How can I prevent returns from skewing my inventory?

Retouren vertroebelen je voorraad zodra ze niet herleidbaar zijn of blijven liggen. Het grootste deel van dat probleem los je op aan de voorkant, in je eigen retourproces, en niet in de verwerking in het magazijn.

Make every return traceable

A box without a label, packing slip, or order number must first be sorted before any action can be taken on it. Therefore, make sure your customer always includes something that allows the shipment to be linked to their order. A return label that you provide yourself is the most reliable option for this.

Report returns

A reported return is an expected return. You know which item is coming back and why, and the warehouse can immediately link it to the correct order. This saves time searching and also provides you with the reason for the return, which you can use later.

Make your instructions specific

Hoe duidelijker je beoordelingsregels, hoe sneller een artikel weer op zijn locatie ligt. Vage criteria leiden tot twijfelgevallen, en twijfelgevallen blijven staan. Voorraad die op een beoordelingsplek ligt, staat niet in je verkoopbare stand.

Speed Equals Revenue

For items with limited stock or a short product life cycle, every day a return sits in inventory is a day you can’t sell it. This has an immediate impact, especially for seasonal items or sold-out sizes.

Check your inventory level

Retouren staan in je eigen account naast je orders en leveringen. Loop die af en toe door, zeker bij artikelen die veel terugkomen. Zie je een artikel dat volgens je webshop uitverkocht is terwijl er retouren van binnen zijn, dan heb je waarschijnlijk omzet laten liggen.

Keep damaged and saleable items separate

The biggest problem arises when unsellable items end up on your sales floor anyway. That leads to orders you can’t fulfill, and that’s more expensive than the return itself. A separate area for items in question or rejected items prevents that from happening.

Communicate about the turnaround time

Let your customers know how long it takes to process a return, and build in a little extra time. Most of the return-related questions your customer service team receives aren’t about the product—they’re about “when will I get my money back?”

Use your return information

A high return rate on a single item is an indication of a problem with that item, not with your logistics. A photo that’s too flattering, a size that’s off, or a description that promises something else. Fixing that will save you more than any warehouse optimization ever could.