Take your post-purchase process to the next level! Be the first to experience returngo logo

Be the first to experience returngo logo
10 Strategies to Manage Returns in the Summer Sales Season
Rebecca Lazar

June 23, 2024

The sun is shining, vacations are booked, and summer sales are in full swing. While this often means a boom in orders and revenue, it also brings a surge in product returns.

With customers spending more time online and looking for deals on summer essentials, you need to be prepared for the influx of orders and associated returns.

The Reality of Summer Returns

As the temperature rises, so do online sales. The summer season brings with it vacation planning, outdoor activities, and a surge in eCommerce orders. Customers are on the hunt for deals on summer essentials, and you need to be prepared to meet this demand.

Especially if you offer summer sales around July 4th, Labor Day, and back-to-school, you’ll likely see a related surge in orders. As wonderful as those summer sales might feel, there’s a not-so-sunny side to the equation: more returns.

Don’t let summer sales overwhelm your business – use the following strategies to manage the increased sales and returns and ensure you have a successful and profitable summer season.

10 Strategies for Managing Summer Returns

As the summer sales and returns rush approaches, it’s important to be prepared to handle the influx of returns that come with the season. Here are some strategies to help you manage summer returns and maintain customer satisfaction.

1. Optimize Inventory Management

With summer often being the busiest season, proper inventory management is crucial for keeping return rates under control. Stock shortages and overages both contribute to inflated return volumes that can seriously eat into your profits.

First, leverage demand forecasting and historical data to pinpoint which products and categories tend to be hot sellers during the summer months. 

Then stock up on adequate inventory levels for those fast-movers, but be careful not to go overboard on slow-selling products that may end up as dead weight. Running out of popular items can lead to split shipments or stockouts, while ordering too much stock can result in items having to be discounted.

In addition to smart procurement planning, optimize your warehousing and inventory positioning. Having the right items in the right locations based on anticipated regional demand will let you have faster, more cost-effective fulfillment. The smoother your shipping operations, the less likely customers are to return orders that took too long to arrive or arrived damaged.

Inventory planning is both an art and a science during peak periods like summer sales. Get your inventory streamlined and your customers will be happy from first click to checkout and beyond.

2. Create a Specific Return Policy for Summer Sales

Create a specific return policy for summer sales to reduce returns and improve customer satisfaction.

A clear return policy for summer sales helps customers make informed purchasing decisions and reduces misunderstandings or miscommunications about returns. 

Here are some key elements to include in your summer sales return policy:

  • Return window: Specify the time frame for returns during summer sales. For example, returns must be made within 30 days of purchase.
  • Return process: Clearly outline the steps for returning a product in easy-to-follow steps. This includes how to initiate a return, repackage items, and available return options (in-store drop-off, mail-in with a pre-printed label, etc).
  • Return conditions: State any conditions for returns during summer sales, such as requiring the item to be in its original packaging and in the same condition as when it was received.
  • Return shipping costs: Specify who is responsible for return shipping costs during summer sales. For example, customers may be required to cover the cost of shipping the item back, or you might want to offer free returns for exchanges.

For example, you could specify that all returns for summer sales must be made within 30 days of purchase, and that customers are responsible for return shipping costs. 

The key to remember is that transparency builds trust, and trust means fewer returns due to misunderstandings.

3. Automate Returns Processing

Use returns automation tools to reduce costs and be more efficient during the summer sales season. Returns management systems (RMS) like ReturnGO can help simplify the returns process and reduce manual work.

Implement a self-service return portal on your website to give customers an easy way to request returns. This will help reduce the volume of returns-related customer service requests, freeing up your team to focus on more complex cases. 

With a self-service return portal, customers can initiate returns, print shipping labels, and track the status of their returns in real-time. This simplifies the returns process, reduces errors, and improves the overall customer experience.

ReturnGO streamlines the entire process, from portal to refund or exchange, letting you automate as much of the process as you want. ReturnGO also provides valuable analytics that let you see returns trends and patterns and make smarter decisions for next summer’s sales. 

It’s a win-win for you and your customers – less stress, a happier team, and a smoother workflow.

Chat with our experts to boost your customer return experience and LTV today.

4. Optimize Your Reverse Logistics

Summer sales mean return volumes are about to reach new heights, and you need to be ready to process every returned item.

Don’t just handle returns on a case-by-case basis. Set up specific workflows for your reverse logistics so you can easily handle returns at scale.

Batching and prioritizing returns based on return reasons or product type can help keep things organized. You can even go one step further and incorporate assisted processing technology like mobile scanning and put-to-light systems (a system that uses lights to direct staff to the correct location to sort, or “put,” items into).

The smoother you can make your reverse logistics, the faster you can get inventory back into sellable condition and issue a refund or new item. Optimizing your return logistics will pay off big time when summer has you drowning in return packages.

5. Monitor and Analyze Returns

Analyze your returns data to learn what customers are returning and why, so you can improve your products, services, and overall customer experience for next year’s sales.

Track trends in customer behavior, such as how frequently certain items get returned, and then take steps to address them. For example, if a specific product is often returned because of sizing issues, you might want to provide more detailed sizing information or talk to your manufacturer. 

6. Make Sure Your Team is Equipped to Handle Returns

Getting your team ready for the wave of returns is important to make sure everything goes smoothly. You’re going to want to train and update your team on policy changes surrounding summer sales and any new products/services to make sure they’re prepared for every situation. 

Here are some tips for making sure your various teams are prepared for the influx of returns:

Customer Service Team

Empower the customer service team to handle questions about returns by making sure they’re knowledgeable about your return policy, comfortable making on-the-spot decisions, and understand your brand’s values so they can deliver excellent customer service.

Warehouse and Logistics Team

Make sure your warehouse and logistics teams have the tools and resources to process returns quickly and accurately. This might include a dedicated returns area in the warehouse, technology for tracking and managing returns, and a clear returns processing workflow.

Marketing Team

The marketing team should be familiar with the return policy for your brand’s summer sales and communicate any special policies like free returns in marketing materials, to set expectations as part of the summer sale campaign.

Management Team

Share insights with the entire management team on return trends and patterns, and make sure everyone’s on the same page regarding processes and expectations.

7. Highlight Customer Reviews & Ratings

When customers are flooded with summer sale options, they often look to reviews and ratings to get a sense of what to expect from the product. 77% of customers specifically seek out websites with ratings and reviews, and 98% of customers say reviews are an essential resource when making purchase decisions.

Customers with realistic expectations based are less likely to be surprised upon receiving the product, which translates to fewer returns due to misunderstandings or unmet expectations. User-generated content (UGC) gives an authentic portrayal of the product, and customers can see real-life examples of how the product is used and what others think of it. 

Showing user-generated content (UGC) on your website builds trust in several ways:

  • Transparency: Customers appreciate transparency. When you show them other customers’ experiences, it gives them a sense of what to expect, and this transparency helps ease concerns and set realistic expectations.
  • Social proof: Social proof is a strong psychological motivator that can drive conversions and increase customer loyalty. By showing real-world experiences, you demonstrate that your products deliver on their promises.
  • Better decision-making: Having customer reviews, photos, and ratings to go over provides customers with a more informed purchasing experience. They can make their decisions based on real-world experiences and opinions, rather than relying only on product descriptions.

Make sure to clearly highlight customer reviews, photos, and ratings on your product pages in an easily accessible way. 

When you prioritize transparency and showcase customer reviews you can create a loyal community of customers who feel seen, heard, and valued, driving long-term success for your brand.

8. Provide Clear Product Descriptions

Clearly communicating product details and specifications can help customers make informed purchasing decisions and reduce the likelihood of returns. 

When writing product descriptions, keep it simple and clear. Avoid using technical terms or jargon that might confuse customers. Instead, use everyday language to explain the product’s features and benefits. This will help customers understand what they’re buying and reduces the chances of returns due to misunderstandings.

In addition, provide accurate sizing info and high-quality images to give customers a better understanding of the product. Include detailed measurements and photos from multiple angles, giving customers a 360-degree view of the product. This helps build trust and reduces the likelihood of returns due to misunderstandings or miscommunications.

The more transparent you are and the more information you provide, the easier it will be to set realistic expectations and create a better customer experience.

9. Offer Refund Alternatives

Consider offering exchanges or store credit instead of refunds for items bought in a sale. This can be a strategic way to manage returns and retain revenue, particularly for items that are difficult to resell. 

Offering exchanges or store credit instead of refunds can help you recoup some of that lost revenue and keep customers coming back.

Here’s the best part: according to ReturnGO data, customers are 50% more likely to make another purchase from your store if they receive store credit, and customers tend to spend at least $20 more per order when redeeming store credit. 

So it’s really a no-brainer; you keep the revenue from the original order while also incentivizing them to spend more at your store later.

To sweeten the deal, consider offering a bonus for choosing store credit or an exchange instead of a regular refund. This can be a powerful incentive for customers to choose an exchange or store credit over a refund, and it can help you recoup even more revenue. Think about it – a 10% extra refund can be an enticing incentive to choose an alternate option. 

Make sure to clearly communicate the options during the purchasing process and in your return policy to avoid any confusion or frustration.

10. Clearly State Any Fees 

Transparency is key when it comes to fees and extra charges. This includes shipping fees, handling fees, and any other charges that might apply. 

Make sure any fees are clearly stated on your website, in your product descriptions, and throughout your checkout process. 

Consider offering free shipping or free returns for orders above a certain value to incentivize larger purchases. 62.7% of stores offer fee-free returns; it can be a great way to boost customer loyalty and satisfaction. 

Just make sure to keep it transparent – if you do charge for shipping or returns, clearly state the cost and the conditions that apply.

The more upfront you are about potential costs, the less likely your customers are to be surprised, and the more likely they are to trust you.

Get Ahead of Summer Returns

Summer sales can be a whirlwind of activity, bringing in a flood of orders – and returns – as customers take advantage of the season’s deals. Use these strategies to manage those returns effectively and make the most of the increased sales.

With a little planning and careful execution, you can turn the summer sales rush into a profitable and successful season for your business.

Related Posts
How Returns Affect Loyalty & Turn Challenges to Wins

How Returns Affect Loyalty & Turn Challenges to Wins

Returns are a critical challenge for retailers, both operationally and financially. In 2024 alone, retail returns reached $685 billion—13.2% of total retail sales (WWD). It can cost around 66% of the original purchase price to process a return (Forbes). For many...

ReturnGO & Easyship Partnership: Streamlining Returns & Shipping

ReturnGO & Easyship Partnership: Streamlining Returns & Shipping

Post-purchase logistics, including returns and shipping, can be a complex and costly part of running an online store. That's why ReturnGO has partnered with Easyship, a global leader in shipping solutions, as ReturnGO’s preferred shipping partner. This partnership has...

ReturnGO & Shop App Integration: Returns Made Easy

ReturnGO & Shop App Integration: Returns Made Easy

At ReturnGO, we know that offering a seamless return experience is key to keeping customers satisfied and loyal.  The game-changing integration between ReturnGO and the Shop app, powered by Shopify, enables you to offer shoppers a simple way to initiate and track...

Streamline your return process and ensure a great post-purchase experience for your customers.