Happy Returns LLC is an American software and reverse logistics company that works with online merchants to handle product returns. Purchased items can be returned in person without boxes or labels at third-party locations known as "Return Bars" including The UPS Store, Staples Inc., , and Ulta Beauty stores,[1] with specific locations searchable on Happy Returns’ website. Consumers can receive their refunds without packaging items, printing and affixing labels, or waiting for mailed packages to reach their destination.[2]
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Product return Logistics E-commerce Shopping |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Area served | United States |
Key people | David Sobie, CEO Mark Geller, CPO Tim Fehr, COO |
| Parent | PayPal (2021–2023) UPS (2023–present) |
| Website | happyreturns |
The company facilitates returns for many brands, including Levi's, Revolve, Everlane, Lands' End, Gymshark.[3] Amazon later developed a similar program in conjunction with Kohl’s stores to accommodate its shoppers.[2]
Happy Returns aggregates and ships returns from its return locations to warehouse hubs, where returns are sorted, processed, and dispositioned, and then bulk shipped back to merchant warehouses.[citation needed] Waste is reduced because shoppers do not need to use a new box to ship out returns.[4][5]
History
editDavid Sobie and Mark Geller co-founded Happy Returns in July 2015. The two met at NordstromRack.com/HauteLook, where they created and launched a similar program enabling shoppers to return online purchases to physical stores. Happy Returns opened its first Return Bar location in April 2016.[6]
In June 2021, Happy Returns was acquired by PayPal.[7]
In October 2023, it was announced Happy Returns had been acquired by UPS from PayPal[8] for $455 million.[9]
References
edit- ^ "How e-commerce brands can scale logistics sustainably". Vogue Business. 2021.
- ^ a b Del Rey, Jason (2020). "Online shopping is booming but so are returns. An old-school solution is gaining steam". Vox.
- ^ D'Innocenzio, Anne (2020). "Retailers brace for flood of returns from online shopping". AP News.
- ^ Benveniste, Alexis (2020). "Soon FedEx won't require boxes and labels when you make some returns". CNN Business.
- ^ Mull, Amanda (2021). "The Nasty Logistics of Returning Your Too-Small Pants". The Atlantic.
- ^ Rogers, Kate (2017). "A start-up's plan to take the headache out of online refunds". CNBC.
- ^ Rooney, Kate (2021-05-13). "PayPal to buy online returns start-up in its latest run at the retail shopping space". CNBC. Retrieved 2022-01-22.
- ^ "UPS Acquires Happy Returns". The Business of Fashion. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
- ^ "PayPal's Q3 2023 Earnings Call". PayPal investor relations. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-01.