FedEx to offer a no-box, no-label returns solution

“As the returns market grows, FedEx continues to explore innovative alternatives for our customers. While this solution will provide a low-priced returns option for merchants, it’s also a simple, convenient process to help retailers deliver a shopper-friendly experience,” said Ryan Kelly, Vice President, E-Commerce & Retail Marketing, FedEx Services.

FedEx Consolidated Returns is facilitated through supply chain services offered by FedEx Logistics and FedEx Office. Shoppers who purchased from participating merchants can drop off the items they wish to return – no box or label required– at approximately 2,000 FedEx Office locations. The returned items will then be consolidated with other returns from a variety of merchants, saving materials and space. The items are then processed through FedEx Logistics and sent back to the merchants via a less-than-truckload option.

This marks the latest addition to the growing FedEx Returns portfolio, which also includes printer-less and package-less return options at over 10,000 locations nationwide.

According to data from *Forbes, “consumers now rank in-person box-free returns as the number one preferred method for online returns, while mail-in returns have dropped to the fourth-ranked position. Nearly half of the shoppers surveyed do not have continuous access to a printer that can be used for printing return labels.”

“FedEx Consolidated Returns is another way FedEx is helping merchants build customer loyalty by making the returns process simple and effective. Having a streamlined but low-cost option helps retailers stand out in a competitive market and adds to the overall returns portfolio at FedEx,” said Patrick Super, Vice President, Retail, FedEx Supply Chain.

FedEx Consolidated Returns– Key Points

• FedEx Consolidated Returns is a low-priced e-commerce solution for low weight returns tendered through FedEx Office and consolidated back to merchant via FedEx Supply Chain reverse logistics.
• Value for merchants: lower-cost solution for high-volume returns, end-to-end visibility of return items, helps provide shopper-friendly experience in a competitive e-commerce market.
• Convenience for shoppers: no box or label needed with access to approximately 2,000 FedEx Office locations. Simple return process using a QR code.
• Environmental benefit: may reduce carbon emissions compared to single prepackaged/prelabeled returns as return items are consolidated into one box before being shipped to returns center.