Topic: Learn how you can create and include pre-printed return labels in your boxes. Pre-printed return labels allow you to comply with the selling regulations of online selling platforms such as Zalando, Otto, and La Redoute, and help you to provide a seamless return process for your customers.
You can print return labels at the same time as you print your shipping labels, directly from the incoming order overview.
Important: Incoming orders overview update
We're currently rolling out a new version of the Incoming orders overview to a limited group of users. Because of this, your screen may look different from the screenshots or steps shown in this article. See what's changed.
Step 1: Create a default return shipping option
Go to Returns > Return defaults and select your preferred return shipping option from the dropdown menu. To set a default return shipping method for the pre-printed return labels, set up a preferred return shipping option for incoming orders.
- Manual returns: This is the method that will be automatically used to create your return labels when you print your orders. This is also the method that will be pre-selected when you want to create a return using the manual return form. Select "None" if you do not want to preselect any return shipping option.
- Incoming orders: This method will be pre-selected as the return shipping option on the incoming orders page.
ℹ Good to know: Return defaults do not affect return method selection via the return portal.
Step 2: Print return labels with shipping labels
From the IOV, enable the types of documents you want to print from the dropdown menu next to the Create labels button, and click Apply selection:
Tip: You can choose to print return labels, shipping labels and/or packing slips for all of your orders in a single click.
Successful return announcements will appear in the Returns tab under the incoming returns overview.
Step 3: Change the return method
If the preferred method you set as your return default (Step 1) is not applicable for an order, you will see the error message contains an error. This can occur if your default return method does not support the selected destination country or if the parcel exceeds the maximum weight/dimensions of the method.
You can manually select a new return method directly from the incoming order overview by either:
- Clicking the expand menu arrow:
- Or, by clicking the stylus icon to edit the order:
Print Settings for Return Labels
You can customize your return label print settings to streamline the return process. This setting allows you to:
- Select your preferred printer for return labels.
- Choose between A4 or A6 format for printing.
This option is available on the Printing Options page in your account. You can find this page by going to Shipping > Printing options > Return labels > Format.
The default setting matches your existing print preferences for shipping labels, but you can adjust it specifically for return labels as needed.
Return Label in Box: Generate from Pack & Go
You can generate return labels in box directly from Pack & Go alongside your outbound labels. This feature simplifies the process, allowing you to print both outbound and return labels in one step.
How to Use:
- Go to Shipping > Pack & Go > click on the gear icon and select the "Return label" option to generate the return label with the outbound label.
- This works the same way as in the Incoming Order Overview (IOV), but now directly from Pack & Go.
Assign Return Label shipping option via Shipping Rules
You can assign a shipping option for the "Return label in box" feature using Shipping Rules.
This allows you to automate and customize the return label shipping option directly from the Shipping Rules settings.
How It Works:
- Set up a new shipping rule action to assign the return label shipping option when processing outbound shipments.
- This feature is designed to work seamlessly with the Return label in box functionality, making it easier to adopt both returns and shipping options in one unified platform.
FAQ
How can I print a return label for an order I already created?
Once you've printed a shipping label for an order, it will disappear from the incoming order overview, but you will still be able to create a return for it at any point.
- Returns can be created from an outgoing shipment directly from the Created labels tab. See: How to create a return for an outgoing shipment
- You can also create a return directly from the Returns tab, by selecting a specific return from the incoming return overview and clicking Print return label
How am I charged for return labels?
Some return labels are charged when you create the label, and others upon the first scan. This depends on the carrier that you use.
To make sure that you know what applies to your specific return, we have added this information to the Price breakdown section. You can find this overview by following the steps below:
- Open the order details by clicking on the pencil icon behind your order
- Make sure the correct return method is selected at Return
- Go to Indicative total prices on the right of your order
- Click on View prices breakdown
This breakdown shows whether your return shipment is charged upon creation or upon first scan. In the example below, you can see that in this case, the return label is charged upon creation:
Carriers charged upon first scan:
| Carriers | |
| Netherlands | DHL, PostNL, DPD, FedEx, UPS |
| Belgium | PostNL, DPD, Bpost, UPS |
| Germany | DPD, DHL, UPS |
| Austria | GLS, PostAT, UPS |
| France | DPD, Colissimo, FedEx, UPS |
| Italy | InPost, FedEx, UPS |
| United Kingdom | DHL Parcel GB, UPS |
Own carrier contract: If you have your own carrier contract connected to your Sendcloud account, the amount you are charged for used labels and the way you are reimbursed for unused labels is on the terms and conditions of your specific carrier contract.