UPS and Happy Returns have announced an expansion of the Return Bar network, which now has 10,000 drop-off locations in the US.
The expansion has added 1,700 locations, primarily through new partnerships with Annex Brands and PackageHub Business Centers, and reportedly removes friction across the e‑commerce experience for retailers and consumers.
The companies say the expansion reinforces Happy Returns’ position as the largest consolidated return network in the US, which is reported to be more than three times the size of the next-largest alternative.
As businesses of all sizes face rising returns volume, UPS and Happy Returns operate what they say is the only end-to-end reverse logistics network that supports the full lifecycle of e-commerce orders – from delivery through return or exchange.
“We are putting our customers – and their consumers – at the center of our reverse logistics business,” said Matt Guffey, executive vice president and chief commercial and strategy officer at UPS. “We are simplifying the end-to-end e-commerce journey, and when it comes to returns or exchanges, UPS and Happy Returns have a network that is unmatched.”
With the addition of the new locations, 79% of the US population reportedly now lives within five miles (8km) of a Return Bar, up from 76% previously. Additionally, more than a quarter of Americans are said to live within one mile (1.6km) of a convenient drop-off location.
“Our goal is to make returns seamless,” said David Sobie, co-founder and CEO of Happy Returns. “Our Return Bar network is now more than three times the size of the next-closest option, significantly expanding access to box-free, label-free returns with immediate refunds. This growth allows us to deliver unmatched convenience to online shoppers across the country.”
In related news, UPS rolls out RFID sensing technology across US operations