Holiday returns are projected to increase 11% year over year as return deadlines from Amazon and Walmart pass, intensifying the reverse logistics surge. Returns are expensive, costing retailers about $30 per item compared with about $12 for B2C delivery, creating opportunity for logistics providers such as DHL as they scale returns processing, warehousing, and premium reverse logistics services. A key driver is bracketing, where shoppers buy multiple sizes and return what does not fit, pushing return rates higher, especially among Millennials and Gen Z.
