Boohoo has announced that it will become the latest retailer to start charging shoppers for returning items.
Joining what is a growing list of companies, which now includes Uniqlo, Next, and Zara, online Manchester-based fast fashion retailer Boohoo has revealed that shoppers will now be charged a fee for returning items, reports Retail Week.
Customers will now have to pay £1.99 when they send unwanted goods back, and the cost will be deducted from the amount they are refunded.
Boohoo has said its decision to begin charging for returns comes amid the rising cost of shipping, and also after online shopping boomed during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to remain popular since.
The nature of online shopping often sees customers buy, and then more likely to return items bought online than they would in store – which raises costs for retailers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Boohoo has started charging shoppers £1.99 to return items / Credit: Boohoo
A 2020 study by the consultancy KPMG also found that up to half of clothing bought online is returned to some retailers, with the whole operation estimated to cost businesses about £7 billion a year.
Confirming the decision to begin charging customers for returns, a spokesperson for Boohoo said: “As the cost of shipping has increased, we’ve had to look at where we can adapt without compromising what our customers love most – the convenience of shopping with us and the great value that our brands offer.
“This has meant that we will be applying a charge of £1.99 to returns, so that we can continue to offer great prices and products and do this in a more sustainable way.”
The retailer its decision to begin charging for returns comes amid the rising cost of shipping / Credit: Boohoo
The charging for returns also comes after the retailer – which also owns brands including Debenhams, PrettyLittleThing, Dorothy Perkins, Wallis, and Burton – warned back in May it was likely going to be forced to put up clothing prices this year as it was needing to cut back on its sales and profit expectations.
ADVERTISEMENT
The retailer also hinted then that customers were returning more unwanted items than ever before post-pandemic.
Retail analysts said other retailers are now likely to follow suit in charging for returns.
Featured Image – Boohoo
News
National Lottery hunts for Tameside player who’s not claimed £1m winnings
Daisy Jackson
The hunt is on to find a National Lottery player in Tameside who’s won £1m – and not claimed it.
The missing millionaire won the huge prize on a Lotto ticket bought on Wednesday 1 July, somewhere in the Borough of Tameside.
But with just two months to go until the prize expires, the player has still not come forward to claim their winnings.
The winning numbers in were 5, 8, 26, 33, 39, 42 and the Bonus Ball was 54.
Now, the National Lottery is renewing its search for the millionaire, calling for the mystery winner to cash in their prize before it expires at midnight on 28 December.
National Lottery Senior Winners’ Advisor Andy Carter has been out in Tameside ‘hunting’ for the missing millionaire, visiting everywhere from Portland Basin to Hartshead Pike.
Andy said: “I’ve searched high and low across Tameside for our missing millionaire, but I’ve had no luck.
National Lottery hunts for Tameside player who’s not claimed £1m winnings. Credit: Anthony Devlin/Assignments/Press Association
“With just two months left to claim this £1 million prize, now is the time for anyone who bought a Lotto ticket in Tameside for the 1 July draw to have another look.
“The winning ticket could be tucked away somewhere completely ordinary, while its owner has absolutely no idea they are a millionaire.
“We’d love to find the person we’ve been looking for and turn this search into a celebration. So, if you bought a ticket in the area, dig it out, check those numbers and help us find Tameside’s missing millionaire. It could be you.”
With all National Lottery draws, players have 180 days from the day of the draw to claim their prize if they have the winning ticket. Anyone who has any queries or who believes they have the winning ticket for any of the National Lottery draws within the 180-day deadline should call the National Lottery Line on 0333 234 5050 or email [email protected].
Featured image: Supplied – Anthony Devlin/Assignments/Press Association
News
Public urged to call the police if they see this wanted man
Daisy Jackson
Cheshire Police are appealing for the public’s help in tracing a wanted man with links to Macclesfield and Alsager.
Joshua Wyatt, 34, is wanted on recall to prison, and officers are urging anyone who has seen him or knows of his whereabouts to come forward.
Wyatt is described as being 183cm (6ft) tall and of medium build, with a bald head and blue eyes.
Police believe he has links to both Macclesfield and Alsager.
Anyone who sees Wyatt or has information about where he may be is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or report information via the force’s website.
Information should be provided quoting reference number 26000809013.
Emily Sergeant -
13th July 2022 
