Asda tests doorstep returns for George and over 100 retail brands

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Apr 25, 2022

Doorstep returns are taking a step forward. Asda supermarket customers in almost 50 UK locations can now return parcels from more than 100 of the country's most popular retailers and George.com at the same time as receiving their grocery delivery.

From this month, Asda's customers in selected locations can hand back any unwanted items to a home shopping driver when accepting a grocery order - “without the need to visit a store or returns location”.

The trial “will give shoppers greater flexibility when returning George and fashion items bought online and utilises Asda’s ‘toyou’ parcel network, enabling customers to track their package from the doorstep all the way back to the original retailer”, it said.

To take advantage of the service customers need to follow the process with the relevant retailer and have an online grocery order scheduled with Asda.

On the day of their delivery, they inform the driver when accepting their food shop, who will check that the items fit into a tote and give them a receipt. Customers will then be able to track their return as usual and avoid a separate trip to process their parcel.

“The move will make online returns more convenient for George customers and gives greater accessibility to Asda’s toyou service, which will be available to online grocery customers in the 48 trial locations for the first time”, it said.

Simon Gregg, senior VP of e-commerce at Asda, added: “We know that customers increasingly want to be able to access more services more conveniently to better fit in with their lifestyle. By partnering with toyou to efficiently use space available within our home shopping vans, we’re able to offer online grocery customers an additional service that makes it simple to return items purchased via George.com and hundreds of the nation’s favourite retailers.

He added: “With many more of us now shopping for fashion items online, this trial gives customers added value when they shop with us.”