Definition
The flow of goods travelling backwards through the supply chain: customer returns, warranty repairs, recalls, reusable packaging and end-of-life recycling. It has its own costs and processes — inspection, grading, refurbishment, restocking or disposal — and e-commerce growth has made it a major cost line. Cross-border returns from South Africa add a customs dimension, since re-exporting faulty goods or re-importing repaired ones needs the right SARS procedures to avoid paying duty twice.