Another consequence of e-commerce is an increase in return rates. It is crucial to process returns quickly to maintain availability and to ensure that as much stock as possible is re-sold at full price. If the returns process is not managed diligently and quickly, the cost of mark-downs and lost sales will increase significantly. The processing cost of a returned item is up to three times as high as that for a normal outbound order so inefficient or delayed processing can quickly reduce profit margins.