The most efficient and sustainable route optimization for returns
Tern creates optimal neighborhood pickup routes. This allows for consistent and efficient coverage of all households in a coverage zone.
Just like home pickup of recycling, customers are offered predictable pickup times that make Tern a true household return utility.
Low-mile routes cut miles driven and carbon emissions by over 96% on the first leg of a return journey.
Tern drivers - employees, not contractors - pick up returns in branded Tern vehicles to provide a consistent and outstanding customer experience.
Returns are brought to Tern’s warehouses for processing where they can be assessed, classified, and bulk shipped to the merchant’s destination of choice.
The most efficient and sustainable route optimization for returns
Tern creates optimal neighborhood pickup routes. This allows for consistent and efficient coverage of all households in a coverage zone.
Just like home pickup of recycling, customers are offered predictable pickup times that make Tern a true household return utility.
Low-mile routes cut miles driven and carbon emissions by over 96% on the first leg of a return journey.
Tern drivers - employees, not contractors - pick up returns in branded Tern vehicles to provide a consistent and outstanding customer experience.
Returns are brought to Tern’s warehouses for processing where they can be assessed, classified, and bulk shipped to the merchant’s destination of choice.
The Tern Merchant Platform
Tern Home Pickup
Elite scheduling experience that lets consumers schedule pickups when and where it is most convenient for them, expanding the merchant’s brand experience and building consumer trust.
APIs to let merchants handle return requests for their customers within their own environment.
Return item tracking with common shipping carriers integration, to let consumers know where their items are at any time.
Insurance for up to $3,500 per return item.
Professional employee-based team, vetted and trained to provide an elite customer experience, while still focusing on efficiency.
Branded Tern employee apparel for couriers. Branded Tern pickup vehicles, with co-branding options.
Tern Merchant Services
Real-time verification and assessment of goods at the time of pickup.
Return item condition classification for optimized return flows. (Clean resell vs. refurbish vs. disposable).
Efficient shipping through existing merchant relationships or Tern’s shipping network.
Intelligent pickup routing with package consolidation, and pickups by neighborhood (Carpooling for returns).
Tern’s reusable tote bags or poly mailer bags reduce the cost of packing materials and recyclables.
Strong focus on reducing the carbon impact of returns.
Fraud and Refund Services
Returns abuse protection with item verification and product/ customer behavior data analysis.
Guaranteed fraud coverage. Financial guarantee against return fraudulence.
Upfront refunds.
Why Tern?
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| SAVE ON FREIGHT AND PACKAGING | ||
| Smart pickup routing and item pickup consolidation |  |
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| Inspection-based routing (back to shelf, liquidation, or disposal) | |
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| Tern’s reusable tote bags or poly mailer bags to reduce the cost of packing materials | |
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| Faster inventory turnover (Faster time to return decision) | |
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| DECREASE RETURN ABUSE | ||
| Item inspection & assessment at pickup | |
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| Product/customer behavior data analysis | |
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| INCREASE CLTV | ||
| Elite home pickup experience | |
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| Best in class customer's scheduling and return tracking experience | |
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| Employee-based team vetted and trained to provide an elite experience | |
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| Instant refunds | |
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| ENVIRONMENTALLY FOCUS | ||
| Decrease of CO2 emissions on the first mile of returns | |
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We have returned items to hundreds of merchants
Why home pickup?
Customers just want convenience when it comes to returns.
Of consumers describe their recent returns experience as “inconvenient”
Of consumers said a returns policy had deterred them from shopping with a merchant.
Of consumers buy again from a merchant based on a positive return experience.