Blinkit launches 10-minute returns service in these cities

Blinkit has launched a return and exchange service in select categories across prominent locations. Initially available as a pilot programme in the national capital and adjoining areas, the new service allows users in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune to request returns of products from clothing and footwear categories.

“This solves a crucial problem of size anxiety for categories like clothing and footwear. This return or exchange will happen within 10 minutes of raising a request,” said Blinkit’s co-founder Albinder Dhindsa in a post on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting how the new service will improve the shopping experience for Blinkit users.

Blinkit’s new service counters that from more established fashion e-commerce brands like Myntra and Ajio, which have struggled to mitigate high number of returns. Flipkart-owned Myntra had to tweak its return policy last year, imposing a “convenience fee” of between Rs 199 and Rs 299 on every order under a project called “return-as-a-service.” Reliance Retail-owned Ajio also has a nuanced return policy, where returns are allowed for select categories for free. However, customers are required to pay for returns in certain conditions.

The return and exchange service on Blinkit comes weeks after rival Zepto, another quick commerce player available in metropolitan cities, experimented with fashion exchanges. The company introduced a 72-hour exchange window for products in the clothing category, but only for damaged or defective units. Zepto does not let users request for a return or exchange in case of an issue of size or colour.

Other rivalling platforms such as Swiggy Instamart and BB Now from BigBasket have no return service like Blinkit’s. Dhindsa said the Easy Returns functionality will be available in more cities “soon.”

Earlier this month, Blinkit introduced the ability to add GSTIN (Goods and Services Tax Identification Number) for businesses buying items. “A lot of our customers have asked for GST invoices in the past as it is a big decision-making factor, especially for high value purchases like electronics,” said Dhindsa in a post announcing the functionality, which is now live across cities.