Amazon recently unveiled its new "perfect fit" solution, leveraging AI and computer vision to help customers find the ideal size and fit for clothing and apparel purchases. While this is a step in the right direction for reducing some e-commerce returns, it doesn't address the larger challenge of open box and used product returns.
The Real Returns Challenge Goes Beyond Fit
Amazon's "perfect fit" solution is certainly an innovative approach to tackling the returns problem, especially when it comes to apparel. By providing customers with more accurate sizing recommendations upfront, the hope is to cut down on the number of items that are returned due to poor fit.
However, this only addresses one aspect of the returns dilemma. The reality is that a significant portion of e-commerce returns are not due to fit issues, but rather because the customer has changed their mind, the product didn't meet their expectations, or it was simply the wrong item altogether.
These "open box" returns present a different set of challenges for online retailers. Rather than just reselling the item as new, they now have a used product that needs to be processed, inspected, and either refurbished or liquidated. Sometimes clothing can smell like perfume, body oder, or even smoke. I can also be missing packaging or tags. In either event, the product can not be sold a brand new and that’s a problem, but it should not be written off and discarded.
Shopify's Returns for Sale App: A Better Solution for Open Box Returns
For Shopify merchants looking to better manage their open box and used product returns, the Returns for Sale app offers a more comprehensive solution. This powerful tool allows you to:
- Easily process and inspect returned items in your warehouse.
- List those open box products for sale directly on your Shopify store, providing transparency to customers about the item's condition.
- Automate the pricing and inventory management of your returned goods, maximizing the value you can recoup.
By taking a more proactive approach to managing your returns through the Returns for Sale app, you can:
- Reduce the overall cost of returns by reselling open box items instead of liquidating them.
- Provide customers with a transparent and discounted option to purchase lightly used products.
- Improve your sustainability efforts by extending the life cycle of returned goods.
While Amazon's "perfect fit" solution is a valuable tool for reducing fit-related returns, Shopify merchants should also consider how the Returns for Sale app can help them tackle the broader returns challenge. By taking control of your open box inventory and reselling those items directly to customers, you can turn a costly problem into a profitable opportunity.
