Choosing the right shipping provider to suit your return shipping needs is a key part of your operations and is crucial to customer satisfaction.
This article will go over what to consider before selecting a shipping provider to connect with your ReturnLogic account for return shipping. This article does not go over selecting a shipping provider for outbound shipping since outbound shipping is not related to the returns process.
Tip: You can avoid looking for and integrating a shipping provider if you prefer to use the ReturnLogic Shipping Solution which is also mentioned in this article.
Shipping Providers
What Providers do
A return shipping carrier or shipping provider is a company that's responsible for getting packages from Point A (the shopper) to Point B (your return address). These are the companies that generate shipping labels, determine label pricing, terms and label expiration, track packages, and update shipping statutes.
Return Logic & Shipping Providers
While the ReturnLogic support team can answer lots of questions about shipping, shipping providers, shipping labels, shipping workflows, best practices, shipping integrations, shipping statuses, and more, ReturnLogic does not provide technical support on behalf of any shipping providers. This means that if you select your own shipping provider, you may need to contact a shipping provider directly with certain questions, issues, and requests.
ReturnLogic Shipping Solution
Should I use the ReturnLogic Shipping Solution instead?
If you use the ReturnLogic Shipping Solution, you will not need to look for a shipping provider that is compatible with our available shipping integrations (Shippo and EasyPost). The ReturnLogic Shipping Solution allows you to use discounted USPS labels without having to manage any other accounts or billing information. If you have more questions about the benefits of this option, please reach out to ReturnLogic support.
What shipping providers are connected to the ReturnLogic Shipping Solution?
The ReturnLogic Shipping Solution was created in collaboration with USPS in order to offer an easy-to-use and convenient soliton for our merchants. The ReturnLogic Solution is available as soon as you create a ReturnLogic account. This solution also provides automatically discounted rates for ReturnLogic merchants. Though ReturnLogic can provide support around this service, we do not provide in-depth technical support on behalf of USPS.
Choosing a Shipping Provider
What should I consider when researching shipping providers?
Return Shipping
If the provider offers return shipping labels through Shippo or EasyPost (not just outbound shipping)
If they offer scan-based return shipping, which is ideal for merchants
If they offer return shipping with EasyPost or Shippo
Shipping Provider Office Locations
If the provider operates in your local area or a time zone that works for you
How they handle customer support and their typical response time
How differing time zones may impact the time it takes for the provider to respond to a support inquiry
Pricing & Billing
If they offer scan-based return shipping (which only charges you if the label is used by the shopper, not if the label was created)
Their pricing and services and if it is competitive
What is required to have and maintain an account: maintaining a certain balance, replenishing the balance etc.
How billing works, what is the billing schedule, and what is required by the provider etc.
Refunding Charges
How you will be charged for return shipping (if their invoicing is scanned-based or not)
If they offer the option to request a refund for labels that are never utilized by shopper
Integration Options
If the Shipping Provider works with EasyPost and Shippo. If the provider does not offer return shipping labels via either Shippo or EasyPost, the provider can't be connected via the integration tab of the ReturnLogic settings. Right now, Shippo and EasyPost are the only two options available to ReturnLogic merchants. The alternative is to use the ReturnLogic Shipping Solution instead of Shippo or EasyPost integration options.
Label Information
If the shipping provider offers options or has limitations around label expiration and label generation- the expiration determined by the label provider is not the same as the label expiration setting within ReturnLogic, these are unrelated. Each shipping provider will have its own policy on when a label expires or becomes invalid which may be detailed on their website
If the shipping provider offers a way to generate a label manually that you can send to a shopper for special situations outside of your usual return workflow
Reporting
The shipping provider's reporting capabilities or limitations with reporting
Shipping from the US to International Shoppers
If the shipping provider can handle international shipping for your orders with international shoppers
If the shipping provider can meet the needs of your workflow for international shipping, customs forms, international return addresses etc.
Shipping Providers that Support Non-US based stores
What additional aspects should I evaluate if I have a non-US-based Shopify store? (Or if I plan to open one in the future)
Shipping provider office Locations & Support Language(s)
What the local non-US based shipping providers are
If there any major differences as far as location/ pricing/ policies
If they offer support in your team's preferred language
If they offer support in your shopper's preferred language
Integration Options
If it works with EasyPost integration and if there are any limitations
If it works with Shippo integration and if there are any limitations
Support Hours & Timezone
What level of live, technical support you can expect if you run into a technical issue or have an urgent question
How differing time zones may impact the time it takes for the provider to respond to a support inquiry
New ReturnLogic Accounts
Will I need to research shipping providers again if I create a new ReturnLogic store?
To answer that question, you need to consider if your new store has any unique shipping needs. Each ReturnLogic account needs to have its own shipping settings configured if it will be sending shipping labels to shoppers.
Reach out to your Customer Success Manager or support if you want to find out if ReturnLogic has the ability to support your new store. When you inquire, be sure to ask about what special pricing may be available for your additional ReturnLogic account.
Recommended Shipping Providers
What providers do ReturnLogic Merchants already use?
Here is a list of shipping providers that ReturnLogic merchants already use:
US-based stores
USPS
UPS
FedEx
DHL
Non US-based stores
FedEx
Royal Mail
DHL
Australia Post
We're here to help! Email us at support@returnlogic.com or use the live chat inside the platform with any questions or feedback.