National Return Day | UPS Returning Millions Of Gifts Wednesday

ATLANTA, GA -- Atlanta-based UPS is calling Dec. 19, 2018, National Return Day, the day in which the worldwide shipping giant will handle more returned holiday packages than any other 24 hour period during the year. UPS expects to handle 1.5 million returned packages over the next 24 hours. UPS closely tracks shipping habits, and for the first time ever, National Returns Day will occur ahead of the Christmas holiday.

In past years, National Returns Day occurred in early January and represented the highest spike of packages for the entire year. Returns are still expected to hit 1.3 million packages on January 9, but this will now represent the second wave and be outpaced by Wednesday, Dec. 19. These returns are included in the 800 million packages UPS anticipates delivering this holiday season.

A UPS survey found 79% of e-commerce shoppers said free shipping on returns is important when selecting an online retailer; 44% said the top issue encountered when returning an item online is paying for return shipping; and top elements of a good returns experience include an easy-to-return online experience and a no-questions-asked policy.

Consumers who got a jump on online shopping in the days before Black Friday are expected to begin returning more than 1 million packages each day in December, jumpstarting the holiday returns season earlier than ever. The spike is driven by self-gifting due to retailer promotions, express shipping for deliveries and returns, simplified returns processes and advanced re-stocking and management systems.

"UPS understands the essential and evolving role that package returns play in e-commerce. As a result, UPS has helped our customers get ahead of the curve with a portfolio of technology-driven returns services,” said Kevin Warren, UPS’s Chief Marketing Officer. “We help retailers deliver a premium experience that manages the cost of the returns process while meeting the needs of today’s discerning consumer.”

Optoro, a technology company that helps retailers and brands optimize their returned and excess inventory, found that 97 percent of consumers are more likely to buy something again from a retailer with which they had a positive returns experience. Conversely, 89 percent of customers will not shop again at a retailer or brand with which they had a negative returns experience.

“Leading retailers and brands understand that the returns moment is an increasingly important time to drive future customer loyalty and engagement,” said Tobin Moore, co-founder and CEO of Washington, D.C.-based Optoro.

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