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🕓 Return Periods & Windows – Set your global return deadlines

Jeppe Oestergaard Hansen avatar
Written by Jeppe Oestergaard Hansen
Updated over 2 months ago

This section lets you control how long customers have to return an item – depending on whether they want a refund, an exchange, or how long they have to drop off the package.

These settings are global and apply across all Markets.

📦 Return Windows

Return Windows define the return time limits:

  • Refund Window
    Number of days customers can request a refund

  • Exchange Window
    Number of days customers can request an exchange

  • Package Hand-In Window
    Time limit for when customers must hand in the return after submitting it

🧠 All dates are based on the item’s fulfillment date in Shopify – not the order date.

✍️ Example

  • Refund Window: 17 days

  • Exchange Window: 30 days

  • Hand-In Window: 14 days

→ If an item is fulfilled on June 1st:

  • Refund is allowed until June 18

  • Exchanges are allowed until July 1

  • Once started, the customer must hand in the package within 14 days

✍️ Special Return Periods

Special Return Periods let you set specific deadlines during campaigns like Black Friday or Christmas.

This helps you offer extended return options for seasonal events – great for conversion and customer experience.

🔧 What it does

With Special Return Periods, you can:

  • Define a campaign period (start + end)

  • Set custom return/exchange deadlines for orders placed in that period

  • Apply the rules globally across all markets

🧭 How it works

When an order is placed within the campaign period, Returnflows will apply the custom deadlines instead of your standard return rules.

Example:

  • Campaign: Nov 1 → Dec 20

  • Return Deadline: Dec 24

  • Exchange Deadline: Dec 31

→ Any order placed in that window follows the extended deadlines.

✍️ How to create one

  1. Go to Return Settings → Special Return Periods

  2. Click “Add new period”

  3. Fill in:

  • Name: Internal use only

  • Period: Start and end time/date

  • Deadlines: Final return and exchange date for qualifying orders

  1. Click Create and activate the period

📌 These rules apply globally across all markets.

💡 Tips

  • You can create multiple periods (e.g. for Christmas and January)

  • Overlapping periods are handled automatically

  • Deactivate periods when no longer needed

❓ FAQ

Can I set different rules per market?
No – this setting is global.

When does the return window start?
From the fulfillment date of the item in Shopify.

What if the order is outside the campaign period?
Then your standard return policy applies.

🙋 Need help?

Not sure how to configure your return timelines?
💬 Contact us – we’ll help you set it up.

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