In the ever-growing world of e-commerce, providing a smooth and hassle-free return experience is crucial for maintaining customer satisfaction and trust. One key element of a successful returns process is the return shipping label, which allows customers to easily return products while helping merchants process those returns efficiently. Shopify, a leading e-commerce platform, offers merchants an easy way to create return shipping labels directly from their admin panel, making the returns process simpler for both parties. However, creating return labels may vary depending on the merchant’s location and the carriers used. In this article, we’ll walk you through the process of creating return shipping labels in Shopify, focusing on both US-based and non-US-based merchants, and providing best practices for streamlining the entire return process.
A return shipping label is an essential part of the e-commerce ecosystem, ensuring that customers can easily send items back to the merchant. Whether it’s for a refund, exchange, or repair, providing a return shipping label is vital for a smooth returns experience. This article will show you how Shopify makes it simple to create return labels, offering both a streamlined process for US merchants and alternative solutions for non-US merchants.
Return shipping labels not only improve the overall customer experience but also help businesses reduce overhead costs by automating much of the returns process. For businesses, the benefits are twofold: not only do return labels simplify returns, but they also help manage shipping costs and inventory more efficiently.
Return shipping labels play a critical role in customer satisfaction, making the return process as easy as possible for customers. Without these labels, customers would have to find their own way to ship products back, which could be a deterrent, especially for high-value items or cumbersome returns.
From a business perspective, return labels help to ensure that the right products come back to the right place, which aids in maintaining inventory accuracy and enabling faster refunds. The quicker and more streamlined the returns process, the better the overall customer experience and the stronger the customer relationship. Moreover, return labels help businesses avoid the complications of manually handling returns, leading to improved operational efficiency.
For Shopify merchants, return labels are not just about convenience—they also contribute to a positive brand image, showing that the business cares about customer satisfaction and is committed to making the return process as smooth as possible.
Shopify offers a built-in feature for merchants to create return shipping labels directly from the Shopify admin. For US-based merchants, this process is simple and efficient, involving just a few steps within the platform. Shopify integrates with carriers such as USPS and UPS, enabling businesses to create and print return shipping labels without the need for third-party apps.
The return label feature is designed to save time and reduce friction for merchants, helping them stay focused on growing their business while ensuring that returns are handled in an efficient and customer-friendly manner. Shopify even allows merchants to access discounted shipping rates from major carriers, such as USPS and UPS, further reducing the cost of return shipments.
However, for non-US merchants, the process is slightly more complex. Shopify’s native return label feature is only available for domestic US orders, leaving international merchants to rely on third-party apps or shipping carriers to handle return labels. We’ll cover this in more detail in the next section.
For US-based merchants, creating a return shipping label is an easy and straightforward process. Here’s a step-by-step guide for doing so on a desktop:
Log into your Shopify Admin: Begin by logging into your Shopify account and navigating to the “Orders” section.
Select the Order: Find the order for which you want to create a return shipping label and click on the order number.
Click “Return”: You will see the option to create a return label under the “Return” section. Click on this option.
Enter Quantity: Specify the number of items being returned by the customer.
Choose Return Shipping Options: Select the option to create a return label through Shopify and click “Create return.”
Enter Shipping Information: Fill out the return address, package size, weight, and shipping method details. Shopify supports carriers like USPS and UPS, depending on your location and the carrier account you have connected.
Create the Label: Once all the details are filled out, click the “Create return label” button to generate the return shipping label.
Send the Label: Shopify allows you to send the return label to the customer via email, a copy link, or print the label directly. You can email the label directly to the customer or provide them with a link to print the label themselves.
Complete the Process: After sending the label, click “Done” to finalize the return process.
The process for generating return shipping labels via the Shopify mobile app is similarly easy:
Open the Shopify App: Launch the Shopify app and tap “Orders.”
Select the Order: Tap the order number of the return order.
Initiate the Return: Tap on the ellipsis (…) and select the “Return” option.
Enter the Return Quantity: Enter the quantity of the item(s) being returned.
Create the Return Label: Select the option to create a return label within Shopify, and tap “Create return.”
Fill in the Details: Input the return address, package details, and shipping method (choose from the available carriers).
Send the Label: Send the label via email, copy a link for the customer to print, or print it directly.
Finish the Process: Tap “Done” to complete the return process.
With these steps, US-based Shopify merchants can quickly generate return shipping labels and efficiently manage the returns process.
While Shopify’s built-in return shipping label feature is highly beneficial for US-based merchants, it is not available for merchants located outside of the United States. This can create challenges for international businesses, particularly those operating in regions like Canada, Europe, and Asia.
For non-US merchants, creating return labels requires third-party apps or shipping carriers. These apps, such as EasyPost, Shipstation, and Shippo, integrate with Shopify and allow merchants to create return labels using international carriers. These third-party apps offer flexibility, supporting a wide range of shipping carriers and regions, making it possible to create return labels for international orders.
For example, Canadian merchants may consider using apps like ReturnZap, which integrates with Shopify and provides a simple way to manage return labels within the Shopify admin. Although this adds some complexity to the returns process, third-party apps ensure that non-US merchants can still manage returns efficiently.
Shopify Shipping is a feature that allows merchants to access discounted shipping rates from a range of major carriers, including USPS, UPS, and DHL. By integrating Shopify with these carriers, businesses can create both outbound and return shipping labels directly within the Shopify platform.
When setting up return labels, merchants can choose the preferred carrier based on their shipping preferences and the destination of the return. For example, merchants in the US can use USPS and UPS, which Shopify supports, while international merchants may need to rely on carriers such as DHL or other third-party apps for label creation.
By setting up these carrier integrations within Shopify, merchants can streamline the shipping and return processes, ensuring that both outbound and return labels are created efficiently.
Creating return shipping labels can be done either manually or automatically. While Shopify provides a straightforward manual process for generating return labels, merchants can also automate the creation of return labels by using third-party apps like Shiprobot or Multi-carrier Shipping Label. Automation can save businesses time, reduce errors, and improve the efficiency of the returns process.
Pros of Manual Creation:
More control over each return.
Useful for small-scale businesses with fewer returns.
Pros of Automated Creation:
Streamlined process for high volumes of returns.
Reduced manual errors.
Integration with customer support systems to handle returns automatically.
Depending on the scale of your business, automated return labels can be a valuable tool to improve operational efficiency and enhance customer satisfaction.
When creating and managing return labels, it’s important to follow best practices to ensure accuracy and efficiency. Here are some key tips:
Accuracy: Ensure that all information on the return label is correct, including the return address, shipping method, and package details.
Clarity: Use a clear and readable label format that includes all necessary information for both the customer and the carrier.
Tracking: Use carriers that offer tracking options, such as USPS and UPS, to ensure returns are delivered securely.
Communication: Communicate clearly with customers about how they can use the return label, and provide instructions when necessary.
By following these best practices, businesses can ensure that their return shipping labels are effective and efficient.
Simplify Returns for Your Customers and Support Team
Book a quick call with our experts to see how WeSupply can help you: simplify the Return experience with just a few clicks, reduce customer service calls and manual processing, notify your customer about their refund, automate returns and reduce user error.
Managing returns doesn’t have to be a headache—especially when WeSupply steps in to streamline your Shopify return shipping label process. Whether you’re looking to reduce return rates, save sales, or offer a frictionless experience, WeSupply helps you turn returns into a brand-building opportunity.
Here’s how WeSupply transforms your returns process:
✅ Branded Returns Portal – Keep customers within your Shopify storefront experience. Customize your return center with your logo, colors, and styling—no coding required.
✅ Instant Credit for Exchanges – Encourage exchanges over refunds by offering instant store credit, boosting revenue and customer satisfaction.
✅ Flexible Return Rules – Set smart return conditions, like eligibility for free return shipping, partial refunds, or keep-the-item options to prevent fraud and cut costs.
✅ Real-Time Return Tracking – Reduce post-purchase anxiety with proactive SMS and email notifications, plus live tracking for every return.
✅ In-Store Returns – Drive traffic to your physical locations by letting customers buy online and return in-store.
✅ Self-Service Returns – Empower customers to initiate returns in 3 easy steps, freeing up your support team’s time.
✅ Collect Return Feedback – Understand why products are returned and spot patterns to optimize your product pages and policies.
✅ Powerful Integrations – Easily connect WeSupply to hundreds of third-party tools. Seamlessly sync return and order data with your API-driven tech stack to enhance customer experience and reduce costs.
WeSupply makes your return process as smooth as the purchase itself. From generating return shipping labels to offering instant credit and creating a branded, no-hassle experience, it’s the upgrade your Shopify store needs to drive loyalty and protect revenue.
👉 Ready to level up your return process? Get started with WeSupply and turn returns into a growth engine for your business.
Combat inconvenience with proactivity & self service
Book a quick call with our experts to see how WeSupply can help you make returns easy for your customers with a beautiful, self-service solution that makes their experience easier while also providing new ways to lower costs and earn back revenue.
One of the most significant advantages of using Shopify’s built-in return label feature is the ability to access discounted shipping rates. Shopify integrates with major carriers like USPS and UPS, allowing merchants to save money on both outbound and return shipments. By offering discounted rates, Shopify helps merchants reduce the overall cost of returns, making it easier for them to manage their returns process without cutting into profit margins.
For non-US merchants, third-party apps like ShipStation or EasyPost also offer discounted shipping rates and additional flexibility in selecting shipping carriers. Using these apps, merchants can take advantage of competitive rates and optimize their return processes without overspending.
Creating return shipping labels in Shopify is a vital part of delivering a seamless returns experience for customers. Shopify simplifies the process for U.S.-based merchants with built-in tools that generate return labels via USPS or UPS directly from the admin or mobile app. For non-U.S. merchants, third-party apps like Shippo or EasyPost are necessary to handle international returns. Automating return label creation improves efficiency and accuracy, especially at scale. To further streamline returns, merchants can use solutions like WeSupply, which offers branded return portals, QR code drop-offs, instant exchange credits, and real-time tracking—all while integrating with Shopify and other platforms.
You can automate the return shipping label creation process by using third-party apps such as ReturnLogic or Multi-carrier shipping label apps. These apps allow you to automatically generate return labels for all eligible returns, saving time and reducing errors. Shopify also allows you to use its built-in return label feature for a more manual but still streamlined process.
Yes, while Shopify’s native return shipping label feature is available for US-based merchants, international merchants can create return labels through third-party apps such as EasyPost, Shipstation, or Shippo. These apps integrate with Shopify and provide the flexibility to create return labels for international shipments.
If a customer’s return label doesn’t work, check to make sure the label was generated correctly with all the necessary shipping details. Verify the carrier account and shipping settings in your Shopify admin panel. If the issue persists, contact Shopify support or the third-party shipping app support team for troubleshooting. It’s important to resolve such issues promptly to avoid delays in the return process.
WeSupply makes return shipping easy by automatically generating pre-paid or scan-based QR code return labels. Customers can drop off packages at over 200,000 printerless return locations—no printer required. This reduces friction, improves the customer experience, and lowers your support team’s workload.
Absolutely. WeSupply integrates seamlessly with Shopify and hundreds of third-party tools. You can sync order and return data across your API-driven platforms—whether it’s your ERP, WMS, CRM, or support tools—to streamline operations and deliver a unified customer experience.
Yes, WeSupply does have an official Shopify App. You can download and begin to integrate it with your Shopify store.
Yes, WeSupply has an official extension for Magento. The WeSupply x Magento integration allows for automating order tracking experiences, reducing customer inquiries, automating shipping email and SMS notifications, and providing a fully branded order tracking experience
Yes, WeSupply has an official BigCommerce App. You can integrate WeSupply with your BigCommerce store to improve your post-purchase customer experience.
Learn How To Create Successful Post Purchase Email Campaigns
Build an effective post-purchase email flow that helps you increase customer satisfaction and drive revenue growth!
Streamline your returns process with USPS labels for improved efficiency. Learn how to simplify returns and enhance customer satisfaction!
Discover how to streamline UK and cross-border returns with effective strategies. Read our comprehensive guide for practical insights and solutions.
Craft a customer-friendly Shopify refund policy with our step-by-step guide. Enhance customer trust and streamline your returns process!
Discover strategies to enhance shopper buying confidence and drive sales effectively. Learn how to build trust with your customers!
Discover essential A/B testing best practices for ecommerce merchants to boost conversions and optimize performance. Read the article for expert insights.
Learn 7 practical strategies to effectively build your email list from scratch. Start growing your audience today! Read the article for actionable tips.
Discover strategies for efficient cross-border deliveries and returns. Streamline your logistics with practical solutions. Read the article now!
Explore the defining traits of Gen X in our comprehensive guide. Understand their values, challenges, and contributions. Read the article for insights!
Stay compliant with the latest hazmat shipping rules. Discover essential tips to navigate the complexities and ensure your shipments are safe!
