Zara customers in Ireland have been hitting out on social media after the popular retailer confirmed a new charge for online customers.
Coming into effect this month, customers will be faced with a €1.95 charge to return items of unwanted clothing.
The retailer, which is owned by Spanish fashion giant Inditex, has introduced the new fee across Ireland, the UK, and the rest of Europe.
According to a statement from the company, the charge will be deducted from the total refunded amount, but they also highlighted that shoppers can continue to return orders free of charge at any store in the same region where the purchase was made.
READ MORE: Zara shoppers in Ireland dealt blow as fashion company introduces charges for returns for first time
The rules on return will remain the same meaning customers will have 30 days to bring back any items and Zara will also accept returns of items from different orders in a single shipment.
The move to introduce the new fee comes as rates of returns for online fashion retailers have surged in recent months.
With the Covid lockdown, thousands of people rushed online to buy their clothes as shops closed nationwide across 2020 and part of 2021, and as a result, a surge in online buying was seen.
With the increase in online sales came a spike in returns led by customers purchasing the same item in different sizes.
Irish customers have been taking to social media since the announcement and are unhappy with the changes, with one person writing: “Zara, very disappointed that you have started charging for returns! Expected better from you. The best, quality brands don’t charge..”
Another said: “As IFFFFFFFF @ZARA charge for returns now??”
While a third person wrote: “Just saw Zara now charge for returns. Would rather spend the money on petrol to return it in-store for free. I’m LIVID.”
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