Send it back with help of Return.com

On-line and catalog shoppers -- often leery of making purchases because they don't want the hassle of returns -- got a little help Thursday. Mail Boxes Etc. and Innotrac Corp., an Atlanta marketer, launched www.Return.com an Internet site that allows shoppers to register items they want to return. Once registered, shoppers ship the items through a nearby Mail Boxes Etc. store. There are about 40 such stores in metro Detroit. Shoppers can return items purchased on-line or through catalogs from retailers who have agreements with Return.com. Retailers pay Return.com a fee. Customers must package items and pay for shipping unless retailers work out agreements that would allow shoppers to get discounted or free shipping. By the holiday shopping season, creators of the Web site hope to give customers instant credit for returns. Retailers who use the Web site can tell Return.com to send returned merchandise to warehouses, manufacturers or a network where the items will be sold. The direct routing saves the companies time and money. Creators of the Web site say it offers convenience for customers who want to return items and retailers who have to figure out how to collect all the merchandise.