Retailers brace for record-breaking number of returns this season Increase in online shopping causing returns rush Retailers brace for record-breaking number of returns. and last updated 2020-12-26 20:43:21-05 SAN DIEGO (KGTV) â With the increase of online shopping, experts predict that retailers will make a record-breaking number of return transactions this year. December 26 is the official start of the "returns and exchanges" season. Grab a cart. It's back to the store. David Warren's sofa just didn't look right. So he was back at the Target store in Kearny Mesa Saturday afternoon. "I'm just returning these pillows and shirts," Warren said. "I'm going to swap them out for something smaller."