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Guide • Returns and complaints after the holidays

Returns and complaints after Christmas and New Year: how to build the relationship

Returns and complaints spike after the holidays: gifts that missed the mark, impulse purchases, damage in transit and the wrong sizes. It is a hard moment — and an opportunity to show customers that you can act quickly, with empathy and in the open. Here is how the Debesis ticketing system brings order to returns and complaints, and builds loyalty along the way.

Returns Complaints Customer service approx. 7 min read updated: 2025

The weeks after Christmas and New Year are a stress test for customer service teams. Customers send products back, raise complaints or ask for an exchange — often emotionally, and with high expectations. This is precisely the moment to show that your company is quick and straight with people. What it takes is an orderly process and clear communication, which is what you get from the Debesis ticketing system.

The post-holiday returns season: scale and expectations

Post-holiday returns arrive in bulk. Customers expect the process to be quick and painless — especially when the item was a gift. Whether the relationship survives depends on whether the customer feels looked after and knows where the case stands.

  • A short response time, and confirmation that the request has been received.
  • A clear status: under review, approved, refunded.
  • Consistent communication, whichever channel the request came through.

The most common reasons for returns and complaints

Gifts that missed the mark

The customer wants to send something back without feeling they are doing something wrong. Empathy and a simple process are what count.

Impulse purchases

Impulse buying drives returns. Calm, matter-of-fact communication matters here.

Damaged products

What counts is a fast reaction, photographs of the damage and a clear decision: replace or refund.

Wrong sizes and unsuitable gifts

Swapping a size or a model needs the warehouse and logistics in step — without the email thread descending into chaos.

How to build a good relationship during a return

A return or a complaint is a moment of truth. A customer who gets fast, clear information often comes back. What builds the relationship is transparency, speed and consistency.

  • An automatic acknowledgement, with the next steps spelled out.
  • One coherent contact history — no hunting through inboxes for attachments.
  • Friendly response templates written in plain language.
Customers do not expect perfection. They expect to know what is happening and when the case will be closed.

How Debesis streamlines returns and complaints

Debesis brings order to requests whatever the channel: email, web form, phone or marketplace. Every case gets a number, an owner and a status, and the system keeps watch over the SLA and the next steps.

  • A single inbox for returns and complaints — no more scattered threads.
  • Automatic reminders, and escalation when things run late.
  • Reports: handling time, reasons for returns, costs.
The better you handle a return, the likelier the next purchase — and the good review.

Want to see the process in practice? Take a look at the Debesis ticketing system lub book a short demo.

A post-holiday process checklist

  • Set clear SLAs for post-holiday returns and complaints.
  • Switch on automatic acknowledgements and status updates in Debesis.
  • Define return reasons, so you can measure the trend and the causes.
  • Prepare response templates and instructions for customers.
  • Report handling time and team performance week by week.

In summary

Post-holiday returns and complaints do not have to mean chaos. With a process, some automation and clear communication, a difficult moment turns into a chance to build loyalty. That is exactly what you get from Debesis — an efficient system for handling requests and complaints.

Want to improve your returns and complaints? Take a look at the Debesis ticketing system lub get in touch.

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