Zara charges more and it's not alone: the stores passing the cost to the consumer

Zara charges 14.90 NIS for shipping regardless of order size, and charges for returning items. Steimatzky will charge 4 NIS for in-store pickup starting January 2026. Castro is changing its customer club terms in December 2026. The article warns about the accumulation of ancillary costs that raise the final price for the consumer.

The article deals with the additional costs added to online shopping, beyond the price of the product itself. Zara, for example, charges 14.90 shekels for shipping regardless of the order size, and charges for returning items via courier. Pickup from the store at Zara remains free, but at the Steimatzky chain, starting January 2026, a fee of 4 shekels will be charged for in-store pickup, except for purchases over 249 shekels. Castro announced changes to its customer club terms that will take effect in December 2026, including updates to point accumulation and redemption. The phenomenon is not unique to Israel: H&M in the UK also charges for returning items by mail. The article emphasizes that the accumulation of small costs makes comparing between stores more complex, and that the consumer must check the total price before purchasing.