Despite some initial losses, retailers will most likely benefit from issuing refunds to customers for unwanted and unreturned merchandise.
Processing online returns can cost anywhere between $10 and $20—and that's not taking into consideration freight charges, Rick Faulk, chief executive of Locus Robotics, the Journal. For items under that price point or large items that may incur hefty shipping charges that merchants can't pass off to consumers, the cost-saving benefits for merchants become apparent.