Inditex expands return charges

Spanish fashion giant Inditex (Zara) is now also introducing return charges for Spanish customers. They will now have to pay 1.95 euros if they want to send online orders back – although returning them in-store remains free.

No more free returns

Inditex joins the ranks of retailers who are doing away with free returns, asking customers to contribute to the shipping costs: 1.95 euros will be deducted from their refunded amount. The fee applies to all the group’s chains, from Bershka to Zara, Reuters reports.

This move is significant as it is the home market of the world’s largest fashion group. Early last year, subsidiary brand Zara already introduced return charges for some online orders in Britain and some other core markets, after competitors such as Asos, H&M and Uniqlo had already made the same move. The measure seems to become ever more commonplace nowadays.

Since the Covid pandemic, ever more consumers have made a habit of ordering multiple sizes of items with the intention of trying them on at home. They then often plan in advance to return several of these items. With the online share growing – Inditex is counting on more than 30 % of total sales by 2024 – but costs also rising, retailers want to put a cap on this. Returns will remain free in physical shops, however.