A recent study out of the UK shows that online buyers are simply turned off by having to pay for returns.

The numbers tell the story:

– 18% of consumers actively describe the introduction of return charges as “unfair”.

– 13% have gone as far as to throw away an unwanted item instead of going to the trouble of returning it.

– 26% have switched from a brand they were once loyal to due to the introduction of paid returns.

The last of the above stats is the big one, and it’s why online retailers in the UK have been quick to react. The bottom line is that companies risk losing business by placing hurdles in front of their customers, and asking them to pay for returns is a huge hurdle. Making returns easy (and free) is a huge brand-loyalty builder when it comes to online selling.