Gilt Launches Flat-Rate $5.95 Shipping; Will Begin Offering Refunds

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Good news for Gilt shoppers today—the company has made two significant changes to improve its oft-maligned customer service. First, it's knocking shipping rates flat on their behinds:

Effective immediately, shipping will be reduced to a flat fee of $5.95 for UPS ground shipping no matter the size of the purchase. Returns can now be made via a USPS mailbox or a UPS drop-off location. Returns will be accepted up to 21 days after merchandise was shipped to the customer.

And that's not all, folks. One of the biggest gripes we've always had about shopping on Gilt is that buying online is tricky—size-wise, color-wise, style-wise—and not being able to get a refund on something after seeing it in person? Well, that just never seemed fair to us. To that end, Gilt has altered its previous store-credit-only exchange system for an actual refund policy. Check it out:

In addition to the lowered shipping fee, Gilt has expanded its return policy to offer its customers the option of a credit card refund. Starting today, Gilt customers will have the option of returning for a credit card refund, minus the cost of return shipping, or a Gilt credit for the merchandise as well as the shipping fee. Gilt Groupe has also expanded the categories in which it will accept returns to include handbags, wallets, sunglasses, ties, belts, cufflinks, and jewelry, in addition to all sizableitems.

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