Are Free Returns Going Away in Europe?

TL;DR

• Many American retailers are no longer offering free returns, with Amazon FBA’s new policy taking effect on June 1st.
• EU law grants the right to return items within 14 days but this does not include shipping costs, while “Free returns” often implies “free shipping” costs to consumers.
• European retailers are still mostly offering free returns while quietly introducing small changes to their return policies.
• Eurosender offers alternative shipping solutions for customers hurt by changes to free return policies.

Why More Retailers are Doubling Down on Their Returns Policy

It is no longer news that Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) is ending its era of free returns, effective June 1st, 2024. This new policy change will apply to specific high-return rate products from various categories. Amazon won’t be charging its customers for these returns directly; instead, it will charge the businesses.

Here are the three key reasons why many retailers are moving away from offering free returns:

1. Cost: Returns are very expensive. Shipping and handling costs can quickly add up.
2. Consumer Behavior: Many people deliberately order multiple items just to try them on, knowing they will keep only one and return the rest. This practice, known as “bracketing”, is costly for retailers.
3. Counterfeit Goods: Retailers are increasingly finding counterfeit goods being returned as if they were the original items.

Will European Retailers Follow Suit?

There is no exact answer to this question. It should be noted that these changes mostly apply to US retailers. In Europe, if you buy a service or product online, you can return it within 14 days of delivery without providing any justification, thanks to the right of withdrawal. This right applies to most products except a few exceptions like plane tickets, tailor-made items, and digital content. Therefore, Europeans still have the right to return online purchases.

What Do Free Returns Even Mean?

The term “free returns” might be misleading. It suggests that the product can be returned free of any charge, but this isn’t always the case. In Europe by law, even though consumers have the right to return goods within 14 days, the retailer has no obligation to bear the shipping cost of the return.

However, it has been a common practice for retailers to provide return labels, allowing customers to send items back at no shipping cost, often with the return periods extending beyond the EU regulations (for example, a 60-day return period).

As we see US retailers moving away from this practice, EU-based retailers or American retailers with EU stores are becoming less flexible with their return policies too, with the changes or limitations to their returns policy quietly being launched.

Overview of Current Policies of Major Retailers for Their EU Stores

• H&M: 30-day return policy, with a cost of €3.99 for returns via prepaid label.
• Zalando: 100-day return policy, free returns.
• Zara: Free returns at drop points (such as PUDO-PickUpDropOff or stores); home collection costs €4.95.
• About You: 100-day return policy, free returns.
• ASOS: 28-day return policy (return request needs to be created within 14 days); free returns within 14 days, after which it costs €1.95.
• Amazon.de: 14-day return policy, free returns to addresses in Germany only.
• Temu: 90-day return policy, free first return for each order.

Exceptions apply to most policies.

What Are Alternatives for Shipping When I Want Free Returns?

You can use our service, Eurosender: Return Packages with Eurosender.

At Eurosender, we have over 10 years of experience successfully shipping packages around the globe. Plus, you can enjoy the convenience of returns from the comfort of your own home, without needing to visit the post office — the courier will come to pick it up.