Understanding draft returns

Draft returns refer to the returns received at the fulfilment location for which information such as order ID and expected return items are unavailable.

Draft returns allow you to receive the returned items and restock their inventory after quality checks. However, you need to create the return for these draft returns to associate them with their respective orders.

If the return is not created against the draft returns, there can be the following issues:

Unable to record returns in your books of accounts: As the order information is unavailable for the draft returns, you won’t be able to book these returns in your books of accounts.
Unable to file claims: Without the order information, you will not be able to file claims for the draft returns.

In this article, you will learn:

Identifying draft returns

To identify the draft returns present on your Eshopbox workspace, you need to export the draft returns reports. To do so, you need to follow the below-given steps:

Step 1: Log in to your Eshopbox workspace.
Step 2: From the header, navigate to Orders > All orders.

Step 3: You will be redirected to the Orders page. Click on Export.
Step 4: You will be redirected to the Export orders page. Select Draft returns report.
Step 5: You can apply any of the given filters
- QC status
  - QC pending: Return not created in Eshopbox. However, it has been received at the fulfilment centre and is currently pending for quality check.
  - QC completed: Return not created in Eshopbox. However, it has been received at the fulfilment centre, and the quality check has been completed.
- Return received on date range
- QC completed on the date range
- Portal for which the return was received
- Location where the return was received
  
  Note:
- You need to select at least one date range filter.
- If you have selected the QC status as QC pending, the QC completed on the date range filter will not be applicable.

Step 6: Select the fields you wish to export for the return shipment and the items. All the fields will be selected by default.
Step 7: Once you have selected all the fields, click on Export CSV.

You can also schedule this report on your workspace as per your requirements. Learn here how to schedule a report.

Resolving draft returns

Once you have identified the draft returns by exporting the Draft returns report, you need to create a return against these shipments on your Eshopbox workspace. Learn more on how to create a return.

To create a return, you need the following details:

Order ID: Order ID against which the return is received.
Expected return items: SKU of the items that were expected in the particular return.
Return tracking ID: Tracking ID associated with the return
Return type: A return can be
- Courier-initiated return
- Customer-initiated return
- Unknown return

Once the return is created for the draft returns, these returns will be associated with the respective orders on your Eshopbox workspace and will no longer appear in the Draft returns report.

You can export the Sale order report to record these returns in your accounting books or file claims. Learn here how to export the sales order report.

Understanding the Draft Returns report

The draft returns report contains the following information:

Field	Description
Portal	The portal from which the return was initiated.
Return shipping provider	The courier partner that has delivered the return to the fulfilment location.
Return tracking ID	The unique identifier for tracking the return shipment.
Fulfilment centre	The physical location where the return is received and processed.
QC status	The quality check status for the received return item. This can be QC Pending: This indicates that the quality check of the return shipment is pending. In this case, only the return shipment information will be available. QC Completed: This indicates that the quality check of the return shipment is completed.
Gate pass ID	For sales channels like AJIO and Myntra, multiple return shipments are received against a specific gate pass ID. This ID helps you to track and reconcile the returns received.
Return received on	The date when the return was physically received at the fulfilment location.
QC completed on	The date when the Quality Check was completed.
Order ID	This is the reference ID that is mentioned on the shipping label of the received return.
Return item condition	This is the physical condition of the returned item. Sellable: The item has passed the quality checks and is restocked as sellable inventory. Non sellable: The item has failed the quality checks. Unknown item: Any other brand item is received.
Return rejection reason	This is the reason for failing the quality checks.
Item barcode	A unique barcode that is pasted on each returned item, which can be used to get the return details for a particular item.
Product details	This includes the details of the returned item, such as product title, ESIN, SKU, and EAN.
Batch details	This includes the batch details of the returned item, such as the manufacturing date, shelf life, expiry date, threshold period, batch code, or stop-ship date. It will be only available if you have enabled batch tracking on your workspace. Learn here more about batch tracking.
Serial number	This is a unique identification code associated with every product. It is particularly useful for consumer electronics companies and other retailers that require a record of which product was sent to which customer. It will be only available if you have enabled serial number scan on your workspace. Learn here more about serial number scan.