Peak returns run into a second week

This year’s peak returns period is continuing into the second week of January says home delivery specialist ParcelHero.

As returns continue to flood back, the courier comparison site is warning everyone returning large and heavy items such as unwanted TVs or furniture that the original packaging in which they were delivered may not be safe to be returned in.

ParcelHero’s Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks MILT says: “The courier industry was all set for last Thursday to become “Takeback Thursday” as millions of unwanted gifts were sent back to stores on the first day back at work. However, returns have actually continued to flood back into the second week of January, probably because many people took extra holiday, and are only now returning to the realities of work and dealing with unwanted or faulty gifts.”

But David is concerned that this year there is increasing evidence large and heavy items are being returned without strong enough packaging to stand up to being shipped via couriers’ networks. David says: ‘If you received a large or heavy item as a gift this year, anything from a baby stroller to a big microwave, it probably arrived using the retailer’s or manufacturer’s specialist service with vehicles designed around transporting such items. It will have been delivered in packaging that works perfectly for specially designed vehicles; but is probably inadequate for being placed with a normal courier network for return. We strongly recommend anyone returning a heavy item using a courier”