Returns have become a major headache in ecommerce, cutting into profit and straining resources. The sheer volume of returns also puts additional pressure on an already overloaded supply chain pushing prices higher for shipping, warehousing and labor.

And yet retailers remain committed to the idea of giving shoppers the ability to return goods with minimal hassle and often for free. Some 32.1% of the Top 500 retailers offered free return shipping in 2021.

Consumer brand manufacturers, at 41.8%, were the most likely among the merchant types we track to offer free return shipping. When we looked at things at the category level, some areas stood well above the average. 58.8% of jewelry retailers offered free return shipping. That’s well above apparel/accessories, where 45.9% of retailers offer free return shipping.