A New Partnership With Happy Returns And Staples Makes Customer Returns Easier

Happy Returns by PayPal PYPL is rolling out its in-person return service in more than 1,000 Staples stores across the country, providing customers with an immediate refund or exchange without a box or label. Customers can drop-off returns through the Happy Returns nationwide network of Return Bar Locations including the newly announced Staples locations. The returns process enables customers to drop off returns without packaging or printing out paperwork and provides this service in under 60 seconds. A QR code is given to the customer and they take the item with the QR code to the return center for an immediate return. All returns are aggregated into consolidated shipments and sent to a central processing center.

The new Happy Returns partnership with Staples increases the number of Return Bars to over 3,800 locations. With the Staples expansion, 75% of Americans now live within a 10-mile radius of a Happy Returns location, making it even more accessible for an in-person returns experience. David Sobie, CEO and co-founder of Happy Returns, said in an interview, “The office supply category is appealing based on the large retail footprint, an established shipping center and the fact that shoppers already think about Staples as a place to process online transactions.” Another major advantage that Sobie discussed is that there is no conflict of interest with the current apparel, accessories and footwear clients that use Happy Returns in terms of using the retail space of Staples to process returns. Happy Returns works with over 250 merchants including Everlane, Rothy’s, Steve Madden, Levi’s, Revolve and most recently added Gymshark, a global athletic apparel brand.

Returns made easy and more sustainable

From a retailer perspective, an expansive network allows for an easier and more convenient process for customers to deal with returns and allows for an immediate refund. From a sustainability view, a core benefit for establishing aggregated return centers is the positive impact on the environment with less materials, fewer shipments and consolidated shipping. Returns are a significant issue with many online retailers and the return process can be very costly. Sobie said, “In the minds of shoppers, they are looking for more sustainable options. If you give the customers a more sustainable option to return goods, they want to choose it. Consumers today are looking for small and big ways they can make a positive impact on the environment.”

PayPal looks to enter the post-transaction market

PayPal, having acquired Happy Returns earlier this year, was engaged with the company as an investor and board member prior to the acquisition. While Sobie would not discuss any future synergies with PayPal’s extensive list of merchant partners, PayPal has shown interest in growing products that service the post-transaction market like returns processing. Currently PayPal has over 400 million consumers and merchants in more than 200 global markets.The companies have similar long term strategies of improving the shopping experience for retailers and customers. 

PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years and has recently rolled out customer programs that provide a more seamless shopping experience focused on heightened convenience. The partnership with Happy Returns and Staples aligns with PayPal’s goal of empowering consumers, and it launched Pay In 4 (its buy-now-pay-later program) last year, making financial budgeting easier for consumers. Recently, PayPal announced its super app which aims to offer a host of consumer services under one roof, including things like enhanced direct deposit, check cashing, budgeting tools, bill pay, crypto support, subscription management, and buy now, pay later functionality.

The impact of Happy Returns on service and the environment

Sobie co-founded Happy Returns nearly six years ago with the mission of making returns beautiful for shoppers, retailers, and the planet. Returning goods bought online was wasteful, expensive and cumbersome for everyone involved. The newly announced deal with Staples provides Happy Returns with an extensive network and the ability to make a larger impact on reducing waste, minimizing the costs for returns and making the shopper experience with returns more convenient and easy.