South Africa, April 16 -- A recent FedEx survey conducted in the US highlights just how much return policies influence consumer behaviour, with two-thirds of respondents considering an online retailer's return policy before checking out.

Nearly 30% admitted that the ease of returning products directly influenced whether they completed a transaction.

"Consumers are making it clear that flexibility and convenience are essential when it comes to online shopping returns," says Gregory Saffy, managing director of operations for sub-Saharan Africa at FedEx.

"We've also seen a continual rise in no-label, no-box returns and growing demand for flexible drop-off options, which reinforce the need for retailers to offer solutions that make returns...