Processing returns for BFCM 2022 on SFN

To help you navigate extended holiday return periods, consider setting up returns to Shopify Fulfillment Network (SFN) fulfillment centers and creating pre-authorized return labels. You should also review your return and shipping policies. Taking these steps can improve your customers experience when they're returning an item, as well as minimize support debt.

Setting up returns to SFN fulfillment centers

To help you manage returns during the Black Friday Cyber Monday (BFCM) and holiday shopping season, consider allowing your customers to send returns to SFN fulfillment centers. Products that are returned to SFN are inspected and processed in accordance with the return rules that you set up in the SFN app, and whether the product is an unsellable or restricted item. Allowing customers to send returns directly to SFN helps to ensure that products in a sellable condition are returned to available inventory quickly.

Setting up pre-authorized return labels

By choosing to include a pre-authorized return label in shipments, you can allow customers to return products to SFN without you needing to manually create a return in your Shopify admin.

Before you activate pre-authorized return labels, set up return rules for your products that are fulfilled by SFN. After you set up return rules, you can activate pre-authorized return labels.

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, click Settings > Apps and sales channels.

  2. From the Apps and sales channels page, click Shopify Fulfillment Network.

  3. Click Open app.

  4. Click Settings.

  5. In Pre-authorized return labels, click Manage.

  6. If you want to include a pre-authorized return label in all orders, then select Include for all orders, otherwise select Only include for orders above a value of and enter a value.

  7. Click Save.

After you activate pre-authorized returns, labels are included in eligible orders that are sent to SFN for fulfillment.

Review your store's return and refund policy

During BFCM and the holiday shopping season, products are often purchased as gifts. Because there is often a delay between the customer receiving the gift and the gift recipient receiving the gift, it can help increase your customer trust by providing a longer return eligibility period to account for this delay. Review your store return policy and consider making changes that provide your customers additional options during BFCM and the holiday season.

Learn more about adding and editing store policies.

Extend your return window

Consider extending your holiday return periods. For example, retailers such as Apple, Amazon, and Target offer extended returns on most items purchased from November 1 to December 31. By extending your return window, customers, as well as gift recipients, have time to return items with less stress or hassle.

In your messaging, include the eligible time frame for extended returns. Make sure that any important information is clearly outlined in your return policy. Learn how to write a return policy.

Return strategies

Consider offering your customers free returns, or a flat returns rate. By having an easy return policy in place, customers are less likely to abandon carts, complain, or feel frustrated, because the return strategies that you employ help eliminate or reduce how much a customer needs to pay for a return. Many customers review a return policy before making a purchase, and customers are more likely to buy from you, or trust your brand, if your store's return policies are easy.

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