E-COMMERCE LOGISTICS It's Getting Easier To Return Items Bought On The Web.(A)(Internet & Technology)

Byline: Gary M. Stern

Investor's Business Daily

Buying an item on the Internet is as easy as clicking once or twice and fillingin a credit card number.

But what about returning an item you bought online? Two clicks won't return your item. After many phone calls and a lot of re-packaging, the return processmay only be starting. Some consumers are exasperated.

Several companies, though, are working to end online-product-return headaches through so-called reverse lo

gistics systems. This refers to moving goods and data from their "final" destination to another point. The idea is to either somehow get some value fromthe item or simply dispose of it - while keeping customers happy.

Online sites have had a tough time conquering returns. Returns on goods bought over the Internet run much higher than returns to retail stores.