— As post‑holiday returns arrive at homes and mailboxes, several large U.S. retailers have begun charging customers to send back unopened items. Macy’s now charges $9.99 for mail returns, TJ Maxx and Marshalls charge $11.99, and other chains including J.Crew, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M and Zara assess fees ranging from $3.99 to $7.50; Best Buy can charge up to $45 for returning certain electronics. The change coincides with tighter policies at Amazon and industry estimates that returns will total roughly $850 billion this year.
Key takeaways
- Macy’s mail‑in return fee is $9.99; TJ Maxx and Marshalls charge $11.99 for mail returns.
- J.Crew charges $7.50, Abercrombie & Fitch $7, H&M $3.99 and Zara $4.95 for mail returns.
- Best Buy may charge up to $45 to return certain electronics, depending on product and return reason.
- Amazon has tightened returns, applying charges to some customers unless they use in‑person, box‑free drop‑off options.
- The National Retail Federation estimates Americans will return about $850 billion in merchandise this year; roughly 20% of online purchases are returned, per NRF figures.
- Industry experts point to rising logistics, restocking and tariff‑related costs as drivers of the policy shift, though causation is not fully established.
Background
Retail returns have long been a cost center for merchants: reverse logistics involves inspection, repackaging, restocking or disposition of items that may not be resellable at full price. Online shopping expanded returns volumes—NRF figures show roughly one in five online purchases is sent back—stretching carrier capacity and processing operations. During peak seasons such as post‑Christmas, return volumes spike, adding staff and shipping burdens for retailers.
Retailers previously absorbed many return costs as a customer‑service differentiator to encourage online sales. Over the last several years, however, margins have tightened as shipping rates, labor and, according to some industry voices, tariff policies rose. Smaller items can be more expensive to process than their value justifies, and categories such as consumer electronics present higher handling and refurbishment costs.
Main event
In late December 2025 multiple national chains updated or enforced return fees for mailed returns. Macy’s rolled out a $9.99 mail‑in return charge. TJ Maxx and Marshalls instituted $11.99 fees for mail returns. Fashion retailers including J.Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch implemented fees in the $7–$7.50 range, while fast‑fashion brands H&M and Zara set smaller charges of $3.99 and $4.95 respectively.
Best Buy has applied return handling charges of as much as $45 on some electronics, a step that reflects higher inspection and refurbishment costs for those items. Amazon has narrowed its exceptions and now may charge return fees for certain purchases unless customers use designated in‑person, box‑free drop‑off options at partner locations.
Retailers characterize fees as a cost‑sharing measure intended to discourage low‑intent purchases and to offset processing expenses. Consumers who bought gifts online after the holidays found their options constrained: free in‑store returns remain available at some stores, but mail‑in routes that used to be free are increasingly assessed a flat fee.
Analysis & implications
For consumers, these fees change the calculus of post‑holiday behavior. Gifts that were once easy to send back may instead be kept, gifted forward, or resold locally to avoid return charges; that shift could alter secondary markets and accelerate resale activity. Consumers who regularly order multiple sizes or styles and return many items will see their total costs rise meaningfully.
For retailers, fees represent an attempt to recover visible costs—carrier charges, labor for inspection and restocking, and losses to fraud and spoilage—while nudging shoppers toward lower‑cost return channels, like in‑store drop‑offs. Companies balancing customer experience and profitability may use fees selectively to discourage low‑value returns without undermining long‑term loyalty.
Broader economic and policy factors may amplify the trend. Rising transportation and labor costs are documented pressures; some industry figures also point to recent tariff changes as increasing inventory and import costs, which in turn squeeze margins. Regulators may face pressure from consumer groups to examine the fairness and disclosure of return fees, particularly when fees are applied inconsistently across customer segments.
Comparison & data
| Retailer | Typical mail‑in return fee |
|---|---|
| Macy’s | $9.99 |
| TJ Maxx / Marshalls | $11.99 |
| J.Crew | $7.50 |
| Abercrombie & Fitch | $7.00 |
| H&M | $3.99 |
| Zara | $4.95 |
| Best Buy (certain electronics) | Up to $45 |
The table shows advertised flat fees for mail returns reported at the end of December 2025. These fees do not always apply to in‑store returns or to items returned for retailer‑responsible errors; policies vary by brand and purchase channel. Across the sector, retailers are increasingly distinguishing between return methods and reasons when assessing fees.
Reactions & quotes
“Merchants are under a tremendous amount of cost pressure…they’re asking shoppers to share some of the burden,”
David Sobie, co‑founder, Happy Returns (industry entrepreneur)
“Americans are expected to return about $850 billion in merchandise this year,”
National Retail Federation (industry trade group)
“Some purchases may incur return shipping or processing charges unless they are dropped off at an eligible in‑person location,”
Amazon returns policy page (company policy)
Context: Sobie, who runs a returns logistics company that uses automation, framed fees as a merchant response to rising operational costs. The NRF figure conveys the scale of returns pressure on the supply chain. Amazon’s policy language highlights how retailers are steering customers toward lower‑cost drop‑off options.
Unconfirmed
- Attribution of fee increases primarily to White House tariff policy remains unverified; multiple factors likely contribute to cost pressure.
- Whether fees will become permanent industrywide policy across all categories and retailers is not yet established.
- Exact thresholds and enforcement practices (who is charged and under what conditions) vary by retailer and remain fluid through early 2026.
Bottom line
After the 2025 holiday surge, several major retailers have started charging mail‑in return fees that can materially affect shoppers who expected free, hassle‑free returns. Consumers should check return policies before purchasing—particularly for gifts or higher‑value electronics—and consider in‑store or designated drop‑off options to avoid charges.
For policymakers and consumer advocates, the rise of return fees raises questions about transparency, fairness and how to protect low‑income shoppers for whom fees are a proportionally larger burden. For retailers, fees are a short‑term lever to manage costs; how customers respond will determine whether fees remain widespread or are adjusted in favor of more nuanced, customer‑friendly solutions.
Sources
- CBS News (news report)
- National Retail Federation (industry trade group; returns estimate)
- Macy’s — returns policy (retailer policy)
- Amazon — returns & refunds help (company policy)