Advertisement

UPS Forecasts 23% Increase in Returns Compared to Peak 2020 Period

UPS expects to handle 8.75 million returns during the week of Jan. 4, 2021, a 23% rise from the highest volume return period in the 2019 peak-season cycle, according to Freight Waves. The surge is being attributed to the high number of ecommerce orders during the holiday season, along with the abundance of return options retailers are using to help manage traffic and let shoppers make returns safely.

UPS expects return volumes to be distributed evenly throughout the week rather than concentrated on one or two days. An estimated 1.75 million returns have entered the carrier’s system every day from Jan. 4 through Jan. 8, and traffic is expected to remain elevated into next week.

The pandemic has made consumers more open to alternative return options. Prior to the COVID outbreak, two-thirds of shoppers preferred store returns, and only one-third scheduled returns with a shipping company, according to data from Optoro. A follow-up survey in October 2020 found that 60% of consumers had started using shipping companies to return items.

“With the rise of ecommerce, returns are becoming a more consequential factor in a consumer’s decision about where to spend their dollars, and we’re seeing more consumers checking return policies and options before they even make a purchase,” said Tobin Moore, Co-Founder and CEO of Optoro in comments cited by UPS.

Advertisement

Featured Event

View the Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series on-demand to uncover key 2025 retail trends, from AI and personalization to social commerce. Gain expert insights, data-driven predictions, and actionable takeaways to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Retail Trendcaster Webinar Series
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Uncovering What’s Next in Retail

On-Demand Limited Video Series

Q1 is a pivotal time for retail, with experts analyzing holiday sales and forecasting trends. View the full lineup of the Retail Trendcaster video series for insights on consumer spending, AI, personalization, social commerce, and more—helping you focus on what truly matters in 2025.

Brought to you by
Retail TouchPoints
Access Now
Retail TouchPoints is a brand of Emerald X LLC. By clicking the button and submitting information, you acknowledge and agree that your information may be shared with corporate affiliates of Emerald X LLC, and other organizations such as event hosts, speakers, sponsors, and partners. Please read our Privacy Policy and our Terms Of Use for more information on our policies.

Access The Media Kit

Interests:

Access Our Editorial Calendar




If you are downloading this on behalf of a client, please provide the company name and website information below: