This big change to Zara online shopping could cost you even more money

A change to the way Zara online shopping works could mean you end up spending more money than you planned to if you want to return any items from your spree. 

After the internet went crazy for that viral Zara sizing hack, the iconic high street retailer's fans learned that a new way of navigating the Zara website could totally change the game when it comes to shopping the brand online. 

Now, a big change to the way the online shopping process works for Zara has been made and it means you could end up spending more than you bargained for. 

While returning any unwanted items from your Zara online shopping splurge used to be free of charge, things have changed. 

Since May, sending any Zara items back for a refund incurs a cost, with the price of the return being removed from the amount of the refunded items. 

Returning Zara items in the USA will set you back $3.95, while Brits will have to spend £1.95 for items to be refunded. 

In order to avoid the charge, shoppers can head into a Zara store to return online orders for free. 

The Zara returns charge certainly hasn't gone down well with shoppers, with many having taken to social media in recent months to criticize the change. 

"Zara making you pay for returns now is a joke," one wrote. 

"The fact that we now have to pay £1.95 for Zara online returns is ridiculous," another irritated shopper agreed on Twitter. 

However, it's been said that the rising amounts of brands like Zara introducing return fees holds some other very important benefits. 

Whitney Cathcart, a fashion industry veteran and sustainability expert points out that reducing the amount of fast fashion we buy and return is vital when it comes to helping the environment. 

"A single return may not seem like much, but consumers are often unaware of the sheer scale of the problem, which damages our planet and hits their pockets. With brands and customers united in their pursuit of a greener fashion industry, ending frее returns could support sustainable efforts while reducing the cost to consumers," the co-founder of CSO of 3DLOOK says.

"Before returned items can be resold, they embark on a journey between various warehouses and processing facilities, creating millions of metric tons of emissions each year. To achieve our eco-friendly goals, we must all embrace mindful shopping practices, consider our purchases and end our over-reliance on frее returns."