Many small business wonders keep wondering about what is the best return policy for small businesses. The truth is that small business owners need to deal with a lack of resources that big companies don’t have. The truth is that no matter how much you want to provide your customers with a good return policy, you just can’t afford to offer a 90-day period as Costco, for example.
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But this isn’t the only problem. Let’s say that you were able to offer this kind of return policy. You would then have some customers buying Christmas trees in December to decorate their homes and they would then return them in January when they didn’t need them anymore.
Return Policies Are Not All The Same
One of the things that you need to keep in mind when you are looking for a good return policy for small businesses is that not all return policies are the same. The truth is that they tend to vary a lot.
In the case of Amazon, for example, customers can return their items within 30 days. However, when you are an Amazon merchant, you can set up your own rules. On the other hand, when you take a look at Target, Walmart or even Home Depot, they offer 90 days. In the case of Ikea, the company lets their customers return products within a full year after purchase.
Even though some return policies are longer than the others, all of them include exceptions. For example, for more expensive items, you usually have a smaller timeframe to return it. Besides, in most of these retailers, you are required to have the original packaging as well as a proof of purchase.
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Defining The Best Return Policy For Small Businesses
One of the things that you need to keep in mind is that returns are just a part of doing business. However, as a small business owner, you know that they can be a huge pain. After all, on some occasions, you may need to eat the cost. And the cost is much more than just the price of the item. It also includes the time you spent handling the transaction, preparing the shipping, and it may even end up costing the loss of a customer.
The reality is that even though you can’t avoid returns, you can make them easier for you. And this is done by using the best return policy for small businesses.
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There’s no other way to deal with customers who changed their minds, products that are defective, customers who don’t like the items or when the product doesn’t work as it was supposed to. And then there are always individuals who keep trying to return all the items they can.
This is why you need to ensure that you have a good return policy for small businesses in place. You want to ensure that it is clear about every single detail and that all employees and customers understand and comply with it.