Those Returns Better be Happy: Study

Nine out of 10 shoppers said a convenient returns policy is either important or somewhat important when deciding whether or not to shop with an unknown online merchant or cataloger, according to a study commissioned by returns management firm Newgistics.

In the same study, 69% said they would not likely shop with a merchant again if returning an item was inconvenient.

Also, 68% or respondents said the ability to make returns from home is important, according to the survey of 1,017 American adults conducted by Harris Interactive between Nov. 23 and Nov. 26.

In other findings, 79% of those surveyed said they shop online or from catalogs. Also, 64% said they shop online, a 10% increase from last year. Sixty nine percent said they shop from catalogs, the survey determined.