How do you handle warehouse returns and exchanges, and what are the best practices to reduce them?

Managing warehouse returns and exchanges is an inevitable part of any e-commerce or retail business, but it can be costly and time-consuming. To handle them efficiently and effectively, and to reduce them in the first place, there are certain best practices to follow. These include setting up a clear and consistent return policy, implementing a reverse logistics system, inspecting and processing returned items, restocking or disposing of returned items, and analysing and improving your return rate. The following should be observed;- 1-Return policy 2-Reverse logistics 3-Inspection and processing 4-Restoking or disposing 5-Analysis and improvement

Yes it's all about making the customer aware of what return procedures are before they buy especially if you are working in high end retail. Example if they were to order a customized bathroom unit they have to know this can't be returned. If they were returning stock they have to be told time frame say it has to be returned with in 4 week of purchase but has to be unopened are you can't except it and if there is a restocking charge as it time consuming. Especially if you cant return the item to your supplier which you bought the item from. Warehouse staff have to be aware of how you want them to handle the return policy

Unless you picked the wrong item and sent it to the customer then you would not be abliged to go and pick it up .It would be down to the customer to return it in exactly the way they received it are else credit wouldn't be issued. Working in wholesale they would buy from a shop then and return the item to them. Then a phone call would be made and a returns note would be issued they would drop the good to the warehouse were you would check it of for damages and make sure everything was returned that supposed to be. Then return the item to stock using a hand held scanner wms system if lucky enough to have one in place.That why there a restocking charge your taking a man/women away from job there supposed to be doing.

Working in the high end designer market.No one should just arrive at the warehouse with a return are it would be refused .They would have to ring the sales office the the rep that sold the item would have to get the ok of the owner then there would be a returns docked done for the customer to sign on arrival after the good are inspected by the warehouse staff .Then there is a picture taken of the item and a email sent to the rep and the owner saying the goods have been returned in good condition and can be put back into stock

Yes you should keep track from my experience in working in wholesale (fmcg) the majority of returns came from picking errors. Not only time consuming for warehouse staff but also customer satisfaction.Were I'm working know we check each others pallets after we pick the order then check them again before loaded onto the truck .So instead of just picking a order and loading It has been checked 3 times before it leaves the warehouse. If we are delivering it ourselves we go through the pallet with the customer before they sign for it .