每经热评︱“巨型吊牌”“密码锁”齐上阵都挡不住，平台再不能对恶意退货袖手旁观

Core Viewpoint - The issue of "malicious returns" in the e-commerce clothing sector has led to the implementation of oversized tags by merchants as a defensive measure, which has sparked significant discussion and debate [1][2][4] Group 1: Impact on E-commerce Businesses - Malicious returns have caused substantial financial strain on e-commerce businesses, with reports indicating that a company with over 100 million yuan in sales had a net profit of only 2-3 million yuan, while costs related to returns, including warehousing and sorting, reached nearly 10 million yuan [1] - During last year's "Double 11" shopping festival, one e-commerce operator reported a return amount of nearly 4 million yuan out of 5 million yuan in inventory, with shipping insurance costs alone reaching 120,000 yuan [1][2] Group 2: Consumer Consequences - Consumers may face higher prices as businesses pass on losses from malicious returns, and they risk receiving "second-hand new" items due to extended pre-sale periods as merchants wait for returns to finalize orders [2] - The convenience of return processes, such as home pickup and drop-off at stations, has lowered the time cost for consumers, encouraging the behavior of returning items without genuine intent [2] Group 3: Defensive Measures and Their Limitations - Some merchants have adopted oversized tags, which have reportedly reduced return rates significantly; for instance, one store saw a drop from 45% to 28% in return rates after implementing these tags [3] - However, these measures are not foolproof, as some consumers have found ways to circumvent them, such as carefully cutting tags to try on items [4] Group 4: Need for Systemic Solutions - The complexity of the issue necessitates a comprehensive approach to address malicious returns, with suggestions for platforms to develop a robust governance system that includes identifying malicious return patterns through data analysis [5] - Establishing efficient dispute resolution mechanisms and involving third-party assessment for returned items can help clarify responsibilities and reduce the burden on merchants [6] - The original intent of the "7-day no-reason return" policy was to protect consumer rights, and it is crucial for platforms to optimize rules to create a fair trading environment that discourages malicious returns while benefiting compliant consumers [6]