Merchandise bought by mail order or off the internet and then returned because buyers consider them faulty or they don’t want them after all, are said to be contributing to the extra delivery traffic on UK roads. TVs, for instance, are often sent back because the purchasers can’t get to grips with the operating instructions and don’t get any further than turning on the red standby eye.

A new government-backed report says that returned goods are costing UK retailers around £500m each year in unnecessary freight journeys. Most frequently returned good are electrical items, computers, CDs, books and clothes.

Apart from goods not working properly another reason suggested is that suppliers are operating liberal returns policies in order to maintain customer loyalty but little co-ordinated thought is given to managing the “returns phenomenon” in a sustainable way.

Andrew Leech, 01753 884216