Online retailer eBay and ParcelPoint have partnered together to launch the first integrated returns service, giving customers access to more than 1300 extended hours at parcel drop locations.
The new service is set to become the largest online retail returns network in Australia.
Increased consumer demand for simplified, reliable, tracked returns has been identified as the key reason behind the partnership and new service.
ParcelPoint CEO and co-founder Julian Leach said it was an exciting move for ParcelPoint as it directly connected the company with 50% of online shoppers in Australia.
"Returns are a key pinch point for online shoppers with our customer research showing that 88% of Aussies say a complex or expensive returns process would impact them purchasing again from the same online seller.
"The feedback from a pilot program we ran with eBay over Christmas was overwhelmingly positive.
"Nearly 70% of the buyers who trialled ParcelPoint via eBay rated the experience as the best or better than most other return services they had used, and so we expect this will drive even greater convenience and satisfaction for customers”.
Insights also revealed that 80% of Australian online shoppers live or work within three kilometres of a ParcelPoint store,
and on average these stores are open 45% longer than standard postal services. This equated to an extra 21 hours each week.