Navigating Return Fees and Policies: Tips for Saving Money and Avoiding Headaches

More retailers are implementing return fees this year, with about 40% of online and brick-and-mortar stores charging fees compared to 31% last year. To minimize or avoid these fees, experts recommend reviewing return policies in advance, joining retailer or brand loyalty programs for perks like free returns, taking items to the store for in-person returns, researching items before purchasing to reduce the need for returns, budgeting for return fees, and considering selling or regifting unwanted items instead of returning them.