A merchant outside the US is seeking an affordable app to handle occasional international returns. They’ve tested several options but encountered issues like unavailable carriers, missing rates, or geographic restrictions. Shopify’s built-in return label generator doesn’t work for non-US stores.
Suggested solutions:
AfterShip Returns and Loop Returns support global carriers but may be costly and require setting up carrier accounts first
Manual processing via email and local couriers as a low-cost alternative
ParcelPanel Returns & Exchanges offers a self-service portal with flexible country/product rules, doesn’t require pre-connected carriers, and allows case-by-case manual approval
The merchant prefers an integrated solution over manually configuring carrier accounts. A 30-day free trial was offered for ParcelPanel to test its fit for low-volume international returns.
Summarized with AI on October 27.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
Hi all, could some one please advise of a (cheap) app for international returns? I have a low sales volume and therefore not many returns but I do get the occasional one. I thought I had found what I was looking for but it turns out it is only for domestic returns. I have installed several apps, set up a return but none are doing what I am looking for. Either rates can’t be found, no carriers available in the country of origin etc. There must be apps that are doing what I am looking for? I don’t live in the US so the built in generator of Shopify is not applicable. How are you all covering this?
For cheap international returns on Shopify with low sales, apps like AfterShip Returns or Loop Returns support global carriers but can be costly. If that’s too expensive, consider manual return labels combined with local couriers or handle returns case-by-case via email. Many non-US sellers use this simple method to keep costs low since Shopify’s built-in tools are US-focused.
Thank you for your reply. I’ve looked at both apps you mentioned but I need to set up the carriers and create accounts with them first. Not that it is not possible but preferably I would like something where all is integrated. You mentioned to consider manual return labels combined with local couriers or handle returns case-by-case via email. How does this work? Apologies for my ignorance.
A lot of apps are heavily geared toward US-based merchants or high-return-volume brands, which doesn’t help much when you’re just trying to manage the occasional return from abroad.
One app you might want to look into is ParcelPanel Returns & Exchanges. It’s designed to be lightweight and flexible, with a self-service portal that supports both domestic and international return requests. You can set custom return rules by country or product, and the process doesn’t require you to pre-connect with a specific carrier - so you can approve returns manually and share return instructions case-by-case if needed.
It’s especially helpful for stores outside the US, or those without a built-in return label generator. And since you’re not getting many returns, it might be a good fit without overcomplicating things.
If that sounds like something you’d want to try, feel free to let me know. We’d love to offer a 30-day free trial to help you get started and see if it suits your setup.
