What you'll build

A shipping option that customers can select when they want to send a parcel back to you. From the customer's perspective it looks and behaves like any other delivery method at checkout. Behind the scenes, Shipit generates a return label (addressed to your warehouse) rather than an outbound shipping label. You can optionally have Shipit include that label automatically in the outbound shipment — useful for fashion, furniture, or any category with a high return rate.

Before you start

• You have an existing delivery checkout configuration.
• Your carrier supports inbound/return parcel collection. Check the Shipit Catalog for return-capable services.
• You have decided whether returns should be visible to all customers or only via a dedicated returns portal.

Step 1 — Create a new shipping option

Navigate to Delivery Checkout → Shipping Options and click Add Shipping Option.

Choose a carrier service from the Shipit Catalog that supports return shipments. Not all carrier services offer return label generation — filter by the Return capability in the catalog.

Step 2 — Enable return shipment mode

In the Fulfillment section of the shipping option:

This flag tells Shipit to generate a return label when this option is selected. The label is addressed to your configured return warehouse address, not to the customer.

Step 3 — Optionally enable automatic return label generation

If you want to include a pre-printed return label in every outbound parcel (regardless of whether the customer selected this option):

With this enabled, Shipit generates and attaches a return freight document to the outbound shipment. This is common for subscription boxes and apparel brands where returns are expected.

Tip: You can enable return_freight_doc on any shipping option — it does not have to be a return shipment option itself. Use it on your standard home delivery option to include a return label in every box you send.

Step 4 — Control visibility with a rule (optional)

If you only want this option to appear on a dedicated returns portal — not in your main checkout — add a rule that hides it by default and shows it only when a specific condition is met:

Add a second rule with a higher priority that shows the option when the cart has a specific tag (e.g., returns_portal):

Your returns portal can inject the returns_portal tag into the checkout session so only returning customers see this option.

How it works

When a customer selects the return shipment option and completes checkout, Shipit creates a shipment record with the direction flag set to inbound. The carrier API receives a request for a return label, generating a tracking number and label PDF addressed back to your warehouse. This label is what the customer uses to drop off or hand over their parcel.

The fulfillment flow on your end is the same as outbound — you still see the shipment in your Shipit dashboard and can track its progress. The key difference is that the parcel moves toward you, not away.

Warning: Return shipment options do not automatically deduct the order total or trigger a refund. Refund logic lives in your e-commerce platform. Use this feature to handle the logistics side only; hook into your platform's return/refund workflow separately.

Testing it

1. In a test checkout session, add the returns_portal cart tag (or temporarily remove the hide rule).
2. Proceed to checkout and confirm the "Return your order" option appears.
3. Complete a test order using a carrier sandbox or test mode.
4. Verify in the Shipit dashboard that the shipment is marked as Return and that the label PDF is a return address label.