27-12-2024
After Christmas, many people find themselves facing the all-too-familiar disappointment of receiving gifts that don’t fit, match their style, or is something they already have. Whether it’s a pair of shoes two sizes too big, or an ill-judged slogan tee, unwanted gifts will be heading back to retailers in droves this January.
Evri, the UK’s biggest dedicated parcel company which delivers 800 million parcels a year, has examined its own parcel data and planning experts predict the busiest returns season on record with a staggering four million parcels likely to be returned in January alone. Last year, more than a million parcels were returned in the week commencing 31st December 2023 and a total of 3.9 million returns were handled in the 4 weeks following Christmas – more than double the typical numbers of returns.
Depending on the retailer’s policy, you may have as little as 14 days to return an unwanted gift, which might mean getting out of your pyjamas on those days between Christmas and New Year when everyone forgets what day of the week it is. Experts at Evri also estimate around half of retailers still offer free returns, but it’s worth checking before you send.
January can be a difficult month, with a longer gap between pay days so consumers are expected to be watching every penny coming back into their bank account.
Source: Evri