More Australian retailers axe free returns after ‘reckoning’ of costs

More Australian retailers axe free returns after ‘reckoning’ of costs

Shopping habits – including “repeat returns” offending – are taking a toll on businesses.

TikTok Shop Mall launches 30-day Free Returns policy

TikTok‘s e-commerce platform, TikTok Shop, has extended its Free Returns policy for Mall brand products from 15 to 30 days. Implemented in early June 2025, this updated policy applies exclusively to authentic branded items marked with the official ‘Mall’ badge. Shoppers now have 30 days from the date of delivery to initiate a return request, in case the product doesn’t meet their expectations. 30-day returns ensure fair after-sales, no shipping …

Retailers vs. returns: is cracking down costing brands more than it’s saving?

Asos became wrapped up in another controversy in late June after the online giant, which shipped 67.2 million orders last year, confirmed it had closed the accounts of “a small number” of customers for returning more clothes than they kept. According to the retailer, this is in breach of its Fair Use policy and its move was necessary “to keep free returns for everyone else”.  The shoppers affected by this blanket ban told a different story. They…

channelnews : Australian Retailers Slash Free Returns as Costs Force Policy Rethink

Australian retailers are increasingly abandoning free returns policies as rising operational costs force a fundamental reassessment of customer service strategies that became unsustainable after the COVID-19 pandemic. New data from transport company Shippit reveals that only 14 percent of approximately 1,617 Australian and 266 New Zealand retailers now offer free returns, representing a dramatic decline...