The new solution means that mail order and online shoppers can return small goods free of charge from 18 European countries.

Distance sellers have the option of directly enclosing the return label with small consignments of up to two kilograms. Alternatively, distance retail customers can download the prepaid label from the internet if required. The cost of customer returns is borne by the distance seller. The benefit is that customers will feel encouraged to order from a distance retailer abroad knowing that the goods bought can be returned or exchanged free of charge.

Distance retailers using Swiss Post International UK will now have a commercial advantage over their competitors, said the company.

Paul Taylor, chief executive of Swiss Post International UK, said: “We’re always looking for ways that we can improve on the services we offer our clients. The returns solution means that our clients can provide an even better customer service, which hopefully means greater revenue generation for them and higher customer retention.

“We have also been able to offer free returns of small goods in countries where such services are not yet common practice.”

The flexibility of the solution means that consumers can return small goods parcels from any post office, using the return label. It is also possible to post parcels direct at any local post box, avoiding the inconvenience of having to travel and wait in a queue at a post office counter.

Distance retailers can currently offer the new returns solution to customers in the following European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. For returns from Iceland, Norway and Switzerland, distance retail customers additionally need to complete the non-EU customs declaration (CN 22) – obtained online or from a post office – and affix this to the returned goods parcel.

Source: Swiss Post International

Tags: Swiss Post International, UK