According to the latest data from Salesforce, online sales during the 2025 Thanksgiving holiday in the United States are projected to increase by 6% compared to last year, reaching $8.6 billion. This figure indicates that consumer purchasing power and enthusiasm remain strong, driven by promotional efforts and discounts. Meanwhile, as of 2 PM Eastern Time, the platform's daily sales had already reached $2.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%.
This consumer boom, with its surge in sales volume and order volume, is undoubtedly good news for cross-border sellers: more orders mean more opportunities and profits. However, it also brings an unavoidable problem—a corresponding surge in returns. Especially during holiday promotions, consumers have stronger purchasing impulses and a generally higher willingness to return items. According to industry statistics, the total amount of returns in the US retail industry is staggering, projected to reach $890 billion in 2024 alone, with returns accounting for approximately 16.9% of all sales.
For cross-border sellers, this means that return processing capabilities, warehousing, and logistics efficiency will directly determine whether profits can be maintained after the holidays.
Why does return processing become a major problem after holiday sales?
High sales volume + numerous SKUs + complex returns = immense pressure
Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other promotional events generate a surge in orders, involving a wide range of product categories, numerous SKUs, and frequent shipments. Categories such as apparel, home goods, shoes and bags, and electronic accessories are particularly prone to returns due to sizing issues, customer hesitation, and discrepancies between expectations and the actual product. When a large number of returns arrive simultaneously, without a sufficiently stable and efficient processing capacity, it's easy to fall into a vicious cycle of "inventory backlog + disputes and complaints + declining reviews."
Traditional processing methods are costly and inefficient
Many cross-border sellers are accustomed to shipping returns back to China for processing, but this method has several drawbacks: high transportation costs, long processing times, complex customs clearance, and slow inventory updates. It's unsuitable for handling short-term return surges after holidays and hinders timely inventory and cash flow recovery.
Consumers have mature return habits and higher expectations for speed and experience
American consumers are sensitive to the return experience; they expect simple return processes, timely refunds, and convenient repurchasing. Improper handling can easily lead to negative reviews and refund disputes, impacting the long-term performance of the store.
Therefore, more and more cross-border sellers are turning to a solution combining local US return warehouses, local quality inspection, and local restocking to reduce logistics and operational costs while improving user experience.
Are there reliable US return warehouses available? The answer is—yes, and there are more and more.
With the continued growth of cross-border e-commerce, professional service providers have also established dedicated return warehouses in the US. These warehouses not only receive returns but also provide services such as quality inspection, sorting, restocking/clearance, and inventory management, helping sellers solve the problem of concentrated return processing after holidays.
Among the many return warehouses, U-Speed's US return warehouse has received high praise from many sellers due to its scale, professionalism, and service system.
U-Speed US returns warehouses: Strong Support for Sellers' Post-Holiday Operations
Dual Warehouse Layout, Covering East and West Coasts, Wide Coverage and Fast Delivery
U-Speed has two major return warehouses in the United States:
Eastern United States (New Jersey) Warehouse, 7250 square meters, daily processing capacity 20,000+ orders;
Western United States (Los Angeles) Warehouse, also 7250 square meters, daily processing capacity 10,000+ orders.
Both warehouses are equipped with forklifts, light and heavy-duty shelving, fire monitoring systems, 24-hour security, and CCTV surveillance to ensure safety and standardization in the return processing process. Whether orders originate from New York, Los Angeles, or remote states and counties, returns can be quickly received and processed.
Professional Team + Efficient Processes Guarantee Return Quality Inspection and Logistics Timeliness
U-Speed adopts a model of "China Management Team + US Local Operations Team + Professional Customer Service Team". From business coordination to warehouse operations and customer service, there is a clear division of labor and standardized processes. Returned goods inspection is typically completed within 2 days, and return logistics processing takes 3-5 days. This efficiency is crucial for post-holiday return surges or seasonal return peaks.
U-Speed offers integrated services including shipping, warehousing, and returns.
Beyond return processing, U-Speed covers the entire supply chain, from international shipping and overseas warehousing to dropshipping and return processing. For cross-border sellers, there's no need to manage multiple service providers; simply connecting to U-Speed enables one-stop management of shipping, replenishment, and returns, reducing operational complexity and management costs.
Holiday sales are strong, but without a return warehouse, profits can be eroded.
Thanksgiving saw a 6% increase and $8.6 billion in sales—these figures are encouraging. However, ignoring the accompanying return challenges could cost sellers significant holiday profits. The high total return amount and return rate in the US cannot be ignored.
For cross-border sellers looking to capitalize on holiday opportunities while maintaining stable operations, choosing a mature, reliable, and comprehensive U.S. returns warehouse is crucial for preserving profits and account health.
U-Speed's US returns warehouse, with its dual-warehouse layout, professional team, rapid quality inspection, and end-to-end service, is the return solution chosen by many sellers. Whether you sell apparel, home goods, electronics, shoes and bags, or operate a multi-category business, U-Speed can help you handle the post-holiday return peak, ensuring both sales and after-sales service remain healthy in the long run.
