Ian
For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The doctrine is very appropriate when it comes to business.
The business gets the money. We get the product or service. So long as we are the ones paying, the concerns will be endless.
Will the product be okay. What if its defective. What if it doesn’t fit me. What if I don’t like it. What are their return policies. All these questions keep circuiting our head like a Formula One car in a race.
In 2007, Harris Poll conducted a survey. The numbers disclosed that an astonishing 91% of the consumers went on to make to a decision about going ahead with the product or service based on the returns policy of the company.
Whether it is an online business or an actual brick-and-mortar store, returns and refunds is a very important factor in the constitution of a business. And as part of the constitution, the business needs to make sure the refunds and returns policies are kept as public and transparent as possible.
If the customer wants to return a product or register a a case about the product about a possible defect in the item, the customer shouldn’t have to go the Moon and back merely to find the customer care number.
Companies/businesses are becoming increasingly aware at how the whole ideology of returns and refunds policy of the company is material in order to be able to shift the direction of the consumer’s psyche toward a purchase.
In the shipping world, without FedEx and UPS, theoretically, the world would be stranded. The two carrier companies deliver millions of packages every day.
A report in 2012 stated that UPS delivers 12 million packages every day. FedEx delivers 3.4 million packages/day. With so many transactions, destinations, pick up and delivery trucks, drivers, logistical software, and other shipping
engagements, not always will FedEx and UPS be able to deliver as per the agreement. Delays are to be expected. Packages will go missing. Catastrophes are bound to take place. Does that mean the shipper is responsible and deserves to take responsibility for the damage to goods or loss of it or the delay of it?
When FedEx delays a shipment, sometimes it does refund automatically. But when it comes to UPS, there is no direct/automatic refund.
In the invoice presented by FedEx, if the invoice says ‘SYSTEMATIC SVC FAIL’, it means that FedEx has not charged us for that particular delivery. Then again, the automatic refunding process with FedEx is not consistent.
With UPS, until we file a GSR(Guaranteed Service Refund), there is no way of getting the refund.
A facilitator like lateshipment will be able to comprehensively track all delayed deliveries and claim for refunds automatically.