UPS expects record level of return shipments

UPS said it expects a record number of return shipments in the post-holiday season. The return packages are among 750 million packages UPS expects to deliver between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM File Photo

UPS said it expects a record number of return shipments in the post-holiday season. The return packages are among 750 million packages UPS expects to deliver between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM File Photo

UPS said it expects a record number of return shipments in the post-holiday season, with Jan. 3 expected to be the peak day for return packages.

Sandy Spring-based UPS said consumers are already shipping more than 1 million return packages a day in December. On Jan. 3, UPS expects 1.4 million return packages, up 8 percent year-over-year.

The continuing growth of online shopping has also led to increased returns of items ordered online. All of that means more packages being shipped between shoppers and retailers.

The return packages are among 750 million packages UPS expects to deliver between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve. That's up nearly 40 million from last year, the company said. The company and its customers have had problems with delivery delays amid a crush of online orders for the holidays.

UPS said its annual online shopping study shows that 75 percent of consumers have shipped return packages to retailers.

The shipping giant sells services to retailers to handle return shipments, including management of return policies, printing of return labels and a system for a driver to deliver a replacement item while picking up the return item.

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VIDEO: Previous coverage of UPS