Next has revealed to customers that it will start charging customers a £1 fee for returns made through a courier or through a Hermes Parcel Shop.
The fashion retailer emailed customers this week to say that from June 6 it will introduce a £1 charge on returns made through either channel on orders made after that date. The charge is per collection rather than per item. The fee will be charged to customers’ Nextpay accounts or deducted from the amount the retailer refunds customers, it said.
Next’s move comes as retailers increasingly look to subtly push customers into channels that are less expensive for them to operate. Returns to store will remain free for Next customers.
Next offers unlimited delivery and free returns through its £20 annual delivery pass Next unlimited delivery pass.
“The vast majority of Next online customers now make their returns, free of charge, via one of our stores – and Next will continue to promote this service,” said a spokesperson for the retailer. “Next Unlimited was recently introduced, where any number of items can be delivered to, or returned from home for just £20 per year. The £1 per collection (not item) fee contributes to the true cost of returning goods to Next from home, no matter how many parcels are returned”.
Image credit: Next