Black Friday is not only a shopping frenzy – it is also an expensive returns frenzy
The cost of the November shopping holiday does not come down only to the significantly increased number of customers in the store or online shopping. The number of returns is also increasing significantly.
Black Friday has its dark side and a big impact on the ecology. Unfortunately. In addition to crowds in the store and quickly running out of discounted goods, the number of returns is also increasing. According to Gi Group Holding experts, they generate a significant part of CO2 emissions and lead to overload of supply chains.
During last year’s Black Friday in Poland, in 2024, turnover increased by 136%. compared to normal November days, and in the household appliances and electronics industry by up to 230%. In total, during the four-day Black Weekend, Poles completed over 26 million Blik transactions worth over PLN 4.1 billion. The number of returns increased by over 100% during Black Friday!
Many Black Friday purchases end up as junk
According to a Finder study, immediately after a sale weekend, their number can increase by up to 143%. This phenomenon is particularly visible in industries such as fashion and electronics, where even 30-40 percent orders go back to the sender. Handling returns involves a number of processes that significantly increase the product’s carbon footprint.
– Transporting goods to a logistics center, unpacking, quality control, re-packing or disposal, as well as additional warehouse operations result in an increase in emissions by up to 30%. relative to the original delivery. In many cases, especially when the goods cannot be put back on the market, they end up as waste. According to estimates, up to 80 percent things purchased in promotions end up in landfills, are burned or processed in an environmentally inefficient way – explains Grzegorz Gojny, regional director of Gi Group.
According to a study by Stratego and PwC, as many as 52 percent shoppers admitted that they regret purchases made during Black Friday, which confirms how often purchasing decisions are made impulsively – without thought or real need. Over 70 percent Poles declare that they regularly return products ordered online.
The reason is incorrectly selected clothing size, unwanted gifts or cosmetics. However, electronic items are also being returned more and more often and are much more difficult to put back on sale. It is not without reason that in the fourth quarter of the year, temporary employment agencies record an increase in demand for employees by up to 30-40%.
