US Returns For European Brands:
How To Handle Them Without Shipping Everything Back To Europe
US shoppers return a lot, and they expect free, easy returns. A European brand should plan for returns to be received, inspected and resold inside the US, not shipped back to Europe. Returning stock across the Atlantic costs more than the item is worth in most cases. If you do not have a US warehouse yet, HORIZON.HUB receives and processes returns for European brands from its Florida warehouse. See how it works.
How Big Returns Are In The US
The National Retail Federation and Happy Returns published their 2025 Retail Returns Landscape report on 15 October 2025. Retailers expect 15.8% of 2025 sales to be returned, worth $849.9 billion. That is down slightly from 16.9% ($890 billion) in 2024. Online purchases are expected to be returned at 19.3%.
In the same consumer survey:
- 82% said free returns are important when shopping online.
- 76% were more likely to pick an option with an instant refund or exchange.
- 71% said they are less likely to shop again after a poor return experience.
Apparel and footwear return rates run higher than the average.
What The Law Says
There is no federal law that requires a retailer to accept returns. But you must honor the policy you publish. The FTC can act on policies that are not honored.
Roughly a third of states have return-policy disclosure laws. Two examples:
- California (Civil Code 1723). Online sellers must disclose a non-standard return policy before taking payment. If it is not posted, customers can get a full refund within 30 days.
- New York (General Business Law 218-a). The refund policy must be posted conspicuously, including the form of refund. With no posted policy, returns must be accepted within 30 days.
Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts and others have similar rules. The practical answer: write one clear policy that meets the strictest state rules, and show it before checkout.
Retailer And Marketplace Returns Are Not Yours To Design
When you sell through a retailer, its return policy applies. On Nordstrom Marketplace, customers return items to Nordstrom under Nordstrom's own policy, and Nordstrom handles the customer conversation. Marketplace items are not exchanged. Mail-in returns are routed back to the seller, so you need a US return address. Nordstrom.com has no published time limit for most returns.
Macy's has published return windows and introduced restocking fees on some categories in 2026. Policies change, so check each retailer's current policy page.
On every marketplace, the seller is expected to have a US address to receive returns and to process refunds fast. Slow return handling hurts seller ratings. For more on each channel, see selling on Nordstrom, Saks and Bloomingdale's and selling on Macy's and Bloomingdale's Marketplace.
Need a US return address for Nordstrom, Macy's or Bloomingdale's?
HORIZON.HUB is the US seller of record on retailer accounts and runs US returns from Florida, while your brand sells under its own name.
Book a callWhat A Return Actually Costs You
Illustrative only. A single return usually carries these costs:
- Inbound return shipping.
- Inspection and re-tagging.
- Repackaging.
- The share of items that cannot be resold at full price.
Industry estimates put the handling cost of one return in the tens of dollars, before any markdown.
Sending goods back to Europe adds international freight, EU import handling and time. EU customs rules do allow returned goods relief for goods coming back in the same state within three years. But the paperwork and freight usually make it not worth it for individual items. Confirm with your customs broker. For how parcels cross the border today, see shipping to the US after the $800 allowance ended.
The Practical Setup: Keep Returns In The US
- A US return address on every retailer and marketplace account.
- A warehouse that receives, inspects and grades returns within a few days.
- Resell A-grade items as new.
- Send B-grade items to outlet or marketplace channels you approve.
- Dispose of or donate items that cannot be sold.
- Refund within the retailer's required window.
- Track return reasons by SKU, so you can fix sizing and product content.
How HORIZON.HUB Handles Your US Returns
This is the part HORIZON.HUB runs. HORIZON.HUB is the US seller of record on retailer accounts, and your brand always sells under its own name. Shipping goods to the US stays your responsibility.
What happens to a returned item:
- It is received at our Florida warehouse.
- It is inspected and graded within a few days.
- A-grade items go back on sale as new.
- B-grade items go to outlet or marketplace channels you approve.
- The refund is processed inside the retailer's return window.
- Return reasons are reported by SKU, so you can fix sizing and product content.
Once stock arrives, we run the Florida warehouse, order shipping, US returns, product data and account management. See our logistics and fulfilment service.
Reducing Returns Before They Happen
- Clear US size guides, with EU to US conversions.
- Accurate product data and photos.
- Fabric and fit notes.
- Fixing SKUs with high return rates.
Returns also belong in your price. See how to price a European brand for US retail. For channel setup, see our marketplace onboarding and US market entry strategy services.
Related Services
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to accept returns in the US?
There is no federal law that requires a retailer to accept returns. But you must honor the policy you publish, and the FTC can act when a policy is not honored. Roughly a third of states also have return-policy disclosure rules, so write one clear policy and show it before checkout.
Can I ship returns back to Europe?
You can, but in most cases it costs more than the item is worth. You add international freight, EU import handling and time. EU returned goods relief can apply to goods coming back in the same state within three years, but the paperwork and freight usually make it not worth it for individual items. Confirm the details with your customs broker. Most European brands we work with keep returns in the US instead; HORIZON.HUB handles this from Florida.
Who handles returns on Nordstrom Marketplace?
Customers return items to Nordstrom under Nordstrom's own policy, and Nordstrom handles the customer conversation. Marketplace items are not exchanged. Mail-in returns are routed back to the seller, so you need a US return address. If HORIZON.HUB is your seller of record, the return comes to our Florida warehouse.
How fast must I refund?
Within the window the retailer or marketplace sets, and as fast as you can. Every marketplace expects sellers to process refunds quickly, and slow return handling hurts seller ratings. Check each retailer's current seller terms.
Should I offer free returns?
Most US shoppers expect them. In a 2025 survey by the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 82% said free returns are important when shopping online. Build the cost of returns into your US pricing so free returns do not eat your margin.
Talk It Through With Us
Every brand starts from a different place. Book a call and we will look at your categories, your prices and your stock, and tell you plainly what we would do.
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