Asos has made a huge change to deliveries after hiking fees – and it's good news for shoppers

The Sun

06-05-2025

James Flanders, Chief Consumer Reporter
Published: Invalid Date,
ASOS has made a huge change to deliveries just months after introducing a new fee, and it's welcome news for shoppers.
The online fashion giant has extended the cut-off time for placing orders that qualify for next day delivery.
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This follows a change by ASOS several weeks ago, when the cut-off time for next-day delivery was reduced from 9pm to 7pm.
However, the retailer has told The Sun that the shorter time window has been scrapped.
Customers can now qualify for next day delivery on all orders placed before 9pm, Monday to Sunday.
ASOS is in the process of notifying customers about the change.
An email seen by The Sun reads: "Good news – you now have even longer to place your next-day delivery order.
"Our cut-off time has moved from 7pm to 9pm, giving you two extra hours to shop.
"Whether you're planning ahead or making a last-minute purchase, order by 9pm and get it tomorrow."
A spokesperson for ASOS added: "We had to temporarily introduce a shorter next day delivery cut off time of 7pm several weeks ago.
"However now we're back to 9pm.
"Sometimes we need to move it forward due to high order volumes or other events."
I chase refunds for a living - how to get your money back
ASOS offers several delivery options within the UK.
Standard delivery costs £4.50, but is free for orders over £40.
Next day delivery costs £5.95 and arrives between 7am and 10pm.
Next day delivery is available Monday to Sunday, excluding public holidays, but is not available for certain postcodes.
ASOS Instant guarantees delivery before 12 noon the next day, Monday to Sunday.
For frequent next day deliveries, the Premier Delivery subscription offers unlimited next day delivery for £9.95 per year.
What is ASOS Premier?
ASOS Premier is a yearly subscription service costing £9.95.
It provides unlimited next-day and nominated-day delivery on orders over £15 (after discount).
Premier members also receive free standard delivery on all other orders (under £15 after discount) and gain access to exclusive discounts and promotions, such as Premier Party, with up to 50% off selected styles.
Given the standard cost of next-day delivery, the subscription can pay for itself in as little as two uses.
What else has changed at ASOS?
Last year, ASOS introduced a return fee for certain customers, targeting those with "frequently high return rates."
Shoppers affected by the change are charged £3.95 for returning unwanted items unless they keep goods worth a set value from their original order.
The retailer stated at the time that only a "small number of shoppers" would be impacted but did not disclose exactly how many. For those subject to the fee, they need to keep items totalling £40 to avoid the charge.
Even customers subscribed to ASOS Premier – a £9.95 annual membership offering perks like free next-day delivery – aren't exempt from the extra fee.
However, Premier members only need to keep £15 worth of items to sidestep the charge.
ASOS is just the latest in a growing list of retailers introducing return fees as they grapple with the rising costs of processing returns.
Fast fashion rival PrettyLittleThing, owned by Boohoo, rolled out a flat £1.99 return fee for all customers last June.
Only those who pay the £9.99 a year fee for the PLT loyalty programme, are spared the return fee.
River Island angered customers by introducing a £2 charge to return items ordered online back in February.
The charge is deducted from the total amount refunded after the customer has posted back the items.
Other big retailers, including Debenhams, Zara, H&M and New Look, have introduced similar changes over the past few years.
In December 2023, Debenhams introduced a £1.99 fee amid fears shoppers have been abusing free returns by ordering items, wearing them briefly and then sending them back.
H&M introduced a £1.99 charge for returns back in September 2023.
New Look began charging £1.99 to return online orders as part of a nationwide trial in February 2023.
Before that Boohoo also began the practise in July 2022, but it continues to offer free returns for its "premier" customers.
In May 2022, fashion chain Zara introduced a fee for those looking to bring back parcels, it now charges £1.95 for the service.
Next gives customers 14 days to return their orders, but still charges £2.50 to take them back.
A host of retailers including Mountain Warehouse, THG and Moss Bros have also added a charge for shoppers to return items bought online.
Companies have started to charge for returns as the costs of shipping have risen.
The cost of processing is also higher.
Retailers with stores can make it easier for consumers to return goods for free as they can be dropped off in a store, which saves the shipping charges.
YOUR RETURN RIGHTS EXPLAINED
THE Sun's Head of Consumer, Tara Evans, explains your return rights:
Your right to return items depends on where you purchased it and why you want to return it.
If you bought an item online then you are covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations, which means you can cancel an item 14 days from when you receive it.
You then have a further 14 days to return the item, once you've notified the retailer that you want to return it.
If an item is faulty - regardless of how you bought it - you are legally able to return it and get a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.
Most retailers have their own returns policies, offering an exchange, refund or credit.
Shops don't have to have these policies by law, but if they do have one then they should stick to it.