Configure Printerless Returns with QR code Return Labels

Overview

In AfterShip Returns’ Shipping settings, you can choose how customers receive their return shipping information, whether that’s a return label, a QR code, or both (when the carrier supports QR codes). Depending on the options you select, customers will see the label or QR code directly on the returns page or receive it through email.

This would be beneficial in the following ways.

• No more printing hassles: Customers can simply use a QR code at drop-off instead of printing a physical label.
• Less return fraud: QR codes help prevent shoppers from altering or tampering with shipping label details.

What you’ll learn

In this article, we will show you:

• Carriers supported
• Configure return label display settings
• Merchant experience
• Customer experience
• FAQs

Carriers supported

Currently, 8 carriers integrated with AfterShip Returns offer a QR code option for an easy return drop-off. When a QR code is generated, a return label in a PDF file will also be generated simultaneously. You can decide if you want to provide your shoppers with either or both.

Additional considerations

• QR code for USPS label is only supported in USPS or VESYL carrier option.
• Australia Post doesn’t offer a standalone QR code, instead, it will be generated within the shipping label. Shopper can drop-off package at Australia Post by showing the QR code on the shipping label without printing the actual label. It’s recommended to merchants who are using Australia Post carrier services to outline this process in their return shipping instructions.
• The integration with InPost will only generate the return label as QR code.

Configure return label display settings

1. Go to Returns Shipping in the AfterShip Returns admin.
2. Under My carrier accounts, below your configured carriers, you will see the Return label display options.
3. Select the checkbox for Shipping label and/or QR code to limit what information customers get when their return requests are approved
4. Hit Save.

There might be situations where carriers fail to generate a QR code when AfterShip Returns requests it through API. In those cases, if the merchant has enabled to show customers the QR code, but the QR code generation failed on the carrier side, AfterShip Returns will nonetheless send out a return shipping label by default to make sure the shopper can still be able to print out a shipping label to return a product.

Merchant experience

The Return label display options only control what shoppers can see from their end. Once the QR code display option is checked, merchants can see both the shipping label and QR code on the RMA detail page.

Customer experience

Based on your Return shipping settings, customers will receive only a return label or QR code, or both in the RMA approved email notification and on the return page.

A. Return label only

B. QR code only

C. Return label and QR code both

D. USPS QR code can be enabled by USPS direct integration

Return label QR code display options can be enabled when merchants setup their own USPS carrier account. (USPS by Maersk currently doesn’t support QR code option.) USPS only allow user to generate either shipping label or QR code. In cases a shipping label is needed after generating return label with QR code, user can go to USPS Label Broker® to download the return label pdf file.

FAQs

1. Does the return shipment QR code work for international returns?

Return shipment QR code is a service provided by the carrier. Currently, the 8 carriers integrated with AfterShip Returns that offer return shipment QR codes only support domestic shipments.

• FedEx and USPS for U.S. domestic shipments
• Canada Post for Canada domestic shipments
• DHL-Gemerany for Germany domestic shipments
• InPost, Evri and Royal Mail for U.K. domestic shipments
• GLS for multiple countries

2. Why did my shopper still receive a shipping label when I only selected the QR code option in the shipping settings?

The return label display option setting will only be applied to shipments created after the launch of the new setting. In addition, when the carrier fails to generate a QR code after we request it, a shipping label will be sent by default to enable your customer to return the item(s) hassle-free.

3. Will a packing list be included when only a QR code is sent to my shopper?

A packing list will not be available when you only provide a QR code as a return shipping method.

For any further questions or help, please contact our chat support team or reach out to us at [email protected].

Updated on: 19/11/2025