26 December 2023 , 11:20
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Evri has shared a warning to Brits who plan on returning some Christmas gifts this January.
Every year, on Christmas Day, thousands of people are disappointed by a jumper that looks like they’ve borrowed it from a grandparent, or a pair of jeans they can’t quite get above their knees.
The delivery firm Evri has said it expects the "busiest return season on record" with 155,000 parcels likely to be returned in the first two weeks of January. This is a 19% increase on the year before. To help shoppers this year, Evri has highlighted what should do when returning their items to make sure they receive the full refund on their unwanted presents and purchases.
Firstly, shoppers will need to take note of their retailer’s return and exchange policy and pay particular attention to the deadline for getting the items back to them. Every retailer has a different policy with some allowing you one month to return your item whilst others only give two weeks - either way, shoppers should set a reminder in your phone so they don’t miss it.
When wrapping your item for a return many people reuse packaging from other purchases. Now although this is more sustainable, shoppers should be aware, that it’s important to remove or cover up old barcodes and labels as parcels are handled by automated scanners which might get confused by multiple barcodes.
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Whether you use old packaging or new, Evri says shoppers should make sure there are no loose or torn edges which could get stuck in machinery. Alongside this, you should also include an address inside the parcel as a precaution in case the label becomes unreadable. However, it’s important not to put sticky tape over the barcode itself as that can make it difficult to scan and cause delays.
David Saenz, chief growth officer, at Evri, said: “Retailers are committed to getting you a refund as soon as possible. Evri helps you do this with Post Office branches, Tesco stores, independent convenience stores and lockers around the UK to drop off your returns. Some locations are open 24 hours, and most are open between Christmas and New Year. It’s super easy to nip around the corner to drop off an unwanted gift before you get busy again in January.”
Evri has around 11,000 ParcelShops and Lockers that can be used for returns. You can check for your nearest location through Evri's website here.