Returns are a reality of any ecommerce business. With Stamps.com, you can send a return label to your customer so they can quickly and easily return their order. You can create return labels for any orders you shipped domestically. International orders are currently not eligible for returns in Stamps.com.
Subscription Plan Requirement
This feature is not available for all subscription plans. If you would like to use this feature but cannot access it as described here, you will need to upgrade your plan.
Visit our plan pricing page to see what features are available with our current plans. To upgrade your plan, go to the profile menu in your account and choose Mange Account > Subscription Plan.
You have three options for creating return labels in Stamps.com:
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Email a prepaid return label: With this option, you'll buy a return label and email the label PDF to your recipient's email address.
Emailed return labels are active for 24 hours once you create them. If the label is not used within 24 hours, you can request a refund for up to 28 days.
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Email a QR code "no label" return: Use this option if your recipient does not have the ability to or prefers not to print the label themselves. Instead of a label PDF, they'll receive a QR code they can take to the Post Office or UPS drop-off location. The agent can then scan the QR code, print the label, and attach it to the shipment on the spot!
QR codes expire after seven days once you create them.
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Send a pay-on-use return label with the outgoing shipment: A pay-on-use return label is a label you are only charged for if it is used. Use this option to proactively send a return label in a shipment so your recipient already has the label should they need to return the item to you. This type of label does incur a small per-label fee.
You can set Pay-On-Use return labels as the default for your stores, so every order you send will include one. You can also include certain order details (like item SKU or order #) and custom instructions to these labels to aid your return label workflow.
The Pay-On-Use Return feature must be enabled for your account before you can create this type of label. If you are interested in this feature, contact our support team to have pay-on-use returns added to your account. Please note, certain subscription plans may not be eligible for this feature.
The processes for each type of return label are included in the sections below.
Create a prepaid return label and email it to your recipient so they can return the items to you quickly and easily. This process is the same whether the original label was an ecommerce label or a non-ecommerce label.
Emailed return labels are active for 24 hours once created. If the label is not used, you can request a refund within 28 days.
To create and email a prepaid return label:
Online
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Go to the HISTORY tab.
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Select the original label you are creating a return for.
The Print Details panel will open.
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Click Create Return Label.
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Check your return label details and select one of the Print-at-Home Label options (either USPS or UPS, whichever you prefer). Then, click Continue.
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Choose how you will email the label.
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Use Stamps.com to email this label (suggested): We will email the label to the recipient address you specify.
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Use my own email application to send the label: This will send the label using your default email client.
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Enter the recipient email and add a note if you wish. If you'd like to receive a copy of the return label to your own inbox, check the box Send me a copy of this email.
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Click Send.
PC Software
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Go to HISTORY.
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Select the original label you are creating a return for.
The Print Details panel will open.
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Click Create Return Label.
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Check your return label details and select one of the Print-at-Home Label options (either USPS or UPS, whichever you prefer). Then, click Continue.
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Choose how you will email the label.
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Use Stamps.com to email this label (suggested): We will email the label to the recipient address you specify.
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Use my own email application to send the label: This will open your default email client with the
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Enter the recipient email and add a note if you wish. If you'd like to receive a copy of the return label to your own inbox, check the box Send me a copy of this email.
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Click Send.
Your recipient will receive an email with a downloadable prepaid shipping label. They just need to print it, attach it to their return package, and drop off with the carrier.
If your recipient doesn't have the ability to print a label, you can instead send them a QR code "no label" return. With this option, you'll generate a QR code your recipient can take to the carrier drop-off location. The agent will scan the QR code and print the return label for the package on the spot. This process is the same whether the original label was an ecommerce label or a non-ecommerce label.
To create a QR code return:
Online
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Go to the HISTORY tab.
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Select the original label you are creating a return for.
The Print Details panel will open.
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Click Create Return Label.
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Check your return label details and select one of the Drop-Off: No Label Needed options (either for USPS or UPS, whichever you prefer). Then, click Continue.
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Enter the recipient email and add a note if you wish. If you'd like to receive a copy of the return label to your own inbox, check the box Send me a copy of this email.
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Click Send.
PC Software
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Go to HISTORY.
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Select the original label you are creating a return for.
The Print Details panel will open.
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Click Create Return Label.
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Check your return label details and select one of the Drop-Off: No Label Needed options (either USPS or UPS, whichever you prefer). Then, click Continue.
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Enter the recipient email and add a note if you wish. If you'd like to receive a copy of the return label to your own inbox, check the box Send me a copy of this email.
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Click Send.
Your recipient will receive an email with a QR code. They can take that email on their phone to the Post Office or UPS location, along with the item to be returned. The clerk will scan the QR code, prepare and apply the label, and receive the package for shipment.
If they prefer, your recipient can also print the return label from the email if that is more convenient for them.
If you'd like to proactively include a return label in the outgoing shipment, you can choose to create the return label at the same time you create the outgoing label. These are called pay-on-use return labels, which means you don't pay for them unless they are used. If your recipient decides a return is needed, they will already have the label they need so they can return the items without contacting you first.
Pay-On-Use Returns Requirements
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The pay-on-use return label feature must be enabled for your account.
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Each pay-on-use return label you create includes a small additional label fee.
If you feel pay-on-use returns would benefit your business, contact our support team to request this feature be added to your account.
Certain plans may not be eligible for the Pay-On-Use Return feature.
When preparing an order to ship:
Online
PC Software
Save as a Preset!
In Stamps.com PC software, you can also save the pay-on-use return option in your presets. To save in a preset, check the Return Label box and set the service.
Both your outgoing and pay-on-use return labels will appear in the label preview. When you choose to print the label, both will print and you can include the return label inside the package.
To save time when shipping your orders, you can set pay-on-use return labels as a default in your store settings. Then, every order you ship will automatically include a pay-on-use return Label.
For Stamps.com Online, go to the Store Settings, select a service from the Return Labels drop-down menu, and save your changes. For Stamps.com PC software, go to Profile Options > General, select a service from the Return Labels drop-down menu, and click Done.
Do this for each store that should have pay-on-use return labels as the default.
You can add certain order information to the pay-on-use return labels you create, which can aid in your return label workflow. For example, you can include the order number or item SKU right on the label so you can confirm that the returned item is what it is supposed to be.
To add order details to the return label:
Online
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Open the Settings window.
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Go to Common > Label Customization.
In the Return Label Instructions section, you'll see a Reference # field and an Instructions field. You can use either or both of these fields to add details to the bottom of the return label.
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Click the Insert Variable drop-down to select what type of order information you wish to include in each field. You can also enter custom text into each field.
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Click Done when you are finished.
PC Software
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Go to
File > Preferences. -
Go to the General tab and click the Customize button.
In the pop-up, you'll see a Printed Message field and an Instructions field. You can use either or both of these fields to add details to the bottom of the return label.
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Click the Add Order # button to select what type of order information to include in each field. You can also enter custom text into each field.
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Click Done when you are finished.
The Reference # and Instructions text will appear at the bottom of every pay-on-use return label you create.