"Rising eCommerce Returns Challenge Retailers and Consumers Alike"

The era of free shipping and easy returns in online shopping is coming to an end as retailers, facing tighter margins and investor pressure, are adjusting their policies to cut costs and increase profits. Many retailers, including H&M, Zara, J.Crew, and Amazon, are now charging for returns, shortening return deadlines, and refusing to accept some items. This shift reflects a broader pushback against the unsustainable consumer behavior enabled by free shipping and returns, and aims to make consumers more thoughtful in their purchases while also addressing the environmental and financial costs associated with the current online shopping model.