Handling returns is a necessity in any sales environment.

Consequently, improving the efficiency of the returns process results in positive shopping experiences, sparking a rise in repeat custom, and gives your firm a real competitive edge by inspiring customer loyalty.

That’s why bringing reverse logistics to the forefront of your business’ strategy can make the returns process quick and painless for customers and companies alike.

With this in mind, we’ve assembled our top tips for making returns processing as simple as possible.

Connect with your customers

First of all, it’s important your customers know how to make a return before they buy the product.

Display returns information on your website, post details with the package and include a returns label with each order. These simple steps will help reduce the amount of returns sent to the wrong location and ease the strain on the time spent processing returns. 

Simplicity is the key 

Keep it simple by offering your customers a money back, satisfaction guaranteed return policy. Not only will this improve sales and build solid relationships with your customers, but the rise in satisfaction as a result of implementing a clear returns process will mean your firm avoids a logistics nightmare. 

Additionally, if the returns instructions are clear, it prevents customers improvising and sending unwanted items to the wrong location – avoiding an increase in processing costs and customer unhappiness in the process. 

Keep it quick

When a customer returns an item, they want the process to be just as fast as when they purchased it. Typically, a customer will have less patience waiting on a return to process than they do with the original purchase – and returns processing is the area where relationships are most likely to break down.

Typically, there are five reasons for a return: customer changed their mind; second-rate quality; sluggish delivery; fulfilment error; and products not being what the customer expected.

Of course, if a customer changes their mind, little can be done – accept the return and process it speedily.

However, reducing return rates for the other four areas can be achieved by studying returns analysis and finding out what went wrong and how to fix it. Finding out why your customers are unhappy is fundamental in providing great customer service.

If you feel your business would benefit from expert reverse logistics solutions, get in touch with TNT Post today.