The holiday season is a time for joy, celebrations, and of course, exchanging thoughtful gifts. However, not every gift hits the mark, and businesses often face a post-Christmas influx of returns alongside the holiday sales boost. So, how can you prepare for and handle Christmas gift returns effectively?
Whether this is your first busy holiday season or you’re fine-tuning your existing process, this guide will help you create a smooth, customer-friendly returns experience while keeping operations efficient.
Understanding the importance of a Return Policy
A well-defined return policy acts as a roadmap for both customers and your business. It outlines:
- Which products are eligable for return or exchange
- The acceptable return timeframe (e.g. extended return windows over the holidays)
- The conditions for returns (e.g. original packaging, unused items)
- Key terms, such as who covers return shipping costs
Providing a clear, concise and accessible policy reassures customers, improves their shopping experience, and reduces support queries.
How to optimise your Return Policy for the festive season
1. Extend your return window
To encourage early holiday shopping and reduce hesitation, many businesses extend their return window during Christmas. For example, increasing the standard 30-day period to 60 or 90 days gives customers flexibility and builds trust. Highlight this prominently to make your policy a selling point.
2. Ensure your policy is easy to find
No matter how clear your policy is, it’s useless if customers can’t locate it. Make it visible across key touchpoints:
- Website footer
- FAQ or Help Center pages
- Order confirmation emails and receipts
3. Provide exceptional customer service
Returns are a natural part of eCommerce, but they also offer an opportunity to leave a positive impression. Simplify the process and ensure your support team is equipped to handle queries efficiently.
Rather than processing refunds immediately, suggest alternatives like exchanges. For example, customers might prefer the same item in a different size or colour, keeping the sale within your business.
4. Regularly review and update your Policy
Like shipping policies, return policies should evolve with your business. Review it regularly—especially ahead of busy periods like Christmas—to ensure it aligns with your customers’ needs and your operational capacity.
Looking at competitors’ policies can provide inspiration. Identifying ways to enhance your approach gives you a competitive advantage and boosts customer loyalty.
Simplify returns with Interparcel's 'Return Parcel' feature
At Interparcel, we understand that managing returns can be time-consuming during the holidays. That’s why our Return Parcel feature makes the process seamless for businesses and customers alike.
How to us the Return Parcel Feature
Step 1: Log in to your Interparcel account and go to 'My Orders' under the 'My Account' menu to view your booking history.
Step 2: Find the order you wish to process. Click on the 'Action' button to the right and select Return Parcel.
Step 3: The order will automatically open in the Shipping Manager. The collection and delivery addresses will be swapped, while all parcel details remain unchanged—saving you time on manual entry.
Step 4: Choose a courier service for the return. It doesn’t have to match the original delivery service.
Step 5: Add the order to your cart and proceed to payment. That’s it!
Why businesses trust Interpacel for Christmas returns and parcel sending all year round
Interparcel’s advanced business tools are designed to make your shipping and returns processes as efficient as possible, especially during peak seasons like Christmas. Here’s what we offer:
- Pre-filled Return labels: Generate labels quickly with minimal effort
- Automatic address correction: Eliminate errors and avoid delays
- Multi-channel fulfilment: Sync orders from multiple platforms into a single dashboard
- "Send Again" and "Return Parcel" actions: Streamline repeat and returns order
- Branded Tracking: Create a personalised tracking portal for a professional customer experience
- Unlimited printing options: Print shipping labels in 6x4 or A4 formats
- Reliable and award-nominated support: Our customer service team is available seven days a week via phone, email, live chat and social media.
Christmas returns don’t need to disrupt your business. With a well-optimised return policy and tools like Interparcel’s Return Parcel feature, you can streamline the process, keep customers happy, and focus on what matters most—growing your business.
If you'd like to discover how Interparcel can support your eCommerce store this holiday season, reach out to our expert team. We're here to help you seven days a week!
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