How to Set Up Return Window
Plans: All plans Platforms: Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more
Return window specifies the amount of time customers have to return a product. Now, when you want to start this window to make customers eligible to submit a return request, it's up to you. It may begin once the order is placed, shipped, or delivered. If your order fulfillment is slow, you might want to take the shipping or delivery date as your starting point to allow customers to check and decide if they want to keep or return the product.
AfterShip Returns allows you to configure a return window for your customer from when it starts to when it ends. Follow the steps below to get started.
Go to Returns Policy > Order lookup in the AfterShip Returns admin
From the three available options, select when you want the return window to start
Order date: The return window will begin when the order is placed by the customer
Fulfillment date (recommended): The return window will begin when the original order is marked as fulfilled in Shopify
Delivery date: The return window will begin when the original order is marked as delivered in AfterShip
To set return window based on delivery date, it is a must to first install and connect the AfterShip Tracking app and subscribe to a plan to receive shipment tracking updates based on which the return window rules will be applied.
Set the number of days when the return window will close. Leave it empty to set an unlimited returns window
Best practice: We recommend setting a return window of around 30-60 days from the date of fulfillment
Longer return windows or shorter return windows on certain products types may not be profitable for your business. Therefore, you must determine the best return window for which product types.
You can set the return window based on specific product types or tags in AfterShip Returns admin.
The product-specific returns window you set up will be based on product types or tags you've defined in Shopify
Let’s see how you can set product types and tags in Shopify.
Navigate to Products in your Shopify Admin
Select any product
Under Organization, you'll see
a. Product Type
You can add products to an existing Product Type or create a new one
b. Product Tag
Click Manage to give products an existing Product Tag or create a new one
Once product types and tags have been set in Shopify, the rest of the process takes place in the AfterShip Returns admin.
If you already use product types in Shopify, feel free to skip this step
Navigate to General > Return Policy in AfterShip Returns admin
Click Add product-specific window
You can set the return window based on Product type or Product tag. Under each category, you can add up to 50 values.
Set the number of days when the return window will close or leave it empty to set an unlimited returns window,
E.g., For Product type, say, Watches, the return window is set for 15 days, and the returns window is set to start when the order is marked fulfilled in Shopify.
Therefore, customers who have placed orders with items that are added under product type “Watches” in Shopify, once marked as fulfilled in Shopify, have 15 days to submit a return request, irrespective of when the order will be delivered.
Returns window by fulfillment date is supported for Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Walmart-us, Shopline, Shoplazza, ShipStation, SalesForce, NetSuite, Google-Shopping, Ecwid-v3, eBay, Amazon, Cdiscount, Shopware, Commerce API, CSV Import
Return window by order date is supported for Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Walmart-us, Squarespace, Spree, Shopline, Shoplazza, ShipStation, SalesForce, Prestashop, Decathlon - Prestashop, NetSuit, Jushuitan, Google-Shopping, Fluent-Commerce, Ecwid-v3, Ebay, Cscart, 3dCart, AmeriCommerce, Amazon, Cdiscount, Shopware, Commerce API, CSV Import, Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Zendesk
Return window by AfterShip delivery date is supported for Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Shopline, ShipStation, SalesForce, Ecwid-v3, Shopware, and CSV Import
For any further questions or help, please contact our chat support team
Overview
Return window specifies the amount of time customers have to return a product. Now, when you want to start this window to make customers eligible to submit a return request, it's up to you. It may begin once the order is placed, shipped, or delivered. If your order fulfillment is slow, you might want to take the shipping or delivery date as your starting point to allow customers to check and decide if they want to keep or return the product.
AfterShip Returns allows you to configure a return window for your customer from when it starts to when it ends. Follow the steps below to get started.
Go to Returns Policy > Order lookup in the AfterShip Returns admin
From the three available options, select when you want the return window to start
Order date: The return window will begin when the order is placed by the customer
Fulfillment date (recommended): The return window will begin when the original order is marked as fulfilled in Shopify
Delivery date: The return window will begin when the original order is marked as delivered in AfterShip
To set return window based on delivery date, it is a must to first install and connect the AfterShip Tracking app and subscribe to a plan to receive shipment tracking updates based on which the return window rules will be applied.
Set the number of days when the return window will close. Leave it empty to set an unlimited returns window
Best practice: We recommend setting a return window of around 30-60 days from the date of fulfillment
Product-specific returns window
Longer return windows or shorter return windows on certain products types may not be profitable for your business. Therefore, you must determine the best return window for which product types.
You can set the return window based on specific product types or tags in AfterShip Returns admin.
The product-specific returns window you set up will be based on product types or tags you've defined in Shopify
Let’s see how you can set product types and tags in Shopify.
Step 1: Add product types to your products within Shopify
Navigate to Products in your Shopify Admin
Select any product
Under Organization, you'll see
a. Product Type
You can add products to an existing Product Type or create a new one
b. Product Tag
Click Manage to give products an existing Product Tag or create a new one
Once product types and tags have been set in Shopify, the rest of the process takes place in the AfterShip Returns admin.
If you already use product types in Shopify, feel free to skip this step
Step 2: Set the returns window in AfterShip Returns admin
Navigate to General > Return Policy in AfterShip Returns admin
Click Add product-specific window
You can set the return window based on Product type or Product tag. Under each category, you can add up to 50 values.
Set the number of days when the return window will close or leave it empty to set an unlimited returns window,
E.g., For Product type, say, Watches, the return window is set for 15 days, and the returns window is set to start when the order is marked fulfilled in Shopify.
Therefore, customers who have placed orders with items that are added under product type “Watches” in Shopify, once marked as fulfilled in Shopify, have 15 days to submit a return request, irrespective of when the order will be delivered.
Supported platforms
Returns window by fulfillment date is supported for Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Walmart-us, Shopline, Shoplazza, ShipStation, SalesForce, NetSuite, Google-Shopping, Ecwid-v3, eBay, Amazon, Cdiscount, Shopware, Commerce API, CSV Import
Return window by order date is supported for Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Walmart-us, Squarespace, Spree, Shopline, Shoplazza, ShipStation, SalesForce, Prestashop, Decathlon - Prestashop, NetSuit, Jushuitan, Google-Shopping, Fluent-Commerce, Ecwid-v3, Ebay, Cscart, 3dCart, AmeriCommerce, Amazon, Cdiscount, Shopware, Commerce API, CSV Import, Klaviyo, Gorgias, and Zendesk
Return window by AfterShip delivery date is supported for Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Shopline, ShipStation, SalesForce, Ecwid-v3, Shopware, and CSV Import
For any further questions or help, please contact our chat support team
Updated on: 12/05/2023
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