Change Location when creating a Return

[wthomas30]

Hi Shopify Community!

Really hoping to find a simple solution to this problem, without the need to add any 3rd party apps.

We fulfill our orders from a Fulfillment center, but we want items returned to our head office. This is because the items that usually get returned aren't in a condition that would allow them to be re-stocked and sold from our fulfillment center, but we can use as samples or as an in-store product. 

I'm trying to find a way to change the Location when doing a Return/Re-stock of an order. I thought I'd be able to simply change the Location value here, but that's not the case:

Any ideas?

[Skye · Accepted solution]

Hi, @theALMOND 

Thanks for the context! 

This is a tricky situation when you use 3PL's. Additionally, if you want to receive products back to a location that doesn't shop products, with or without a 3PL. 

Unfortunately, since in both situations the system is being told the products are being shipped to another location, it wouldn't know to restock at another. The only option to make the manual task a bit less tedious is to deselect the restock option when the return is made. This means it wouldn't restock it to the wrong location, needing you to then restock it. You will only need to restock it at the new location once it's transferred to that location. 

[Skye]

Hi, @wthomas30 

Greetings, and thanks for posting!

Having your packages returned to a separate facility or location is definitely a common request. Luckily, you should be able to change your address when purchasing the shipping label. 

1. Once you are in the process of selecting the returns within the order select Create return label in Shopify.

2. In the RETURN TO section, click Edit address. Verify that the returns address is the address where you want to return your order to.

3. In the PACKAGE AND WEIGHT section, select the expected package size and enter the expected order weight.

4. In the SHIPPING SERVICE section, select a shipping method.

5. Click Create return label.

6. Select the way that you want to share the return label with your customer:

   • Confirm your customer's email and click Email customer.
   • Click Copy link and send it separately in an existing email or message thread.
   • Click Print label and send it with the order.

7. Click Done.

That's it! If for some reason that does not work, please let me know. That, however, should do the trick.

In the meantime, I would love to learn more about your business. When you have a moment, kindly provide your domain name so I can take a peek. 

[JaxM]

Hi Skye, 

I have the same issue, except I do not need to pay for return shipping. In this case, the system does not let me select which warehouse to return it to. Any suggestions? 

thank you, 

[theALMOND]

Hi Skye,
We use a 3rd party provider for shipping labels so that is not an issue for us, however returning the items to the right location in shopify in order not to mess up the stock levels is currently a huge issue, with manual stock adjustments which are prone to human error. Being able to choose a location to where the items are being returned would be a great help.
Thanks

[Skye]

Hi, @theALMOND 

I do apologize, but can you elaborate on what is not the issue for you? Adjusting the return address? It sounds like you have a different location set up with your 3PL. Can you provide details on your set up?

[theALMOND]

Hi Skye,
Sorry for not being precise in my initial message. 
Your solution/workaround mentions editing the address of the return label to send it to the correct address. I do this via my logistics provider to generate the correct label. 
However, we have the same issue as the original post, we send items from location A, and receive back the items at location B. 
As mentioned, shipping labels are taken care of on the site of my logistics provider. However, the return of the order in shopify returns the item to location A, we have no way to tell shopify that the item is actually being returned to location B. 
Once returned, we have to manually adjust stock -1 at location A, and +1 at location B. 
Ideally, when entering the return in Shopify, it would be great to choose the location where the product is being returned to, so that the stock automatically gets adjusted at the right location without manual intervention. 

[Skye · Accepted solution]

Hi, @theALMOND 

Thanks for the context! 

This is a tricky situation when you use 3PL's. Additionally, if you want to receive products back to a location that doesn't shop products, with or without a 3PL. 

Unfortunately, since in both situations the system is being told the products are being shipped to another location, it wouldn't know to restock at another. The only option to make the manual task a bit less tedious is to deselect the restock option when the return is made. This means it wouldn't restock it to the wrong location, needing you to then restock it. You will only need to restock it at the new location once it's transferred to that location. 

[Phenod · Accepted solution]

 Hey there  Having a bit of trouble understanding how this is a valid answer?... We are also needing to set a return address different from the shipping address. We want all of our returns to come to the same place rather then showing up at a DC and being shoved in the corner. this should be the default location for all return labels.