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How E-commerce Fashion Merchants May Lower Online Returns

Most likely, there hasn't been a good product return. Whether a buyer orders a mobile phone or a coat, the retailer waits and hopes th...

Online Returns


Most likely, there hasn't been a good product return. Whether a buyer orders a mobile phone or a coat, the retailer waits and hopes the customer keeps his purchase. And while knowing that you can return an item for a refund or an exchange for another product is always comforting, most customers would rather not have to. Returning a goods is a pain, and often having to pack it and send it back to the shipper requires making numerous calls to customer support beforehand. Similarly, from the merchant's perspective, handling returns of merchandise costs money. Therefore, it's critical to lower online returns for the retailer.

 

In light of the growth of e-commerce and the prevailing consumer preference for seamless shopping experiences, merchants have prudently endeavored to streamline their return policies for their patrons. Those who would like to return an item can now do so by dropping it off at the closest store or sliding the item into a prepaid postal envelope. A lot of stores can now return the item to their neighborhood post office or newsagent, making it even more handy. Are you currently unsure about how to sell your goods on Amazon?

 

Here are a few figures.

 

·       Overall, 1 of 3 product in e-commerce will be returned,

·       88% of visitors to e-commerce site consult the merchant’s return policy,

·       66% do so before their actual purchase,

·       Only 60% are satisfied as to the ease of finding the return policy on the merchant’s site,

·       15% of shopping cart abandonment rates are due to the confusion of the merchant’s return policy.

 

Establish a return policy (and promote it)

 

One of the most crucial e-commerce metrics is the return rate in the apparel and fashion industry. The final consumer may not be happy with his purchase for a variety of reasons. These are a few of the reasons:

 

·       Unmatched size

·       Color that is different from the site's photo

·       The product does not look like what is advertised on the website.

·       A shift in perspective

·       Order arrived too late.

·       One component of the product arrived alone.

·       Not included is the product that needs accessories.

·       The goods was ordered by the wrong person, and the requirement is no longer present.

·       An unsatisfactory present that is offered

·       product damage upon receipt

·       Packing mistake made by the merchant

·       willingness to use the item just once before returning it to the seller

 

Clarity: It's critical that your customers understand your return policy. Keep it simple and avoid legalese when describing how to return an item (or bring it back to the store if you have a physical location), any associated expenses, the amount of time that must pass between the purchase and the return, etc.

 

Accessibility: Provide a link to your return policy on each product page and in the header and/or footer of your website (for those who benefit from the return policy). Users will be reassured about their potential purchase as soon as they realize that you accept returns.

 

 

Facilitate the Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA) process:

You won't have as much if you complicate the return process. Customers who want to return items will just become more irate as a result of this (and forget that they will come back to shop from you). If you are unable to do this through your website, make sure that your clients understand exactly what needs to be done. The bulk of open-source e-commerce platforms allow you to do this online directly. Your clients may follow the progress of their product return(s) in the same manner as they can with package tracking.

 

Enhance product images (pictures and videos)

The significance of visual items for online buying cannot be overstated. Naturally, it is crucial that the images match the visitors' expectations and be as accurate as feasible. It is even more crucial to modify the quantity and kind of images in accordance with the intricacy and design of the final result. If you sell wallets or pans, your views and pictures won't be the same. If the product comes in various colors, make sure to include an image for each color. Without knowing what a red wallet would look like, would you purchase one?

 

Sales of apparel and fashion are undoubtedly greatly influenced by the pictures that are used to market the goods. Although consumers want product photos to seem as lovely as possible, over-editing them to make them appear different from what the product truly appears like could result in customers returning the item because they are unhappy.

 

For a purchase with a prior sense of contentment, high quality photographs that may be zoomed in to analyze the finer features of the clothes or fashion accessory are a required prerequisite.

 

Thorough product descriptions

Make sure you read the product description carefully. Similar to images, the description must be modified based on the product's intricacy and typology. A product's need for information to be provided to potential customers increases with its complexity. Since they won't be able to hold it in their hands, it needs to be as pertinent and accurate as possible. Consider what information your customers might need to know about the product. Saying more is preferable to saying too little. Additionally, your product will go farther in description and depth the more sophisticated it is. You want to incorporate this into your Amazon strategy plan.

 

View Customer Reviews

We are aware of how crucial comments made on e-commerce websites are to increasing conversion rates. It's also a smart strategy to prevent product returns. In fact, certain comments—like those on size, color, comfort, or utility—can provide buyers with insightful information. Additionally, since your clients labor for you, you are idle.)It's preferable to have sensible cues if you can modify the comment forms to fit your product typology. Customers can provide comments on the product's width, comfort, and size (big, small, or normal) through the majority of online stores' customer feedback systems. Briefly put, the queries that come up when buying things online.

 

Putting in place a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for the product

Make an effort to compile all of the most often asked questions by prospective customers and post them on the pages of each product in question. Someone who is interested in the product may hesitate at first, but if his questions are answered, he will be more likely to make the buy.

 

Even though the pictures could seem attractive and accurate to the real thing, it's preferable to explain the product's materials or a related user experience. Previous knowledge or a recommendation is probably going to reduce the returns due to quality dissatisfaction.

 

The option "Test before buying" without making a purchase

This idea is more appropriate for light products with large margins (because of the high cost of returns) and small retailers than it is for other product categories. Choose things that your clients may take home and test out, if you have the financial means to do so (fashion and eyewear businesses have begun to adopt this strategy). They can send you the rest and only pay for the one they wish to keep. Some retailers only provide their VIP clients or members of their loyalty program access to this feature. Giving away free samples is another effective strategy for retailers in the cosmetics industry to lower the rate of return on subsequent sales of the relevant goods.

 

Demo programs are also an excellent method to cut down on returns for things that are almost mandatory to test before you buy, like tennis rackets. It's still a useful strategy for keeping clients.

 

Customized product recommendation wizard

If you are an online fashion merchant, you might know better than the buyer what to recommend depending on their size and specific interests than if they look through the entire inventory. A customized guide that gathers information from the client according to their needs and preferences may be perceived by the client as a more satisfying purchase.

 

Take good care of the packaging.

During transit, cartons may be handled incorrectly. particularly if you sell overseas or use multiple carriers. Consider the route that your packages have taken. If any of the products within are fragile, it is vital to take into account the possibility of damage. It is evident that shipping accounts for a significant portion of an online business's expenses, with package weight and size influencing the final cost. Try to oversize your packages if at all possible, or use appropriate materials to cushion and shield them from shocks. It is also a good idea to put a sticker on the container to let the carrier know that the contents are fragile.

 

Provide a size guide.

This is a tactic that is increasingly used on e-commerce websites that offer clothing and footwear. One of the primary reasons products in this industry are returned is a mismatched size. You can prevent users from selecting a size that ultimately does not fit by instituting a sizing guide specific to a brand or product. It's a huge pain with all the possible morphologies. There exist companies that specialize in technology that enable users to locate products in a store by using Big Data and a preliminary questionnaire that precisely match their body measurements. However, these solutions are primarily "reserved" for major retailers (perhaps because of setup expenses).

 

In contrast to electronics, where product details are easily comprehensible, clients in this case are more clear about what they want to buy. Customers still mostly rely on product returns for clothing and fashion items if the item doesn't fit properly. Have a size description that is as precise and thorough as you can to get around this.

 

Prompt arrival and excellent service

No matter the niche that applies to the fashion industry, prompt delivery and excellent customer service are essential to keeping customers happy and preventing returns of goods.

 

Consider guest posts

You can have genuine testimonials from satisfied clients by using the guest reviews. Plus, it's a great opportunity for them to support one another!

 

Examine your merchandise before to shipment.

Make sure the product is shipped correctly and in pristine condition. In the event that the goods is already damaged, it will be returned automatically and require your time and attention. Prior to transmitting, exercise caution.

 

Make your purchasing tunnel perfect.

To ensure that the customer has not added a product he did not intend to order, think about creating a thorough summary cart before placing the order. It may be worth it to have one last look before paying.

 

Make use of various mannequins with various sizes.

When marketing clothing, make an effort to portray the items as they would actually seem on a real person. You can accomplish this by photographing them on mannequins that vary in size. Stated differently, mannequins featuring varying dimensions and genders viewed from various perspectives. Regardless of the mannequin's measurements, the aim is to have one that matches the customer who views it.

 

Acknowledge your errors and move on.

When a product is returned, make an effort to identify the issue and fix it. If a product is being returned frequently, you should think about taking it off of your catalog, investigate the reason(s), and provide your customers an alternative. Make the necessary corrections as soon as possible to get it taken out of your store. It is preferable to let buyers be let down by "no stock" than to have them purchase the item and then send it back. This is how you can win the Buybox and prevent returns.

 

With these simple tips, returns are simply avoided. How about returns of products and your shop? How do you deal with them and stop them from happening frequently? There are a number of reasons why e-commerce in the fashion industry is more vulnerable to returns than other niches. To improve Amazon business strategy and lower online returns, the aforementioned considerations must be made.


Read More:

10 Amazon FBA Errors That Are Reimbursable

Use These Easy Steps to Remove Negative Reviews on Amazon

Decoding Amazon RMA: The Complete Manual for Handling Returns

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