Articles on: Returns Management

How to Set Up Return Window

Plans: All plans Platforms: Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more


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 general and holiday/product-specific return window for your customer from when it starts to when it ends. Follow the steps below to get started.


What you’ll learn


In this article, we will show you:



General return window



  1. Go to Returns Policy > ** Order lookup ** in the AfterShip Returns admin
  2. 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.


  1. 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*


Additional considerations


In the circumstances, when the tracking is invalid and the Delivery date cannot be fetched, the return window estimation will automatically fall back on the Fulfillment date. If our system cannot retrieve the Fulfillment date due to any reason, the return window will be calculated taking into account the Order date.


Holiday/Product-specific return windows


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.


Learn how to set up holiday/product-specific returns window with this ** step-by-step tutorial. **


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 or reach out to us at support+returns@aftership.com.

Updated on: 15/04/2025