Plans: Whitelist only
Platforms: Shopify
Sales channel: TikTok Shop (US, UK, EU, MX, JP)
Overview
With AfterShip Returns, you can manage TikTok Shop returns while buyers complete the return journey directly in the TikTok Shop app.
AfterShip Feed connects TikTok Shop, Shopify, and AfterShip Returns. When a buyer submits a return request in TikTok Shop, the request is automatically approved and synced to Feed. Feed creates the return in Shopify and AfterShip Returns, where AfterShip Returns generates the return shipping label. Feed then sends the label back to TikTok Shop for the buyer to use.
You can manage the returned item and refund from AfterShip Returns. The refund decision is sent through Feed to TikTok Shop, which processes the refund.
Note:
Make sure your store is added to the relevant TikTok Shop and AfterShip Feed Return Solution whitelists before you can use this integration.
Buyers experience
The buyer completes the entire return journey in the TikTok Shop app:
Initiate the return: The buyer selects the item and the return reason in TikTok Shop.
Choose a carrier: The buyer selects an available carrier from the return methods configured on TikTok Shop.
Submit the request: TikTok Shop automatically approves the return request.
View the return label: AfterShip Returns generates the prepaid return label, and Feed sends it to TikTok Shop. The buyer can view the label in the TikTok Shop app and access it again before shipping the item.
Track the return: The buyer can track the return status in TikTok Shop until the refund is issued.
Return lifecycle
The return is processed through the following flow:
TikTok Shop → AfterShip Feed → AfterShip Returns → Shopify
1. Buyer requests a return and receives the return label
When the buyer submits a return request:
TikTok Shop automatically approves the request and notifies AfterShip Feed.
Feed creates a matching return record in Shopify and creates the return in AfterShip Returns.
AfterShip Returns generates the return shipping label, and Feed sends the label back to TikTok Shop.
The buyer can view the label in the TikTok Shop app.
2. Item is received and restocked
The buyer ships the item back to your warehouse. Once the item arrives and you mark it as Received in AfterShip Returns, inventory is restocked to Shopify either automatically upon receipt or manually per item, depending on your settings.
3. Refund decision and refund
After inspecting the returned item, you can approve or reject the refund in AfterShip Returns.
If the refund is approved, AfterShip Returns sends the decision to Feed.
Feed sends the refund approval to TikTok Shop.
TikTok Shop issues the refund to the buyer.
AfterShip Returns records the result and closes the return.
TikTok Shop sends the completed refund details to Feed.
Feed creates the corresponding refund in Shopify.
Good to know:
The Shopify refund may appear later than the refund in TikTok Shop.
TikTok Shop's payment provider can take anywhere from a few minutes to tens of hours to complete the refund, depending on the payment channel. Feed creates the Shopify refund only after TikTok Shop sends the refund-completed event. This delay is expected and does not necessarily indicate a sync failure.
Set up TikTok Shop returns
Before enabling the integration, make sure the required setup is complete across TikTok Shop, AfterShip Returns, and AfterShip Feed.
A. Set up TikTok Shop
Make sure you:
Add your store to the TikTok Return Solution whitelist. This is required for TikTok Shop's private API used to upload return labels.
Configure your carrier list.
USPS, UPS, and FedEx are supported.
Configure your shipping method as Seller Shipping.
TikTok Shipping is also supported if the buyer's address is not encrypted.
B. Set up AfterShip Returns
Make sure you:
Install AfterShip Returns.
Have an active AfterShip Returns subscription.
Set up eligible TikTok Shop carrier accounts.
Create a custom return routing rule for TikTok Shop returns.
C. Set up AfterShip Feed
Make sure you:
Add your store to the AfterShip Feed Return Solution whitelist.
Enable Auto-link product SKUs and Order sync.
Good to know:
Return labels are generated using your own carrier account, so you pay the return shipping cost by default.
If you want the buyer to pay the return shipping cost, TikTok Shop provides a seller-configured return shipping fee whitelist that deducts the fee from the buyer's refund.
Contact the TikTok Shop team to enable it!
Configure carrier accounts in AfterShip Returns
Refer to this help article for a complete tutorial on Returns Shipping.
You need to connect the carrier account that will generate return labels for TikTok Shop returns.
In AfterShip Returns, go to Ship and Track > Returns Shipping. Connect a carrier using one of the following options:
Option 1: Connect Easyship
Click Add partner.
Select Easyship from the AfterShip Shipping Partner list.
Follow the in-platform instructions to create and connect your Easyship account.
Select the couriers and services you want to activate in Easyship.
Option 2: Add your own carrier account
Click Add carrier account.
Select your preferred carrier. Use the search bar to find a carrier quickly.
Enter the required API credentials or account details.
Click Save. The carrier appears under My carriers.
Important: The carrier connected in AfterShip Returns must match the carrier configured in TikTok Shop.
Add a return location
Click + Add warehouse location.
Enter the warehouse location details.
Click Save. The location appears under Return locations.
Configure package sizes
Click + Add package size.
Enter the package size details.
Click Save. The package size appears under Package size.
Configure a return routing rule
Create a dedicated routing rule so TikTok Shop returns use the correct carrier and return method.
In AfterShip Returns, go to Return policy > Return routing rules.
Create a designated zone for the region where your TikTok Shop store operates.
Create a custom return routing rule to route returns using the correct carrier.
Choose the condition RMA source and select TikTok Shop.
Under Return shipping methods:
Enable only Ship with a return label.
Disable all other return methods.
For Prepaid return labels, select Use a specific carrier and choose the carrier account that matches the carrier configured in TikTok Shop.
Cost of return: select either Do not display or Free.
Under Auto-approval, make sure the checkbox is selected.
You can ignore Name, Description, and Return instructions because these fields are not reflected in the TikTok Shop return portal.
For a detailed understanding, read the “How to Set Up Return Routing Rules” help article.
Connect AfterShip Returns for Return & Refund Sync
After configuring AfterShip Returns, connect it to AfterShip Feed.
In AfterShip Feed, go to Settings > Return and refund sync.
Enable the Return sync toggle.
Select Manage using a returns app.
Select AfterShip Returns as the return app.
Click Save.
How TikTok Shop Returns Work Differently
TikTok Shop returns appear in the same AfterShip Returns admin as your other returns, but they follow TikTok Shop's return and refund rules rather than the standard Shopify return flow.
Here are the key differences to keep in mind:
Returns are automatically approved: Buyers select the return reason in TikTok Shop, and the return is automatically approved. You don't need to approve it in AfterShip Returns. Because the return is already approved, eligibility and fraud checks aren't applied when the return is created.
Prepaid return labels only: Only Ship with a return label is supported. Other return methods aren't available.
Refunds follow TikTok Shop rules: Refunds go to the original payment method, and the refund amount, shipping refund, and return-cost deduction can't be edited. You can trigger the refund through your global Automation settings or manually from the RMA. Exchanges and store-credit refunds aren't supported.
Workflow rules don't apply: Workflow automation rules aren't applied to TikTok Shop returns. Auto-refund and auto-restock behavior comes from your global Automation settings.
Buyer notifications are handled by TikTok Shop: AfterShip Returns doesn't email TikTok Shop buyers because their email addresses are encrypted. Buyers view the return label and track the return in the TikTok Shop app.
Some RMA actions are unavailable: You can't remove items, add additional labels, edit contact details, change the refund method, edit the return cost, or resend buyer notifications. You can still resolve or reject the return, flag it for review, and add internal notes, tags, or images.
FBT orders: The TikTok Shop return flow can't generate labels for FBT orders because TikTok Shop encrypts the buyer information required to create the label. Use the previous TikTok Shop return flow for FBT orders instead.
Speedy Refund: TikTok Shop may issue the refund when the buyer drops off the return, before you inspect the item. If you later reject the return in AfterShip Returns, the refund can't be reversed through Feed. You must submit a post-refund appeal in TikTok Seller Center.
Actions available/blocked for TikTok Shop returns
Some actions are unavailable or locked because TikTok Shop controls specific return and refund details.
Action | Availability | Details |
Resolve return | Available | Closes the RMA |
Reject return | Available | Available while the return is approved and not yet refunded. Hidden after the refund. |
Flag for review | Available |
|
Edit notes | Available | Used for internal notes. |
Add tags or images | Available | Used for internal RMA tags and images. |
Remove items | Hidden | Item removal is not supported for TikTok Shop returns. |
Resend notification | Hidden | Buyer notifications are disabled. |
Edit refund method | Hidden | Locked to the original payment method. |
Add more labels | Hidden | Only one return label is supported. |
Edit contact details | Hidden | The address comes from TikTok Shop. Changes are not synced back. |
Refund amount | Limited | The refund amount, refund shipping, and deduction for return costs cannot be edited because the amount is determined by TikTok Shop. |
Edit cost | Hidden | The return cost is determined by TikTok Shop. |
Report fraud | Hidden | Available only if the fraud card is displayed for the TikTok Shop return. |
Summary
That’s it. Once your TikTok Shop, AfterShip Feed, and AfterShip Returns setup is in place, you can manage TikTok Shop returns through your usual AfterShip Returns workflow while shoppers continue to complete their returns in TikTok Shop.