| Since the dawn of online shopping, consumers have been largely spoiled by the luxury of free shipping and returns. We’ve all leaned into our e-commerce privilege, whether by scoffing at delivery fees higher than $0 or banking on being able to return a haul of clothes that don’t fit.
But the tides are changing, correspondent Emily Stewart writes. Retailers are fed up with shoppers who abuse the system (like one woman who bought, then returned, $15,000 worth of Saks merchandise). And they’re about to crack down.
Several fan-favorite stores, like H&M, Zara, and even Amazon, have started changing their return policies. Some are charging to send items back, while others are refusing to accept some returns entirely.
Meanwhile, other brands are tightening up their shipping perks. That includes upping the minimum purchase amount eligible for free shipping or raising the cost of next-day deliveries.
The dismantling of our online-shopping utopia is a bummer, to be sure. But I can’t help but wonder if the death of these perks will push us back into the arms of local retailers — which could give small businesses a much-needed boost. |
