International express return fees are generally high, and in many cases, even more expensive than reshipping.
In this article, Weefreight provides a detailed analysis, which we hope will be helpful.
Return fee components:
Shipping costs: This is the primary component of the return fee, typically calculated based on the package’s weight or volumetric weight. Return fees for commercial couriers like FedEx and UPS can be 1.5-2 times the original shipping fee, as reverse logistics space may incur a premium. For example, a 1kg shipment originally shipped to the US for 300 yuan might cost 500-800 yuan for return shipping.
Customs clearance fees: The destination country’s customs office may charge a return handling fee of approximately US$50-200 per shipment. If you cannot prove that the returned goods are “originally exported,” you may be required to pay import duties upon return to the country of origin.
Storage Fees: Warehouse fees apply while the shipment is held at the destination country’s warehouse. These fees are typically free for the first three days, with a charge of $0.50-2 USD/kg/day thereafter.
Handling Fees: Couriers may charge a handling fee to cover administrative costs during the return process, costing approximately $30-100 USD. This fee may also include costs for package inspection, repackaging, label replacement, and other operations.
Comparison with Reshipment Fees:
From a shipping perspective, returns are often more expensive because reverse shipping may not offer discounts and storage space may be at a premium. Reshipping, on the other hand, allows shippers to choose different courier services and channels based on the specific nature of their shipments, potentially finding better rates.
Returns may also incur additional costs, such as customs clearance and storage fees, which are generally not incurred when reshipping. For example, if a package from China to the US is returned due to an incorrect address, in addition to paying a higher return shipping fee than the original shipping fee, you may also incur storage fees due to the package being held in the destination country, as well as return shipping fees in the destination country.
(Note: All fees mentioned above are for reference only. Please refer to your actual invoice for details. Thank you!)
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