Articles on: Getting Started

How to Manage Carriers and Warehouses


Plans: Essentials, Pro, Premium, Enterprise Platforms: Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more


Overview


Under Ship and Track > Returns Shipping in the AfterShip Returns admin, merchants can set up/edit their carrier accounts, add/edit their shipping services, configure package size for returns, and generate packing slips when auto-generating return labels to effectively manage how returns/exchanges are shipped back.


What you’ll learn


In this tutorial, we will show you:



Progress dashboard


The progress dashboard gives merchants clear step-by-step guidance on all the steps that are needed to be set up for a successful auto-label generation.




  • Each step will be grayed out, accompanied by a checkmark to indicate that a particular step has been completed.
  • They are 4 steps that need to be configured to set the auto-return label generation process in motion.


  1. Add carrier
  2. Add return location
  3. Add package size
  4. Return labels (optional)
  5. Shipping documents (optional)
  6. Set up return routing rules


Step 1: Carrier accounts and services setup


In the AfterShip Returns admin, you can easily set up and manage your carrier accounts and shipping services to automatically generate return labels. The setup process is streamlined, allowing you to either connect your own carrier accounts or use AfterShip’s integrated shipping partner, Easyship, to access pre-negotiated global rates.


Key highlights


  • Merchants can set up and manage their own carrier accounts directly in AfterShip Returns admin.
  • Merchants can also connect an Easyship account within AfterShip Returns to access discounted carrier rates across multiple regions and couriers.
  • Automated return label generation can be enabled for configured carriers under Return routing rules.
  • All carrier setup and management are now done directly within AfterShip Returns, no AfterShip Shipping account is required.
  • Return labels generated through AfterShip Returns do not affect any external shipping label quota.


Setup


  1. Go to Returns Shipping in the AfterShip Returns admin.
  2. Click Add carrier account under Carrier accounts and services settings.
  3. You’ll be presented with two setup options:


Option 1: Add your own carrier accounts





  • Click Add carrier account and select your preferred carrier from the list.
  • Use the search bar to quickly locate a carrier by name.
  • Fill in the required API credentials or account details.
  • Click Save. Your newly added carrier will appear under My carriers.
  • To edit or remove a carrier, click the {⋯} (menu) icon beside its name.




Printerless return shipping with labels and QR codes



  • AfterShip Returns lets merchants offer flexible return-shipping options, printable labels, QR codes, or both, depending on carrier support.
  • QR codes make returns easier by removing the need to print labels and help reduce return fraud.
  • Merchants can manage label QR code visibility while adding the carrier account by selecting the QR code option under the My carrier accounts settings, while supported carriers (like USPS, FedEx, Royal Mail, Canada Post, DHL Germany, Evri, InPost, GLS, and Australia Post) handle QR code generation, mostly for domestic returns.
  • If a carrier can’t generate a QR code, AfterShip Returns automatically sends a standard label so customers can still ship their return without delay.
  • Shoppers see only the formats merchants enable, while merchants can always access both the label and QR code internally under the My carrier accounts settings.


Learn more about Printerless Returns with QR code Return Labels.





Option 2: Connect Easyship (AfterShip Shipping Partner)





  • Choose Easyship from AfterShip Shipping Partner list to enable return label generation through AfterShip’s integrated shipping partner.
  • Follow the in-platform prompts to create and connect your Easyship account.
  • Once connected, select the couriers and services you wish to activate within Easyship (e.g., UPS, FedEx, USPS, DPD, DHL, etc.).
  • You can view and compare Easyship’s discounted pre-negotiated rates against your own carriers to find the most cost-effective return shipping option.
  • Easyship supports return label generation from over 11 countries (including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Australia) with QR code options for select couriers.


For complete tutorial on Easyship account setup, refer to this guide.



With this setup complete, your connected carriers, whether self-managed or Easyship-linked will be ready for automatic return label generation under your configured Return routing rules.


Step 2: Add return locations




Warehouse location settings in AfterShip Returns admin give merchants the ability to add and manage multiple warehouse locations where the products will be sent back once returned


  • Merchants can set up routing rules based on specific warehouse locations to ensure that returned products are going to the right place
  • Merchants can select a particular warehouse location when adding return shipping information for return label generation for a specific routing rule


Return locations set up


  1. In the AfterShip Returns admin, go to Return shipping > Warehouse locations
  2. Click + Add warehouse location



  1. Add the name of the warehouse location
  2. Add the name and company of the merchant (i.e., you)
  3. Add the address and contact information of the warehouse location
  4. The above information will appear on the return label
  5. Hit Save
  6. All the configured warehouse locations will be listed under Locations
  7. To Edit or Remove any warehouse location from the list, click the {...} icon


Step 3: Configure package sizes




Different carriers have different package size requirements based on which shipping labels are generated, and shipping costs are calculated. Package size settings in AfterShip Returns admin allow merchants to add different package sizes to auto-generate labels accordingly for packages to be accepted and processed without any issue.


  1. In the AfterShip Returns admin, go to Shipping > Package size
  2. Click + Add package size




  1. Add the name for the package or package type for which you are adding package dimensions


  • Set the package width in the metric unit of your choice
  • Set the package height in the metric unit of your choice
  • Set the package length in the metric unit of your choice
  • Set the required weight of the package when empty in the metric mass of your choice


  1. Metric unit and mass can be selected from their respective dropdown menus
  2. Hit Save
  3. All the configured warehouse locations will be listed under Package size
  4. To Edit or Remove any warehouse location from the list, click the {...} icon


Step 4: Return labels


Under Return labels setting, you get three settings.





  1. Auto-cancel return labels: When enabled, it allows you to automatically cancel the return labels generated with AfterShip Returns, if there are no shipping updates 28 days after a return request is approved. The return request will automatically expire and the prepaid return label will be void. Learn more.


  1. Print additional labels for a return: This settings allows you to generate the correct number of labels for the number of items being returned within the same order. This enables customers to properly pack each product within its box based on the product type and size and ship them back to the stock warehouse. Learn more.


  1. Customize label references: This setting (available on Premium and Enterprise plans) lets merchants personalize the information displayed on return label reference fields to improve warehouse processing efficiency. Users can choose from fields like RMA ID, Order Number, Product Title, Return Value, or add custom text. Each label can include up to three reference fields, with carrier-specific support for display and barcodes. Learn more.


Step 5: Shipping documents


With Shipping documents feature in AfterShip Returns you can simplify your returns process by automatically creating and customizing packing slips and additional shipping documents. These documents act as a detailed record of the returned items, making it easier for warehouse teams to identify packages and process refunds or exchanges efficiently.


Plans: Premium, Enterprise Platforms: Shopify, Magento 1, Magento 2, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, and more




1. Enable and customize packing slips


Merchants can automatically generate packing slips with return labels to include essential order details (RMA, SKU, quantities, etc.) and choose between single-page or separate-page layouts. Premium and Enterprise users can edit layout, add logos, barcodes, and notes using dynamic merge tags.


  • Packing slip and return label on the same page



  • Packing slip and return label on separate pages



2. Add additional shipping documents


For restricted or sensitive items (e.g., batteries, liquids, magnets), merchants can upload and attach required shipping documents based on product type, tag, or SKU. These documents are automatically appended to the return label and packing slip PDFs.


3. Select return methods


Merchants can define how shipping documents are displayed to shoppers across different return methods like Ship with a prepaid label, Ship with carrier customers choose, Return to a retail store, Return to a drop-off location, or Pick up from customers, ensuring the right documents appear for each return scenario.


Learn detailed step-by-step configuration tutorial on shipping documents, here.


Step 6: Set up routing rules


Once carrier accounts, return location, and package size information have been configured, it’s time to configure this information under Return shipping information in Return routing rules for zones where Ship with a return label is enabled as a return method.



  1. Click Set up in routing rules on the progress dashboard.


Irrespective of whether you have or you haven’t set up routing rules for specific zones for your returns in AfterShip Returns admin, the tooltips in both the scenarios under the default or specific return zones will assist in setting up auto-label generation in the Return routing rules section.


  • The return shipping information you set up above will be printed on return labels for customers who’ll opt for Ship with a return label return method
  • Merchants can choose a carrier, shipping service, and warehouse location based on the specific return zone so they can accept returns in any country/region
  • Package size requirements can be selected based on the carrier and shipping service the merchant has chosen for a specific return zone


Get more information on how to auto-generate return labels with this tutorial.


Supported platforms


Shopify, Magento-1, Magento-2, WooCommerce, Bigcommerce, Wix, Walmart-us, Squarespace, Spree, Shopline, Shoplazza, ShipStation, SalesForce, Prestashop, Decathlon - Prestashop, NetSuit, Jushuitan, Google-Shopping, Fluent-Commerce, Ecwid-v3, Ebay, Cscart, 3dCart, AmeriCommerce, Amazon, Cdiscount, Shopware, Commerce API, CSV Import, Klaviyo, and Gorgias


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

Updated on: 27/11/2025