A complete guide: Automation Return Rules
Overview
Synctrack Returns allows merchants create automation rules for auto-approve return requests, auto-mark request as resolved and auto-generate the fastest/cheapest prepaid label to speed up the processing of the return requests and reduce mannual works.
What you'll learn
In this article, we will explore how can merchant can use Automation to reduce 80% return time mannual work:
- How to enable Auto-approve return request ?
- How to enable Auto-select fastes/cheapest carrier?
- How to enable Auto-mark request as resolved?
- How to enbale Auto-issue a refund?
- How to enable Auto-mark items as received?
- How to enable Auto-create exchange order?
- How it works?
- Upcoming Automation rules
How to Enable the Auto Approve return request?
Step 1: Go to Settings > Automation > Create new rules

Step 2: Set up the Automation Rules
- Add the Name of the rule (required to differentiate from other rules)
- Select the suitable condition to Auto-approve. There are following conditions which merchant can set up:
- Return method: the selected return shipping method are approved automatically. Learn how you can generate automated label for return method.
- Return/Exchange options: whether the customer selects Return or Exchange so that different request types follow different approval rules.
- Return reason: specific selected return reasons are approved automatically
- Return resolution: the selected resolution are approved automatically.
- Return sub-reason: the selected sun-reason are approved automatically.
- Return value: return value is within a defined range (greater than or less than) are approved automatically.
- Return market: the selected return market (set up on Shopify admin) are approved automatically.
- Product collection: the selected product collection are approved automatically.
- Product tag: the selected product tag are approved automatically.
- Customer tag: the selected customer tag are approved automatically.

Step 3: Save & Preview on automation management

How to Enable the Auto-select fastest/cheapest carrier service?

How to Enable the Auto-mark return request as resolved?
Step 1: Go to Settings > Automation > Create new rules
- Choose Auto-mark as resolved rule

Step 2: Set up conditions for Automation rule
- Add the name of the rule
- Set condition (return processing status)
- Mark as received: the request is completed at marking as received.
- Mark as restocked: the request is completed at marking as restocked.
- Refunded: the request is completed at issuing a refund.
- Save & Create rule.


How to Enable the Auto-issue a refund?
Step 1: Go to Settings > Automation > Create new rules
- Choose Auto-refund

Step 2: Set up conditions for Automation rule
- Add the name of the rule
- Set condition (return shipping status)
- Shipped: the return shipping is tracked on shipping by courier
- Delivered: the return shipping is tracked delivered to the warehouse
- Set auto-refund for prefered resolution:
- Refund to original payment method
- Refund to store credit
- Refund to gift card
- Refund to discount code
- Refund to online bank transfer
- Save and Create rule


How to Enable the Auto-mark return items as received?
Step 1: Go to Settings > Automation > Create new rules
- Choose Auto-mark as received rule

Step 2: Set up conditions for Automation rule
- Add the name of the rule
- Set condition (return shipping status)
- Shipped: the return shipping is tracked as shipped by courier
- Delivered: the return shipping is tracked as delivered to the warehouse
By default, we recommend selecting Delivered to make sure the returned package has been delivered before the request is marked as received.

- Set action
- Auto-mark as received
- Save and Create rule

How to Enable the Auto-create exchange order?
Step 1: Go to Settings > Automation > Create new rules
- Choose Auto-create exchange order rule

Step 2: Set up conditions for Automation rule
- Add the name of the rule
- Set conditions (you can combine them with AND/OR logic — by default AND is applied and both conditions are shown):
- Return shipping status: Shipped or Delivered (choose one) — the rule is triggered based on the return shipping status.
- Exchange resolution: exchange for the same product, different variants, different products (choose one or more) — the rule applies only to the exchange resolutions you select.

- Set action (Auto-create exchange order) — choose one of the following ways the exchange order is created:
- Add the exchange product to the original order: adds the new product to the existing Shopify order, keeping all transactions under one order number (requires Shopify Sync; available on Premium plan).
- Create order for price difference (automatic): Synctrack automatically creates a Shopify order for the price difference.
- Create new order with full item price: creates a separate order for the full price of the exchange item.
- Save and Create rule
How it works?
In Synctrack admin
- Your Automation rule for return/exchange request will have a unique badge for you to differentiate them from other mannually-approved.

- After the order is created, allow about a minute for the system to process label creation. You can view the updated details in the timeline, along with the service details in the shipment (ONLY FOR auto-select cheapest/fastest carrier service)

Upcoming Automation Rules
- Auto-mark request as restocked
Who can use the feature?
Available on Premium plan
Updated on: 08/06/2026
Thank you!