Return Management Services for Retailers
Retailers constantly struggle with return management. In fact, from handling products returned by consumers to facilitating the returns process with manufacturers and suppliers, consumer returns and recall management can be some of the most challenging aspects of managing a retail business. Whether the consumer changes his or her mind, the product doesn’t fit or is broken, or the product is defective and has been recalled, retailers are truly the face of every corporation – and most critically their own company.
Product return — the process by which customers identify flaws or defects in a product that require it to be returned to the manufacturer — is a normal part of doing business. But a product return is often a lot more than a retail customer returning a sweater because it doesn’t fit properly. The return process can also be triggered by a product withdrawal or recall. And for every return, effective documentation and management is important. Efficient and compliant returns management requires effective communication, processing, tracking, counting, and reimbursement. And efficient and effective returns management can even help identify and solve a product problem before it leads to an expensive and damaging recall.
Whenever a product is returned to its manufacturer, and especially during a recall, it is critical that all relevant information is documented and analyzed to ensure that you will be able to show regulators complete and accurate records whenever they ask for them. Regulators may want to review this information in order to determine whether you need to recall the product and, if so, to verify that you have followed appropriate recall procedures and regulations.
Stericycle ExpertRECALL is ready to help retailers manage the return and recall process. When you need assistance with navigating the complex recall process, ExpertRECALL can help you make sure that products pulled from shelves or taken out of the hands of consumers are returned to the appropriate distribution center, supplier or manufacturer, while also providing you with the necessary documentation of the process all along the way. As retailers are increasingly held accountable for the products on their shelves, it is critical that returned or recalled products never go unnoticed or unaccounted for.
