Many major U.S. retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, and Target, are increasingly offering 'returnless refunds' for low-cost or low-resale items to avoid high shipping and processing costs of returns. This policy allows customers to receive refunds without returning the unwanted items. Companies do not widely publicize these policies to prevent return fraud. Instead, they selectively use algorithms to determine eligible customers based on their purchasing and returning behavior. The rise in online shopping, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased the cost of processing returns, leading retailers to find solutions like returnless refunds. Some retailers, such as Shein, Temu, and Chewy, have also adopted this policy on a smaller scale. While some are tightening return policies by charging fees or reducing return windows, high-return customers who shop frequently and keep more items than they return are still valued.
