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Retailers are implementing stricter return and refund policies—should you?
  • By SellerBites
  • November 1, 2024
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Retailers are implementing stricter return and refund policies—should you?

We heard Amazon rolled out some ‘spookingly’ good deals yesterday, and it was a hit, especially for electronics and music lovers.

How about you? How’s your Halloween? You know you can always tell us—like we tell you about ecommerce and Amazon.

BLACK MARKET

It’s time for customers to say goodbye to easy return and refund policies.

According to Crowdfund Insider, retailers are stepping up to combat the “policy abuse epidemic.”

✍️ Facts about fraud

We know we don’t need to educate you about ecommerce fraud. But it won’t hurt to revisit how these activities could harm your business, especially this holiday season.

Here are several facts about ecommerce fraud, as shared in the recently published study by Riskified.

  • Fraud is expensive. The study revealed that retailers lose $394 billion due to returns, refunds, and exchanges, with at least $28 billion attributed to fraud and abuse.
  • Policy abuses are increasing. This includes bracketing and wardrobing. What’s worse, regular customers AND professional fraudsters are committing the abuse. 💔
  • Scammers are now tech-savvy.Fraud-as-a-service” groups on the dark web and malicious generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools are spreading rapidly. This makes fraud more sophisticated and harder to detect and prevent.

🙅 Retailers retaliate

Understandably, retailers have had enough and decided to tighten return and refund policies. Some of the protocols they implement are:

But just so you know, not all are planning to be proactive. Others choose to adopt a ‘sliding scale’ approach wherein policies are based on customer value. Some also plan to use an identity-based technology or even ban serial refund and return customers.

Do you think it’s about time to be strict and firm about returns and refunds? Vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ by replying to this email! 🖱️

AMAZON ANNOUNCEMENTS

Last Tuesday, we asked if you want to receive a fresh list of Amazon news every week. And we’ve heard your “Yes” loud and clear, so here are the hottest Amazon updates to take note of:

BITES OF THE WEEK

SOCIAL PULSE

Social media trends to embrace in 2025 for surefire success

Staying on top of social media trends can help you reach more customers and grow your business. With this, here  are the must-know social media trends for 2025, as shared by CMSWire:

  • AI-generated content. AI is making content creation easier and faster!
    • Tip: Learn to “talk” to AI tools to get the best results for your posts.
  • Micro-influencer marketing. Small influencers have fewer followers, but their fans truly trust them. 📱
    • Tip: Find influencers who match your brand’s vibe and can genuinely connect with your audience.
  • Social commerce. Customers love to browse and buy without leaving social media apps.
  • Zero-click content. People love content that gives value right away with no need to click.
    • Tip: Share valuable tips or stories that stand on their own in the feed.
  • Short-form video. Quick, fun videos like Reels and TikToks are huge for grabbing attention fast.
    • Tip: Make 30-second (or less) short videos that show your product in action.
  • Long-form content. People also want more in-depth content now, such as blog posts, podcasts, or how-to videos.
    • Tip: Share longer content like tutorials or stories to help customers learn more about your brand.
  • Personalized marketing. Customers want to feel special—and what better way to give them that than personalize posts and ads?
    • Tip: Use data to personalize recommendations and create targeted offers. 📩
  • LinkedIn growth. LinkedIn is becoming the place for real-time chats and business tips.
    • Tip: Share industry tips and connect with other sellers to build your brand’s reputation.
  • Email newsletters. Email is a great way to stay in touch without fighting algorithms.
    • Tip: Send out fun updates or offers to keep your audience excited to hear from you.
  • User-generated content (UGC). Because people trust people, reviews, photos, and stories by other customers are your best bet at building trust.
    • Tip: Encourage your customers to share pics and reviews of your products.

💡 These trends can give you a competitive edge in 2025. So, keep innovating, stay flexible, and use these insights to boost your business!

Author : SellerBites
Faith began working on SellerBites in 2021, a weekly newsletter that provides sellers with the latest news and updates in FBA. With first-hand experience in managing various seller and vendor accounts, she understands what sellers face on this platform. Her background led to the conception of SellerBites, which main goal is to help people become better, more informed entrepreneurs in the Amazon marketplace.
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