Winn-Dixie to Aid Internet Shopping

One of the reasons many people shy away from e-commerce is because they dread returns. But the process could get a lot more convenient now that Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. (Jacksonville, Fla.) has forged an alliance with a new company that handles on-line merchandise returns, The return Store. The service also extends itself to merchandise bought over the television.

Fourteen of the retailer's customer service centers (mainly in the Southeast) will host operations of The Return Store.

At present, it's not known which, or how many Internet retailers are on-board with The Return Store, but it would allow customers to quickly receive credit for rejected merchandise (that they either bought or received as a gift) providing they still have the packaging and packing slip. As its name suggests, The Return Store then ships the items back to the on-line merchant.

Reportedly, plans call for 400 to 600 such operations within Winn-Dixies by the end of 2001.