Understanding The Returns
The return process is a pillar of both Vendor and Customer Experiences. Therefore, it is essential for you vendors to know what is at stake and how you can develop your brand reputation in the eyes of the customers.
In the meantime, Jumia also wants to ensure that your rights are guaranteed in the different return processes.
1. What are the different types of return?
The return process varies in function of the return reason:
A/ The customer didn’t receive the item because he rejected it at the delivery or because the delivery failed.
B/ The customer accepted the item at the delivery but then decided to return it for those reasons:
- Customer changed his/her mind
- The item is wrong/defected/used/refurbished/counterfeit
2. RETURN PROCESS #1: if the delivery failed OR the customer rejected the order at the delivery.
As we know the importance to your business of having cash flow and your items returned on time, we promise you that your undelivered items will be returned to you within 21 days from the shipping date or that you will be paid the item value if we cannot meet this promise.
A/ You will receive an email to warn you when all our delivery attempts failed or the customer did not want to take the item.
B/ The package will be sent to the same Vendor Drop Off (VDO) where you dropped it. You will then have 7 days to pick it up:
- If you don’t pick it up at the VDO, the package will be sent to the Central RTV Station (North Industrial hub) where you will still be able to pick it up.
- If you don’t pick it up at the Central RTV Station (North Industrial hub) within 14 days, it will be moved back to the Spintex warehouse and forfeited.
- If the item is lost by Jumia, or if Jumia is unable to return your item within 21 days, Jumia will refund you (see here below “5. How do I get paid for items breaching the 21 day vendor commitment?”)
3. RETURN PROCESS #2: the customer accepted the order at the delivery, but then returns it because of a default on the item OR because he changed his mind.
A/ Jumia After Sales team gets the package back. At this step, they accept all the articles with following criterias:
- Anything that is resalable unless it has a defect or hidden defect
- The returned product must be in its original packaging
- The product has not been used
- No part of the product is missing
- Sealed products
B/ If the default on the item is confirmed (or the item respects all the criteria mentioned above but the customer changed his mind), then the package will be sent to the same VDO where you dropped it. You will then have 7 days to pick it up (you will receive a notification email to warn you whenever the package is available at your VDO).
If the reason given by the customer to reject the item is invalid, the package will be sent back to the customer. To protect its vendors, Jumia blacklists all customer having placed more than 5 shipped orders with a success delivery rate inferior than 50%: these customers are banned from Jumia and thus can not buy items anymore.
4. Steps to follow to pick up your returned item at the VDO.
Note: You must follow these steps before arriving at the VDO.
A/ Create a new representative in your Vendor Center account.
Go to Settings > Manage Pickers
Click on “Create pickers”
B/ Enter the “Name of the representative”
Click on “Save”
C/ Record the representative’s password, this information will not be visible later. If lost, the password can be reset.
D/ Make sure your representative knows his ID: he will have to show it in order to pick up your returned item a the VDO.
5. How do I get paid for items breaching the 21 day vendor commitment?
A/ Seller support contacts you within a week past the 21st day to request an invoice. Send this invoice to the email address that contacts you.
B/ Invoice should have:
– Tax ID No.
– Item description
– Cost of goods
– Your signature
– Date
C/ Payment will be made within 4 to 7 business days after we receive your invoice.
NOTE: You will not be refunded if there is no invoice submitted within 14 days after notification.
6. Return conditions for the customers
To maximize customer satisfaction, Jumia accepts product returns in the following cases:
– The product is not the one ordered
– The product is defective
In addition, Jumia has a legal obligation to offer the customer a 7-day withdrawal period during which he has the right to change his mind without having to justify himself.
However, customers are not allowed to return product from those categories
- Innerwear, swimsuits, gym wear, sleep wear
- Perfumes, jewelry, health & wellness products, adult toys
- Products shipped from overseas
If the customer returns an item because he changed his mind, the product must be returned in its original condition.
Example: For mobiles, the item must be sealed in its original condition so you can sell it once again to a new customer, if the item was returned unsealed then JUMIA will not accept the item and return it back to the customer.
7. Tips to avoid returns
Here are some tips to help you minimize the number of returns:
- Make sure the description and image of your product are 100% accurate and matches the item so your customers know exactly what to expect when ordering from your Jumia shop
- Make sure to ship the correct product (e.g. color, size)
- Make sure to ship a genuine product (e.g. no copy, no counterfeit)
- Make sure to pack your items using our packaging guidelines so your customer receives your product in its’ original condition
- Make sure to ship all the items the customer has ordered from your store.
NOTE: For Jumia Express products, see more information on the returns here