> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.zippendo.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Inbound and returns

> Create inbound (return) shipments — Type Inbound, return addresses, inbound shipping rules, and Create Return Shipment.

Returns in Zippendo are **merchant-side labels**. You book an **inbound** shipment (or let dispatch do it), print the label, and give it to the shopper. There is **no** customer return portal in the dashboard.

Journey: [Returns](/docs/tutorials/returns). Rule fields: [Shipping rule fields](/docs/how-to/shipping-rule-fields). Pickup vs droppoint names: [Droppoint vs service point](/docs/how-to/drop-point-and-service-points).

<Warning>
  Zippendo does not host a return portal. Carrier products such as **GLS ShopReturn** may email the shopper or show a QR — that is the carrier, not a Zippendo page.
</Warning>

## Two pieces

1. An **inbound** shipping rule — **Direction** = **Inbound (Return)**, with a return product.
2. On the **outbound** rule you ship with, **Return Shipping Rule** points at that inbound rule.

Then either turn on **Auto-create return on dispatch**, or click **Create Return Shipment** after the outbound shipment is **Dispatched**.

## Inbound shipping rule

**Shipping Rules → Add Shipping Rule**. **Direction** helper: **Outbound for regular shipments, inbound for returns.** Options: **Outbound**, **Inbound (Return)**.

<Frame caption="Direction — Outbound or Inbound (Return)">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/01-direction-inbound-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=80ee059e8fc3983b6a7f3919b387a407" alt="Create Shipping Rule with Direction description outbound for regular shipments inbound for returns" className="block dark:hidden" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/01-direction-inbound-light.png" />

  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/01-direction-inbound-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=603e17703c318df3d601639e69f373a4" alt="Create Shipping Rule with Direction description outbound for regular shipments inbound for returns" className="hidden dark:block" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/01-direction-inbound-dark.png" />
</Frame>

**Inbound (Return)** filters **Product** to return products. Empty: **No inbound products available**. Example on GLS Denmark: **GLS ShopReturn**, **GLS Pick\&Return**.

<Frame caption="Inbound (Return) product list — GLS ShopReturn and Pick&Return">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/02-inbound-products-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=604f69be3a3497e7167283e09a968db2" alt="Product dropdown showing GLS ShopReturn and GLS Pick and Return for inbound direction" className="block dark:hidden" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/02-inbound-products-light.png" />

  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/02-inbound-products-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=955ed23d8c62a3b5e5eee89dcaf20895" alt="Product dropdown showing GLS ShopReturn and GLS Pick and Return for inbound direction" className="hidden dark:block" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/02-inbound-products-dark.png" />
</Frame>

**Address** is still **Select the sender address for this rule** and still lists **sender**-type addresses — even on inbound rules. **Receiving Countries**, conditions, hard limits, and **Test** are the same as outbound — [Shipping rule fields](/docs/how-to/shipping-rule-fields).

## Attach it on the outbound rule

Open the outbound rule. **Return Shipping**:

<Frame caption="Return Shipping — Return Shipping Rule None until you pick an inbound rule">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/03-return-shipping-section-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=4fd9be3a17b7ed4951c9159a49db9f08" alt="Return Shipping section with Return Shipping Rule set to None" className="block dark:hidden" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/03-return-shipping-section-light.png" />

  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/03-return-shipping-section-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=c3e4a0314d9fbd7e3d311dd4e5489485" alt="Return Shipping section with Return Shipping Rule set to None" className="hidden dark:block" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/03-return-shipping-section-dark.png" />
</Frame>

| Field                              | Details                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Return Shipping Rule**           | **Select a shipping rule to use for return shipments.** Placeholder **Select a return shipping rule**. **None** plus **all other rules** (not filtered to inbound). Pick an inbound rule here in practice. |
| **Auto-create return on dispatch** | Checkbox. **Automatically create and send a return shipment when the outbound shipment is dispatched.** Only appears after a rule is selected. Choosing **None** clears it.                                |

Use auto-create when every outbound send should book a return. Leave it off when returns are the exception.

## Create an inbound shipment by hand

**Shipments → Create shipment**. **Type \***: **Outbound** (default) or **Inbound**. Placeholder **Select type**.

When **Type** is **Inbound**:

| Field   | Change                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Address | Label becomes **Receiver Address**. Helper: **Select to auto-fill receiver party, or leave empty for manual entry**. Options are addresses with type **return**. Placeholder **Select address**. **None (manual entry)** is still available. |
| Product | Inbound products only. Empty: **No inbound products available for this carrier.**                                                                                                                                                            |

<Frame caption="Create shipment with Type Inbound — Receiver Address">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/04-create-shipment-inbound-light.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=06ebef9b199f7b7bdfe0ef6416a6cdfb" alt="Create shipment form with Type Inbound and Receiver Address" className="block dark:hidden" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/04-create-shipment-inbound-light.png" />

  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/zippendo/-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U/images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/04-create-shipment-inbound-dark.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=-jr41VsJfvHKJJ2U&q=85&s=09676d5294877361fbb0241b23549e05" alt="Create shipment form with Type Inbound and Receiver Address" className="hidden dark:block" width="2880" height="1800" data-path="images/how-to/inbound-and-returns/04-create-shipment-inbound-dark.png" />
</Frame>

Add **return**-type addresses under **Manage → Addresses** — [Sender addresses](/docs/how-to/sender-addresses).

The order **Create Shipment** modal (`create-shipment-from-order`) is always **outbound**. Use this create form (or **Create Return** below) for inbound.

**Reference \*** placeholder **e.g., ORDER-12345**. Parties, parcels, and send: [Create a shipment](/docs/tutorials/create-a-shipment), [Send a shipment](/docs/how-to/send-a-shipment). Filter the list with **Type** = **Inbound** — [Search and filters](/docs/how-to/search-and-filters).

## Create Return Shipment (from a dispatched outbound)

### Shipment header

On a shipment **Overview**, **Create Return Shipment** (busy: **Creating Return…**) appears only when **all** of these are true:

* Status is **Dispatched**
* Type is **Outbound**
* The **shipment’s** shipping rule has **Return Shipping Rule** set
* **Auto-create return on dispatch** is **off**

There is no extra form. The click calls `POST /orgs/:orgId/shipments/:shipmentId/create-return`.

### Order Shipments tab

Overflow **Create Return** (busy: **Creating Return…**) uses the **order’s** shipping rule (`returnShippingRuleId` / `autoCreateReturnShipment`), not the shipment’s. Same dispatched + outbound checks.

The API still resolves the **shipment’s** rule first, then the order’s, when it builds the return.

<Note>
  The docs org’s example shipments have **no** return rule, so **Create Return Shipment** is not on those screenshots. Configure the outbound rule first, dispatch, then the header action appears. Do not expect the button on a shipment that was booked without a return rule.
</Note>

### What gets created

|           |                                                                    |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Type      | **Inbound**                                                        |
| Reference | `RET-` + original reference                                        |
| Parties   | Swapped (customer becomes sender; your warehouse becomes receiver) |
| Booking   | Sent immediately                                                   |

Toasts: **Return shipment created successfully** / **Failed to create return shipment**. Orders tab uses the same success copy.

## Automations

The builder includes action **Create Return Shipment** (`action.shipment.create-return`) with optional **Return shipping rule**. Configure it on [Automations](/docs/how-to/automations) — do not duplicate the inspector here.

## Related

* [Returns](/docs/tutorials/returns)
* [Shipping rule fields](/docs/how-to/shipping-rule-fields)
* [Sender addresses](/docs/how-to/sender-addresses)
* [Send a shipment](/docs/how-to/send-a-shipment)
* [Search and filters](/docs/how-to/search-and-filters)
* [Shopify settings](/docs/how-to/shopify-settings) — checkout rates are outbound; returns are merchant-side