Returning to Seller: How Much Does It Cost to Return a Parcel?
TL;DR
- If a parcel is refused at delivery, you usually won’t pay for return shipping. The parcel returns to the seller.
- Freight shipments require you to cover return costs.
- Once you sign for delivery, returning the item usually requires contacting the seller and covering shipping fees.
- Refusal or returns may affect your reputation with certain retailers or platforms, especially outside the EU.
Years ago, the Internet changed our lives when it gave us a chance to buy things online. Really, you don’t need to wait in long queues, walkthrough overcrowded stores ahead of holidays looking for the presents for your family and so on. However, sometimes things may go wrong and you will need to know how the process of returning parcels to the seller works.
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Your purchase may look nothing like it was on the website, you may receive the wrong size, or you simply don’t need it anymore – what you should do in a situation like this? Eurosender has prepared everything you need to know about how to refuse to ship and how much does it cost to return a parcel.
Read more about:
- How to return the parcel to the sender?
- Parcel return service
- Returning package without return address
Who pays when the parcel returns to a seller?
There are could be multiple reasons why you may decide to refuse accepting postage and send it back to the seller.
Let’s say, you decided to order some items online and after you paid for them and delivery details were discussed, you may change your mind and ask to cancel your purchase. In this case, you need to contact the seller as soon as possible to inform him or her about your decision and ask for money back.
But what if the package is already on the way? Well, you may refuse the delivery.
When you order some things on Amazon or eBay or some other online retailer or a small store, the delivery time and cost are usually set by the seller. You also should read the website’s terms and conditions to be aware of the rules and the obligations to follow.
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Keep in mind that you must check the package content before signing the proof of delivery. Unfortunately, some unpleasant things may happen during the shipping that may affect the parcel. In case you see the package looks damaged, you have a right to refuse it. In such situations, we recommend you take pictures of the damages and send them to your courier company’s support team.
You can also send the same letter to your seller to explain the reason for returning. Make sure you fill a damage report provided by a courier. After this, the sender may be obligated to pay compensation to the delivery service if the goods were damaged because of bad packaging.
When you decline to accept the shipping, the parcel returns to the seller and you don’t need to pay additional costs for return postage. Meanwhile, a sender will not be refunded.
In case you want to refuse freight shipment, you must pay for the delivery service yourself.
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How to return a package to the sender after I signed the proof of delivery?
When you accept an item ordered online shipped to you and sign a proof of delivery, you can’t refuse it afterwards. If you want to return the things you’ve brought after the goods were delivered to you, then contact the seller and discuss the conditions. In most cases, you will need to cover the shipping fee, or you can keep the items you ordered. Sometimes, people prefer to resend the items to their friends and relatives as a gift.
What will happen with a parcel after I refuse it?
As it was mentioned earlier, it all depends on the situation and logistics company. In most cases, the parcel returns to the sender. Sometimes courier provider may keep the package while the situation will be solved with the seller.
The return delivery time may be longer than usual as the courier service provider prioritize the delivery of the new orders, before the returns of parcels that were not accepted.
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What are the negative consequences for me as a customer after returning a package to the seller?
Usually, there are no serious negative consequences if you refuse the parcel. Moreover, according to the rights detailed in the EU Consumer Contracts Regulations, you can return goods to the online retailer up to 14 days from the day you received them. However, Eurosender recommends you discuss this issue with a seller as it may not work with some online stores based in the USA or China, for example.
In case you refuse to pay for the return, the seller may also not give you the money back for the item you purchased. Some online retailers may use a system of rating the customers, which will affect your reputation among other sellers and therefore, your future orders.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact Eurosender support team and we will do our best to provide you with all the information you want to know.
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About the author
Marcel Nahtigal is Head of Marketing at Eurosender, specializing in digital strategies to enhance customer connections in logistics.
