FedEx, Happy Returns Team on Retail Product Returns

FedEx will work with Happy Returns, a vertically integrated returns solution provider, to offer Happy Returns’ in-person return service in more than 2,000 FedEx Office locations. The move represents the latest effort to make returns more efficient as the holiday season approaches.

Starting in Los Angeles and expanding nationwide by the end of October, online shoppers from Happy Returns’ fast-growing list of retail partners will now be able to return products in person, without a box or label, and for an immediate refund or exchange, at most FedEx Office locations.

Shoppers start returns on the retailers’ websites or at HappyReturns.com and receive a QR code. They then bring the items only — no box or receipt required — plus the QR code to a FedEx Office location to complete the return. A typical return takes less than a minute; returns are approved in real time, and Happy Returns initiates refunds and exchanges immediately in most cases. Using Happy Returns’ technology, FedEx will then aggregate box-free items from multiple merchants into a single shipment, reducing the cost of the process for participating retailers.

As with returns from other Happy Returns locations, the aggregated shipments from FedEx Office locations will be sent to one of Happy Returns’ two regional processing hubs, which use proprietary software to accept, sort and process co-mingled returns.

“We are very excited to work with Happy Returns as we make the returns experience more convenient for shoppers while also streamlining the process for merchants,” said Ryan Kelly, VP of global e-commerce marketing at Memphis, Tennessee-based FedEx. “The packing experts at FedEx Office are ready to help customers, no box or label needed.”

By adding FedEx Office to its Return Bar network, Happy Returns will quadruple the number of locations where shoppers can drop off returns hassle-free. The alliance includes more than 2,000 FedEx company-owned stores. The more than 2,000 FedEx Office locations join 500-plus existing Return Bars in Happy Returns’ network located in traditional retailers, shopping malls, campus bookstores and office buildings.

“We are thrilled to grow with FedEx Office to bring in-person returns to more online shoppers,” said David Sobie, co-founder and CEO of Happy Returns. “In a time of retail uncertainty due to the coronavirus, it is incredibly valuable to add an essential services provider like FedEx Office to our growing network.”

Arcadia, California-based Happy Returns has experienced significant growth in 2020, despite the pandemic, with a customer list that has been growing rapidly, as retailers of all sizes seek to save costs through better returns software and improved reverse logistics.

The company added more new customers in the second quarter of 2020 than all of 2019 combined, including surging digital natives such as Public Recreation, Mack Weldon and Betabrand; traditional incumbents with a renewed focus on digital commerce, such as Dressbarn, Havianas and the Steve Madden brands; and direct-to-consumer upstarts gaining traction, such as Clove,The Great, Peak Design and United by Blue.

In related news, e-commerce software provider 3dcart said that it's collaborating with FedEx to bring competitive shipping discounts to online stores. This new enhancement brings even more benefits to the FedEx Advantage program for 3dcart merchants.

3dcart's integration with FedEx already provides online store owners with advantages like real-time FedEx shipping rates at checkout, as well as FedEx Return Merchandise Authorization and Hold-at-Location options on select plans. Now, 3dcart online store owners who participate in the FedEx Advantage program can get significant discounts on select FedEx shipping services.

"Shipping is central to e-commerce, and we're always looking for ways to improve the experience for both our merchants and their customers," said Gonzalo Gil, CEO of Tamarac, Florida-based 3dcart. "These discounts through the FedEx Advantage program are the newest of several benefits e-commerce merchants can access through the 3dcart-FedEx relationship."