Staples accepting Amazon returns
Consumers will soon have another option for taking care of their Amazon returns.
Staples and Amazon are rolling out a partnership that will add almost 1,000 new physical locations for customers to return Amazon orders. By July 31, 2023, all Staples U.S. retail locations will accept free, label-free, box-free returns for Amazon customers. Customers will be able to drop off eligible unpackaged, unlabeled Amazon items at the full-service shipping area inside Staples stores across the country.
After completing their return, customers will receive a coupon for special savings that they can use on an assortment of products and services in-store that day. Currently, nearly half of Staples’ almost 1,000 brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. are accepting Amazon returns as part of this collaboration.
“Staples is excited to provide Amazon customers with an easy and convenient physical location to drop off returns,” said Craig Grayson, senior VP, services, Staples U.S. Retail. “While many Americans know Staples for back-to -chool shopping, our suite of in store services continues to expand. We look forward to offering a fast and convenient return experience while showcasing our evolution to Amazon customers.”
“We’re thrilled to offer nearly 1,000 additional drop-off locations in the U.S. for Amazon customer returns in collaboration with Staples,” said Gopal Pillai, VP of worldwide returns & recommerce at Amazon. “Our goal is to make buying online as easy as possible, and we know that some items don’t always work out as planned, which is why we work hard to continue to raise the bar in offering a hassle-free returns experience to our customers.”
Amazon tinkers with in-store returns
Amazon owns the Whole Foods and Amazon Fresh chains, which also accept free returns of its online purchases. The company also has partnered with Kohl’s to accept online returns free of charge to consumers at all of the department store retailer’s stores nationwide since 2019.
However, the e-tail giant also recently began assessing customers dropping off purchases made on its site for return at UPS Store brick-and-mortar locations a $1 fee if there is a Whole Foods, Amazon Fresh, or Kohl’s store closer to their delivery address. Amazon has also been identifying items that are frequently returned on its website in recent months.
On the Staples side, this partnership could boost store traffic levels, and potentially sales.
Headquartered in Framingham, Mass. Staples Inc. operates nearly 1,000 stores, with a Staples retail store located within 10 miles of more than half of the U.S. population.