Restocking

ReturnGO enables you to restock returned items directly from your ReturnGO dashboard.

Restocking returned items can be done through ReturnGO either through the RESTOCK button or while manually issuing a refund through the refund calculator. 

When you restock through ReturnGO, ReturnGO instructs your eCommerce platform to restock the items in one of the following ways, depending on your settings:

1. Refund and Restock (Refund $0 and restock) - the action equivalent to restocking through Shopify's Refund Screen (for Shopify merchants).
2. Add to Inventory (+1 to inventory location only) - the action equivalent to adjusting the item's inventory level on Shopify's Inventory Screen (for Shopify merchants).
3. Mark Shopify Return as Restocked - the action equivalent to marking the item as restocked on the Shopify return (for Shopify merchants using Shopify Returns).

The methods available to you depend on whether Shopify Returns is enabled in your store.

This article describes the characteristics of each restocking method, their differences, which methods are available to you, and how you can set your store's restocking method.

Requirements & Limitations 

For stores hosted on Shopify, ReturnGO restocking occurs through Shopify, and therefore Shopify's limitations also apply to restocking performed via ReturnGO.

While this ensures consistency across platforms in the restocking process, it's important to be aware of these limitations when using the restocking feature, in order to effectively manage your inventory.

The limitations of restocking include:

• Once an item has been restocked, the action cannot be reversed.
• Restocking is done at the item level, and the item status is applied per line item.
• Since Shopify doesn't support restocking items that have already been refunded to the original payment method, ReturnGO cannot perform this action either.

Setting Up Your Restock Method

Select the method for restocking items to your store's inventory - linked with a refund, independently, or through the Shopify return.

The methods available in the Restock by drop-down depend on whether Create RMAs as Shopify Returns is enabled in Settings > Integrations:

• When Shopify Returns is disabled, you can choose +1 to inventory location only or Refund $0 and restock.
• When Shopify Returns is enabled, you can choose +1 to inventory location only or Mark Shopify Return as restocked.

To choose a restock method:

1. Go to Settings > General.
2. Open up the General Returns section.
   
3. Under Restock by, select your preferred restocking method from the drop-down.
4. Click the save icon to save your settings.
   

How Restocking Works

ReturnGO supports three methods for restocking inventory. Regardless of the method you select, the result will be the same - if you click the RESTOCK button the item will get restocked, and if you restock via the refund pop-up, the refund will be issued and the item will be restocked.

The difference between the methods is technical and is based on the action that happens in Shopify.

Let’s break down the methods and how they work:

1. Refund and Restock

In the Restock by drop-down, this method appears as Refund $0 and restock. It is available when Shopify Returns is disabled.

This method uses the Shopify refund function, which includes restocking the returned item.

Using this method, when restocking through the RESTOCK button on the RMA page, ReturnGO will instruct Shopify to restock the item with a $0 refund amount.

When restocking through the refund calculator, ReturnGO will instruct Shopify to restock the item with a refund amount that you define.

The restock will be documented on the Shopify order’s timeline in addition to the order and RMA notes.

This method associates the restocking action with the original order in Shopify’s inventory adjustment history.

Limitations of this Restock Method

The limitations of this restock method are:

• If you only restock, without issuing a refund - you'll only be able to issue order-level refunds later, and not item-level refunds.
• If you only refund, without restocking - you won’t be able to restock through ReturnGO later, and will have to go into your store inventory on Shopify and manually adjust the inventory.
• This method isn't available when Shopify Returns is enabled.

2. Add to Inventory

In the Restock by drop-down, this method appears as +1 to inventory location only. It is available whether Shopify Returns is enabled or disabled.

When using this restocking method, ReturnGO instructs Shopify to add the returned item directly back into your Shopify inventory without issuing a refund, increasing the inventory count for that item just like if you manually adjusted the quantity in your Shopify store settings. The item's status in the order isn't changed, only the inventory count.

Using this method, there's no dependency between the actions of refunding and restocking.

Click the RESTOCK button on the RMA page to return the items to inventory, and then later on, when your accounting department issues the refund, they will need to issue a refund without selecting any items.

Limitations of this Restock Method

The limitations of this restock method are:

• The restock won’t appear in the order timeline, only in the order and RMA notes.

3. Mark Shopify Return as Restocked

The Mark Shopify Return as restocked method is available when Create RMAs as Shopify Returns is enabled.

When using this restocking method, ReturnGO asks Shopify to mark the item as restocked on the Shopify return, at the required inventory location. This is either your default location or the location you select at the time of restocking.

Shopify then updates the inventory count for that item and notifies your connected fulfillment systems, such as a 3PL or WMS.

Unlike the Add to Inventory method, which adjusts the inventory count without changing the item's status in the order, this method updates the status of the item on the Shopify return itself. The restock is recorded on the Shopify return rather than as a standalone inventory adjustment.

Using this method, there's no dependency between the actions of refunding and restocking. You can restock the items first and issue the refund later, or the other way around.

When to Use This Method

Use this method when you process returns as Shopify returns, and you want the restock recorded on the Shopify return, so that the return, the order, and your connected fulfillment systems all reflect the same inventory change.

If you'd rather restock as a plain inventory adjustment with no effect on the return's status, use the Add to Inventory method instead.

How to Restock

Regardless of the restocking method you defined in your settings, the actions you take to restock returned items is the same.

There are two ways to restock items from the ReturnGO dashboard.

1. Restock Button

On the RMA page, there’s a restock button that you can click to restock the selected items from the RMA once the return shipment has been received.

To restock an item through the restock button:

1. Go to Manage Returns.

2. Search for a return request using the RMA number or Shopify order ID. You can also use the Shipment Received filter to shorten the list.

3. Click on the relevant RMA to open the RMA page.
   
   
   

4. In the RMA page, make sure that the relevant items are checked.

5. Click on the RESTOCK button.
   
   

6. In the Restock pop-up, choose the inventory location where the item should be restocked.

7. Click RESTOCK.

When using the refund + restock method, Shopify will issue a $0 refund together with restocking the items.

When using the add to inventory method, Shopify will simply add the returned items back to inventory, without issuing any refund.

When using the mark Shopify return as restocked method, Shopify will mark the item as restocked on the Shopify return, update your inventory, and notify your connected fulfillment systems.

2. Refund Calculator

When issuing a refund through the refund calculator, you have the option to restock returned items at the same time.

To restock an item from the refund calculator:

1. Go to Manage Returns.
2. Search for a return request using the RMA number or Shopify order ID. You can also use the Shipment Received filter to shorten the list. 
3. Click on the relevant RMA to open the RMA page. 
   
4. In the RMA page, make sure that the relevant items are checked.
5. Click REFUND/CREDIT to launch the Refund Calculator.
   
6. Check the corresponding boxes of the fees you want to add to the Suggested Refund amount.
7. Click APPLY to apply the suggested refund amount.
8. Select the refund method:
   • Refund to Original Payment Method - Select this to refund the amount back to the original payment method used during the purchase.
     
     
   • Store Credit - Select this option to refund the amount as store credit.
   • New Gift Card - Select this to refund the amount as a new gift card.
9. Edit the refund amount if necessary.
10. Toggle Restock to restock the selected items at the same time as the refund.
11. Select the location to which to restock the item.
12. Toggle Send Platform Email Notifications to trigger the eCommerce platform to send an email notification to the customer about the refund as well.
13. Click REFUND.

When using the refund + restock method, Shopify will issue the refund together with restocking the item.

When using the add to inventory method, Shopify will perform two separate actions: 

1. Issue the refund
2. Add the items directly to the inventory

When using the mark Shopify return as restocked method, Shopify will perform two separate actions:

1. Issue the refund
2. Mark the item as restocked on the Shopify return and update the inventory

Restocking FAQs

What Happens When I Restock an Item? 

The results will be the same when you restock an item using any method:

• The returned item will be added back into your Shopify store’s inventory.
• On the RMA page in ReturnGO, you’ll see a restocked icon on the line item as well as a note in the internal notes section.

• You’ll see the RMA updates in Shopify under the order's notes.

What’s the Difference Between the Methods?

The three restocking methods are different in terms of the actions Shopify takes when triggered by ReturnGO.

Each method affects reporting differently, so be sure to check with your accounting department which method is best for them reporting-wise.

The main differences for you to take into account are:

• The refund + restock method prompts you to process both the refund and restock at the same time. This ensures that you execute the intended actions accurately. 
  • However, you’ll need to take care to avoid exclusively restocking or refunding, as this would restrict the possibility of performing the other action later.
• The add to inventory method gives you more flexibility to restock and refund separately, with no dependency between the refund and the restock. 
  • However, Shopify's inventory adjustment history won’t show which order the restock is associated with.
• The mark Shopify return as restocked method records the restock on the Shopify return, so the item's status on the return reflects the restock, and your connected fulfillment systems are notified of the inventory change.
  
  • However, this method is only available when Shopify Returns is enabled, where it replaces the refund + restock method.

With all methods, you can restock only once per item.

Why Can't I Select Refund and Restock Anymore?

When Create RMAs as Shopify Returns is enabled, restocking through the refund flow is not available. ReturnGO restocks through Shopify's inventory API instead, so the Restock by drop-down offers +1 to inventory location only and Mark Shopify Return as restocked.

If you need the Refund $0 and restock method, disable Create RMAs as Shopify Returns.

If I have an automated RMA process, how can I prevent automatic restocking?

To prevent ReturnGO from automatically restocking items still using automated return validation and refund processing, set your Restock by setting to a method that isn't linked to the refund. This is either Add to Inventory (+1 to inventory location only) or, if Shopify Returns is enabled, Mark Shopify Return as restocked.