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Serial returners send back £6.6bn of online purchases a year in UK, report finds

Industry bodies say over-ordering is eroding profitability as big sellers clamp down on practice

Shoppers with a habit of returning goods bought online to retailers will send back £1,400 of products each this year, totalling £6.6bn, a UK report has found. The increase in online sales in recent years has become a costly headache for retailers, while delays in goods being returned can also make it difficult for them to manage stock levels. The online fashion retailer Asos recently informed some shoppers that those who frequently return multiple items would be charged a fee of £3.95 unless they kept up to £40 worth of their order.

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