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How to create a return shipping label

As an ecommerce business, it’s important to keep your customers happy. A satisfied customer can become a repeat customer, and that’s the best way to grow your business.

Rather than seeing returns as a negative, a quick and easy returns process can actually encourage customers to shop with you again. A study by Accenture found that 82% of consumers consider the return policy to be important when making an online purchase.

Let’s take a look at how you can make the process better for your customers with our guide on how to create a return shipping label.

What is a return shipping label?

A return shipping label is a pre-paid, pre-addressed label that customers can attach to their package for an easy return. It can either be sent with the items, or a customer can print it at home.

In the same study, Accenture also found that effectively managing returns results in an added 22-46% increase in profit on average over six months, because consumers really value the returns process.

An easy-to-print return label is an essential part of a simple process.

Why should you make it easy for customers to print return labels?

For these reasons, it’s important to make it easy for your customers to print return labels. You need to show your customers upfront what the returns process is like – this study found that 50% of shoppers had abandoned a purchase due to a lack of choice of returns channels. 

It’s not a done deal once they’ve made a purchase, though. Ecommerce businesses must make it easy for customers to return items if they hope to turn them into repeat customers. A 2018 report by Dotcom Distribution found that 62% would buy again from a brand offering free returns or exchanges and as mentioned above, customers are put off by sites which make it difficult to return items.

How to automatically create return shipping labels for customers

There are ways to make returning packages easier for your customers. Let’s take a look at a few options below.

Add an online returns portal to your website

With an online returns portal, such as the ShippyPro Easy Return feature, you can make it easier for customers to return items that don’t fit, or that they’ve simply changed their minds about. The portal, which can be fully embedded in your site, offers self-service returns. 

It also gives you control over what returns you accept, as they’re not one size fits all. You can set up return rules, for example, only allowing returns on orders that are under 30 days old. 

return policy automation

Allow customers to initiate returns and print labels

Customers just input their return and if it meets your criteria, they can print their returns label with just one click. Then they just need to attach it to their parcel and send it back to you via the chosen courier method. 

return tracking app

Reduce customer service inquiries while collecting returns data

You can learn from customer returns. As every customer is required to enter the reason for their return, you can build up a picture of why items are being sent back. Is it because they don’t look as they do on your site? Is it because customers are ordering multiple sizes to try at home? Returns analytics can be really helpful for forward planning and marketing.

You’ll also reduce the number of customer service queries from customers looking for an update on their order. With automated returns, there’s no need for customers to get in touch to find out what they need to do. Return status notifications keep them updated at every step of the way until the return reaches you and their money has been refunded.

Examples of return shipping label generators

Here are some examples of portals added to ecommerce sites to make return shipments easier.

How to return an order
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This portal from Diesel makes it quick and easy for customers. They just need to enter their order details, then attach the pre-paid returns label that came with their order to the parcel. A courier will then come to collect it.

Returns portal
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Intimissimi offers returns via several methods: in-store, to a drop-off point or via courier collection. This is important as 17% of shoppers said they wouldn’t make a purchase without the option to return to a store.

Example of a customer return portal for printing a label
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Volcom makes it clear how many steps there are in the returns process. This is important as easy returns drive loyalty.

Streamline returns with ShippyPro

ShippyPro makes returns simple with the Easy Return portal. Fully embeddable in your website, it allows you to set rules for returns, and makes the process faster for customers. Reduce customer service enquiries and improve customer satisfaction for repeat custom with a quick and easy returns process.

Now you know how to create a return shipping label, register to ShippyPro.

ShippyPro Team

ShippyPro is the complete shipping software for online and offline retail. With Label Creator, Track & Trace, Easy Return and Analytics features, our software simplifies your shipping operations. ShippyPro integrates with over 160 couriers and 80 sales channels, making it compatible with a wide range of products and use cases.