How to Use Blocklist and Allowlist With AfterShip Returns Center

AfterShip Returns Center now supports blocklist and allowlist to let its users ensure that shoppers don't take undue advantage of return policies. With this help guide, you'll learn the meaning of blocklisting and allowlisting and how you should use them AfterShip Returns Center. Let's get started:

👀 What do blocklisting and allowlisting mean?

Blocklisting means preventing return requests on some specific grounds like:

Specific product types
Customer email address
Discounted items
Products with certain tags
Return of the same order

Allowlisting means making an exception for a specific order to let the customer raise a return request. For the very same reason, it overrides all the rules mentioned in the blocklist. You can mention:

Specific order numbers (prefix + number + suffix)
Customer email address
Product types
Product tags
Product SKUs

Note: If a shopper has already opted for exchange once, no matter whether they exchanged with the same item or any other, they will be allowed to return the exchanged items if you add the order number to your allowlist.

✍️ Important info to keep in mind

✅ You will be able to add product types to your blocklist and allowlist if you have your store on any of these platforms: Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, and BigCommerce

✅ You will be able to add product tags to your blocklist and allowlist if you have your store on any of these platforms: Shopify, Magento 1, and WooCommerce

✅ Make sure you add tags and types to your products while listing them on your store because blocklist restrictions won’t work if you add tags after the order is placed

➡️ Steps to use blocklist and allowlist with AfterShip Returns Center

Go to your AfterShip Returns Center account’s Eligibility rules settings

Scroll down to see Blocklist and Allowlist


Click Manage

Now, you have two ways to add new entries to the Blocklist and Allowlist:

Import CSV: Download a sample CSV and provide the required data correctly in each column. Once done, upload your CSV file and click Upload and continue. Maximum 100 values are allowed to add at once


Add listing: You can mention customers’ email addresses, product tags, or product SKUs in your list. Once done, click Add. Maximum of 50 values are allowed to add at once


Voilà! It’s done

🤔 What will happen once I’m done with setting up my blocklist and allowlist?

If the customer is added to your blocklist or the product has the blocklisted tag or type, this message will be displayed on your returns page: “Sorry, according to our returns policy, this product cannot be returned.”

If you add any customer, product tag, or product type to your allowlist, return requests will be allowed to place, regardless of the blocklist restrictions

Here’s an example for better understanding:

Let’s say a shopper bought a necklace having a “non-returnable” tag during a festive season, he/she won’t be able to raise a return request due to the blocklist restrictions.

Since a broken necklace was delivered, the shopper decides to speak with the merchant’s customer service team. After being convinced, the latter adds the shopper’s email address to the allowlist to override the blocklist restrictions for letting the former file a return request successfully. Hence, it results in flawless returns management :)

If you still have some questions regarding the blocklist and allowlist, get clarity from our chat support team

Updated on: 06/02/2023