ONLINE ITEM NOT SATISFY? NEW SERVICE RETURNS IT
A new return service coming to The Gardens Mall will allow online shoppers to get their money back faster and skip the line at the post office.
“Happy Returns” opens at the mall July 20. Shoppers can bring their purchases from popular online brands to the concierge desk, and an associate will examine the items, take care of shipping and process a refund. The customer provides an email address, receipt or confirmation number to the associate, and the refund is processed to his or her credit card.
As a bonus, customers will get a $10 gift card to The Gardens Mall to use on the same day, according to a news release.
The question is which “popular online brands” are accepted, and if they’re popular enough to make the service worthwhile.
Happy Returns accepts returns from its partner retailers, including KOIO, City Chic, Tradesy, Outerknown, Everlane and Mizzen+Main.
The mall’s retailers know what customers want to see when they walk into a store, but they also recognize the appeal of an online shopping experience, said Whitney Pettis, director of merchant relations and events.
“Happy Returns minimizes the hassle for consumers, providing a more seamless customer journey,” Pettis said in the news release.
And who hasn’t ordered a shirt online that didn’t quite fit the way that we thought it would, a purse that wasn’t as trendy as we expected or shoes that were just a little too big? In this age of instant gratification, time-saving services such as Happy Returns are a welcome addition.
The Gardens Mall is the first in Palm Beach County to offer Happy Returns. The service is also offered at the Somerset Collection in Michigan, which also is owned by the Forbes Company.
The service is another way that brick-and-mortar stores are trying to compete with online giants such as Amazon and that shopping destinations are fighting to keep customers coming through their doors.
The mall is expanding the variety of its retailers, with the opening of a Tesla showroom, seasonal pop-ups and an Arhaus Furniture store.
It also launched a series of free summer wellness programs. Fitness instructors are offering yoga, stretching and Zumba classes. Namaste at the Gardens, a zen lounge on the first floor near the Grand Court, is open through July 15.
The mall also has children’s activities such as chalk art, jump roping and theater presentations July 18 to Aug. 8.
Next door to the mall, the outdoor shopping complex Downtown at the Gardens is due for a mega-makeover, including an additional 105,000 square feet of retail space and a fitness facility. The plans will be the subject of a Palm Beach Gardens development review committee at 10 a.m. July 13.