Return fee condition: Item quantity

Article on: Returndotai
Updated on: 01/14/2026

Introduction

This condition is designed to help merchants reduce the number of products returned in a single order. By applying fees based on the quantity of items being returned, you can encourage more thoughtful purchasing decisions and reduce return abuse.

Access this feature

Navigate to /settings/policies in your application.

How it works?

Automatic Fee Application

If a request meets the item quantity condition, the return fee will be applied automatically.

Purpose

This helps merchants reduce the number of products returned in a single order.

  • Discourages bulk returns
  • Encourages customers to be more selective when requesting returns
  • Reduces processing costs for high-quantity returns
  • Helps identify potential return abuse

For Example

Example Scenario

If a return request has greater than 2 products, the system will automatically apply the return fee.

Fee Deduction

The fee will be deducted from the customer's refund.

  1. 1Customer submits return request with 3 or more items
  2. 2System checks if quantity meets the fee condition (> 2 items)
  3. 3Return fee is automatically applied
  4. 4Fee amount is deducted from the total refund amount
  5. 5Customer sees the final refund amount after fee deduction

How does Return fee work in the portal?

Condition Matching

If the return request maps with the conditions of return fee, this request will be deducted a fee.

Customer Portal View

Customers can see the return fee applied to their request in the return portal.

  1. 1Customer submits return request
  2. 2System evaluates item quantity against fee condition
  3. 3If condition is met, fee is displayed in the portal
  4. 4Customer sees itemized breakdown: items value, return fee, final refund
  5. 5Fee amount is clearly labeled as "Return Fee"

Merchant Dashboard View

Merchants can see which return requests have fees applied based on item quantity conditions.

  1. 1View return request in Returns Management dashboard
  2. 2See return fee applied indicator
  3. 3Review fee amount deducted
  4. 4Understand why fee was applied (quantity condition)
  5. 5Process refund with fee already calculated

Configuring Item Quantity Fee

Setup Instructions

To configure the item quantity return fee condition:

  1. 1Navigate to Settings > Return/Exchange flow > Fee
  2. 2Enable "Return fee based on item quantity"
  3. 3Set the quantity threshold (e.g., greater than 2 items)
  4. 4Set the fee amount to be charged
  5. 5Choose fee type: flat fee or percentage
  6. 6Save your changes

Configuration Best Practices

Consider these best practices when setting up your item quantity fee:

  • Set threshold based on your average order size
  • Communicate fee policy clearly in your return policy
  • Consider your product margins when setting fee amount
  • Test the configuration with sample returns
  • Monitor return patterns after enabling the fee

Key Features

Automatic Fee Application

System automatically applies return fee when quantity condition is met

Flexible Threshold

Set custom quantity thresholds based on your business needs

Transparent Display

Customers see the fee clearly in the return portal before confirming

Refund Integration

Fee is automatically deducted from the total refund amount

Return Abuse Prevention

Helps reduce bulk returns and potential abuse of return policies

Dashboard Visibility

Merchants can easily see which requests have quantity-based fees applied

Important Notes

Set Reasonable Thresholds

Choose a quantity threshold that makes sense for your products. For fashion retailers, 3-4 items might be reasonable; for electronics, even 2 items might warrant a fee.

Communicate Policy Clearly

Make sure your return policy clearly states that fees apply for returns exceeding a certain quantity. This sets proper customer expectations.

Consider Your Business Model

If you encourage customers to buy multiple items (e.g., "buy 3 get 1 free"), consider setting a higher threshold or not using this feature.

Monitor Customer Feedback

After implementing quantity-based fees, monitor customer feedback to ensure the policy is fair and doesn't negatively impact satisfaction.

Combine with Other Conditions

Item quantity fee can work alongside other fee conditions (like return reason) for a comprehensive fee structure.

Test Before Launch

Create test returns with various quantities to verify the fee is applied correctly at your configured threshold.

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