Wehkamp getting far fewer returns since it started charging for it

The decision of the webshop group Wehkamp to charge people for returning a product has worked well. The number of returned products has dropped by 14 percent since the decision was made.

"It was a bold decision to start charging for returns and home delivery at a time when the economy was weak, and our competitors were offering both services for free," said chief executive Graham Harris. "But it has proven to be the right thing to do."

Wehkamp was the first company to charge 50 cents for every returned article. They started doing this in April 2023. Wehkamp also introduced a 50 cents home delivery fee in October last year. The extra costs are now also charged at kleertjes.com and men's fashion webshop Union River.

"This will benefit our financial performance and also our environmental footprint," Harris said. "I would encourage all players in the market to take this necessary leap and, in doing so, make our industry more sustainable."

The webshop company sold 17 percent less in the last financial year than the year before. However, operating profits rose by 30 percent to 26 million euros from April 2023 to March this year.

Wehkamp expects to reduce costs further this year. For example, the distribution center in Zwolle, where all stocks are located, is highly automated. "The market may have slowed down, but we have not stood still," says Harris.