Product returns may be costly headaches for online sellers, but shipping carriers and liquidators see opportunity. FedEx just launched a new feature to help merchants, and the United States Postmaster General recently said the USPS wants to “own” the returns business.
On Monday, FedEx launched FedEx Returns Technology, a comprehensive solution for returns management:
“Using the FedEx Returns Technology platform, merchants will have complete visibility into returns, giving them an easy way to track shipments, manage inventory, analyze returns trends and make more informed decisions based on shoppers’ returns behaviors.
“FedEx Returns Technology is integrated into more than 1,700 participating FedEx Office locations across the U.S., enabling merchants to offer their customers the ability to easily drop off returns that can be inspected, professionally packed and, in some cases, enable a faster credit refund.”
Meanwhile Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan recently said the USPS was uniquely positioned to own the returns business. “It’s easier than ever for consumers to ship their returns through our network. We offer free package pick-up and more user-friendly tracking and billing methods for our business customers.”
“We’re also piloting self-service drop-off kiosks where users can print labels and receipts for proof of mailing,” she said, and referenced USPS access and reach, with a retail footprint of over 30,000 post offices and delivery schedule of six days a week to more than 157 million addresses.
The topic of product returns will be tackled at next month’s PostalVision 2020 conference where three panelists will discuss the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in returns and reverse logistics.
The post office says it is uniquely positioned to own the returns business. Now thats a joke and it ain’t even april 1. In a few more years the post office will be eaten by amazon and the other two for lunch.
The post office is so far behind these three its funny.