retailers and brands have room to act. This is not just a post-purchase issue. It is a business opportunity hiding in plain sight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Returns are no longer an isolated post-purchase issue. They have become a significant pressure point on margins and loyalty. Our report outlines the operational and strategic implications of a return-first shopping culture, and what it means for business performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Retailers and brands will find actionable, data-backed opportunities to influence buyer behavior, strengthen post-purchase performance, and protect profit in an environment where returns are increasingly routine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2576,"template":"","topic":[],"asset_type":[],"class_list":["post-2575","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n