Return Shipping Policy Automation
Overview
Section titled “Overview”The Return Shipping Policy automation in Corso allows you to manage how and where customer returns are routed. By setting up policies and rules, you can direct returns to the correct warehouse or fulfillment center, customize return methods, and ensure customers receive the right labels or packing slips. At least one policy is required for claims to process automatically.
What You Can Expect
Section titled “What You Can Expect”With return shipping policies, you can:
- Manage return locations by creating one or multiple warehouse addresses.
- Set routing rules based on conditions like fulfillment location, order country, or product type.
- Control return methods by offering shipping labels (through EasyPost or VESYL integrations) or packing slips.
- Automate domestic vs. international handling so customers are directed to the right return location automatically.
- Delegate return routing entirely to Global-e for stores with that integration configured.
- Ensure operational accuracy by verifying address details and country codes to avoid label errors.
This functionality saves time, reduces manual routing, and ensures customers have a smooth return experience.
Features and Functionality
Section titled “Features and Functionality”Return Locations
Section titled “Return Locations”You must create at least one return location before you can configure a standard shipping policy. Policies that are managed by Global-e don’t need a return location.
Locations include:
- Internal name: used for admin reference
- Return address: must be accurate; incorrect details like country codes can prevent labels from generating
Return Shipping Policies
Section titled “Return Shipping Policies”Policies determine which location is used based on defined conditions. Examples:
- If order country = United States → Route to domestic warehouse.
- If order country ≠ United States → Route to international warehouse.
- If product type = Apparel → Route to apparel returns center.
Each policy references one of your created return locations.
Return Handling
Section titled “Return Handling”When you create or edit a return shipping policy, a Return Handling field controls how the return is processed. Two options are available:
- Return to a Location — Items come back to one of your return locations using the methods you offer. This is the default option and the standard configuration for most stores.
- Managed by Global-e — Global-e decides the destination and issues the label. No return location or return methods are required for this option. This option is only visible on stores that have Global-e configured.
When Managed by Global-e is selected, the Return Location and Return Methods fields are hidden. Use the policy’s conditions to choose which orders it applies to. The rule summary in the automation list displays a Managed By Global-e badge and the note “Global-e determines where items are returned to and issues the label.” in place of the address and method details.
Matching Global-e orders to the right policy
Section titled “Matching Global-e orders to the right policy”Global-e orders and Global-e policies have to line up. Customers are not offered any return methods if:
- A Global-e order is covered by a Return to a Location policy. Global-e orders always return through Global-e and never fall back to EasyPost or VESYL.
- An order that isn’t a Global-e order is covered by a Managed by Global-e policy.
When this happens, the customer sees a message asking them to contact your team for help. To avoid it, add the Global-e Order condition to your policies:
- Set Global-e Order to true on your Managed by Global-e policy.
- Set Global-e Order to false on your Return to a Location policies, or place the Global-e policy above them in priority.
Global-e return locations
Section titled “Global-e return locations”Global-e creates its own return locations in Corso as it sends returns to new destinations. These locations show a Managed By Global-e badge in your Shipping Policies settings. They can’t be edited or deleted, and they can’t be selected as the Return Location on a Return to a Location policy.
Return shipping policies apply to returns submitted in the customer portal. When your team uses Quick Ship on a Global-e claim in the Corso Admin, Corso creates the Global-e label without checking your return shipping policies.
Return Methods
Section titled “Return Methods”When Return to a Location is selected, you choose how customers return products:
- Shipping Label — Automatically generated through EasyPost or VESYL
- Packing Slip — A printable slip provided without a pre-paid label
- Both — Allow customers to choose between the two
Editing Policies
Section titled “Editing Policies”Policies can be managed in two ways:
- Automations — Add conditions and rules directly.
- Shipping Policies settings — Recommended, since you can manage both locations and rules from one screen.
Implementation
Section titled “Implementation”To implement a return shipping policy:
- Create at least one return location with verified address details.
- Build a return shipping policy rule and set the Return Handling field.
- If using Return to a Location, select a location and choose the return method (label, packing slip, or both).
- If using Managed by Global-e, use the conditions on the rule to target the countries or orders Global-e handles, such as Global-e Order is true. No location or method selection is needed.
- Save the policy.
- Repeat as needed for international or product-specific workflows.
Q: Do I need more than one return location? Not necessarily. One location is enough, but multiple locations are recommended if you manage domestic and international returns separately.
Q: What happens if I don’t set a policy? Claims cannot be routed automatically without at least one policy. Customers will only receive a packing slip if no label-based location is defined.
Q: Which shipping carriers are supported for label generation? Labels can be created through our integrations with EasyPost and VESYL.
Q: Where does Happy Returns fit into my return shipping policies? It does not. Happy Returns is not a return method you select on a policy. When the integration is enabled, Corso offers a drop-off automatically to every eligible customer, in addition to the label or packing slip your policy produces. See Happy Returns.
Q: I don’t see the “Managed by Global-e” option in Return Handling. Why? The Managed by Global-e option only appears on stores that have Global-e configured. If your store has not set up Global-e, only the Return to a Location option is shown. See Global-e to connect the integration.
Q: Why aren’t customers seeing any return methods on a Global-e order? The order is likely covered by a Return to a Location policy instead of a Managed by Global-e policy. Global-e orders only receive Global-e labels. Check that your Global-e policy’s conditions cover the order, for example with the Global-e Order condition.