With a record number of consumers shopping online for the holidays,
post-holiday returns and exchanges will keep UPS® (NYSE: UPS)
busy right through the new year. UPS National Returns Day is Jan.
6, 2015, when the company expects consumers will ship more than
800,000 packages back to retailers and merchants. By the end of the
first full week in January, UPS anticipates transporting 4 million
return packages in the United States.
"We have successfully completed two of three phases of the Peak
holiday delivery season. Our Cyber Weekend and pre-Christmas
performance helped retailers take advantage of holiday demand. We
are now preparing for a surge in volume driven by Returns Week
beginning next Monday," said Alan Gershenhorn, UPS executive vice
president and chief commercial officer.
"As e-commerce continues to grow, simple returns services have
become an essential part of the overall consumer shopping
experience. Our research shows online shoppers care about returns
convenience with 66% reviewing a retailer's return policy before
making a purchase, and 68% said they would complete an online
purchase if the retailer simply offered a free return shipping
label," he said.
According to the 2014 UPS Pulse of the Online Shopper Study™,
returns are on the rise with 62% of consumers stating they returned
an item bought online in 2014, compared to 51% in 2012.
UPS is improving its locator tool available on ups.com or
the UPS App for iPhone and Android smartphones to help consumers
find the most convenient location to drop off returns.
To help retailers provide a simple returns experience for
consumers, unwanted holiday items can be dropped off at any of the
4,400 The UPS Store® locations where employees can assist with
packing and shipping. Shoppers can also place their pre-paid ground
or air returns into any of the 38,000 UPS Drop Boxes.
Consumers living in New York and Chicago also can drop off
pre-labeled and pre-paid packages at a nearby UPS Access Point™
location. These local small businesses such as cafés, boutiques,
grocery and convenience stores, are open late in the evening and on
weekends.
Currently, there are 300 UPS Access Point locations in Brooklyn
and the Bronx, and 100 locations throughout the Chicago area.
National Returns Day Events 2015
Media Note: UPS and The UPS Store are hosting
National Returns Day activities on Jan. 6, 2015 in California and
Chicago.
California
The UPS Store #1433
Where: 9450 Mira Mesa Blvd., Suite C, San Diego
Time: Noon - 2 p.m. PST
What: Drop off holiday returns and The UPS Store will donate $1
to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program for every transaction made
that day. Store owner, Dennis Stein will be available for
interviews. Store hours: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Chicago
Tea'se Tea Shoppe
Where: 5755 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago
Time: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m. EST
What: Drop off holiday returns at this UPS Access Point location
in Chicago and enjoy a cup of hot tea. Two brothers are on a
mission to try and change the way people think about tea. Prizes
will be given away every hour. Store owner, David Ratulowski will
be available for interviews. Store hours 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
About UPS
UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a
broad range of solutions including transporting packages and
freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced
technology to more efficiently manage the world of business.
Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and
territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at
ups.com®and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com.
For UPS news, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.
About The UPS Store
With more than 4,400 locations, The UPS Store network comprises
the nation's largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal,
print and business service centers. The UPS Store locations in the
U.S. are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees
of The UPS Store, Inc., a subsidiary of UPS (NYSE: UPS). Services,
pricing and hours of operation may vary by location. For additional
information, visit theupsstore.com. Follow on Twitter @TheUPSStore
and like on Facebook at facebook.com/theupsstore.
# # #
CONTACT: Natalie Godwin-Norrington
ngodwin@ups.com
404-828-6536