This article introduces printerless returns and walks through the customer experience, as well as the merchant experience in the Loop admin based on shipping carrier.

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Printerless Returns improves the customer experience by allowing them to ship their returns without a printer. Unlike other solutions, customers will receive their shipping label in a QR code, not a PDF, and are eligible to drop off their return to eligible FedEx Office and Walgreens locations for FedEx returns, eligible United States Post Office for USPS returns, eligible Canada Post locations for Canadian returns, eligible Royal Mail locations for UK returns, and eligible Australia Post locations for AUS returns.

With Printerless Returns enabled, a customer will see a QR code once they have successfully submitted a return, both on their return confirmation page and in their return confirmation email. The confirmation page will also include a link with the traditional option to print the label if the customer chooses. 

There will be step-by-step instructions shown stating that they don't need to print a label and can show the QR code at: 

• FedEx Office and Walgreens locations for FedEx returns.

• Eligible United States post offices for USPS returns.

• Eligible Canada Post locations for CA returns.

• Eligible Evri locations for UK returns.

• Eligible Royal Mail locations for UK returns.

• Eligible Australia Post locations for AUS returns.

• Eligible UPS store locations for US returns.

Available through Ship By Loop and EasyPost for both UPS DAP (negotiated rates) and Bring Your Own Account (BYOA)

What it is: UPS QR codes give your customers a fully boxless, labelless return experience. Instead of printing a shipping label, the customer receives a scannable QR code on the Return Status Page and in their confirmation email. They bring the item and QR code to any UPS Store location, where the store associate scans the code, packages the item, and prints the label on-site.

Enablement: UPS QR codes are an opt-in feature. Because UPS applies a surcharge for labelless QR label generation, this setting is not enabled by default. To enable UPS QR codes for your store, contact your Account Manager or reach out to Loop Support.

Requirements:

• All products in your catalog must have a SKU assigned. Returns containing products without a SKU will not generate a QR code. If your customers are unable to receive a QR code, check that all products have SKUs in your Shopify admin.

• For merchants using their own UPS account (BYOA), an additional onboarding step with UPS is required before QR codes can be enabled. See the onboarding process below.

BYOA onboarding process: If you use your own UPS carrier account (Bring Your Own Account), enabling QR codes requires a one-time setup with UPS:

1. Fill out the UPS onboarding form (your Account Manager or Loop Support can provide this)

2. Loop shares the form with your UPS representative (You can also reach out to your UPS rep once the form is submitted)

3. UPS runs internal approvals (approximately 5 business days)

4. UPS sends a non-consolidated addendum to you for signature

5. Return the signed addendum to Loop

6. Loop completes the configuration on your account

7. Once UPS completes the addendum; login to your Happy Returns dashboard to add the carrier.

   1. Once logged in:

      1. Navigate to Settings → Carriers → Add Carrier → UPS and follow the on-screen instructions.

      2. Go to Settings → Locations and add your warehouse address and contact details.

      3. Under Settings → Shipping Zones, configure your shipping zone.

Once setup is complete, QR codes will be available for your customers on eligible UPS returns.

Drop-off locations: Any UPS Store — nearly 5,000 locations across the US.

Note: Because of the UPS surcharge on QR code labels, this feature is not enabled by default. Only request enablement after confirming you understand the cost impact. Contact your Account Manager for details on pricing.

• Available through EasyPost, SEKO, and Ship By Loop Worldwide.

For Australia Post, the QR code is embedded in the printed label but is not visible as a standalone QR code on the Loop Return Summary Page (RSP). For merchants using Australia Post only, they can customize the text on the RSP to indicate to the customer that they can use the embedded QR code to access printerless returns.

• Available through EasyPost and Ship by Loop Worldwide

Merchants will see all returns made with a Canada Post QR code tagged with the “Box and ship” status in the returns view just like a label return. On the return detail page, merchants will see a carrier tracking number just like traditional labels.

If the label or QR code was not generated, merchants can generate a label from the return detail page.

• Available through Rebound, EasyPost, Ship By Loop US Domestic, and Ship by Loop Worldwide

Merchants will see all returns made with an Evri QR code tagged with the “Box and ship” status in the returns view just like a label return. On the return detail page, merchants will see a carrier tracking number just like traditional labels.

If the label or QR code was not generated, merchants can generate a label from the return detail page.

• Available through EasyPost and Ship by Loop Worldwide

Merchants will be able to see if a customer was shown a QR code and if they clicked on the print label to see what label type the customer chose. This is located under the Email Shipping Label button on the return detail page. 

For example, if the shipment status shows as delivered and the customer was shown the QR code and did not use print label, it's safe to infer that they used the QR code for their return.

• Available through EasyPost

Merchants will see all returns made with a Royal Mail QR code tagged with the “Box and ship” status in the returns view just like a label return. On the return detail page, merchants will see a carrier tracking number just like traditional labels.

If the label or QR code was not generated, merchants can generate a label from the return detail page.

• Available through EasyPost, Ship by Loop, and SEKO

Merchants will see all returns made with a USPS QR code tagged with the “Box and ship” status in the returns view just like a label return. On the return detail page, merchants will see a carrier tracking number just like traditional labels.

If the label or QR code was not generated, merchants can generate a label from the return detail page.

USPS QR codes are accessible on the same day the customer submits their return. Customers will be alerted of this to provide better clarity on how long it will be before the QR code will no longer be accessible. If a customer does not choose to use a QR code on the same day, they will need to use a printed label.

To check if this feature is included in the merchant's plan, please review the Pricing page on the Loop Returns website.

If interested in adding this feature, please contact the merchant's Merchant Success Manager or support@loopreturns.com.

Do QR codes work for cross-border shipping? Printerless returns via Fedex and USPS are only available for US domestic returns. Printerless returns via Canada Post are only available for Canadian domestic returns. Printerless returns via Royal Mail are only available for UK domestic returns.

What if I use FedEx/USPS/Canada Post/Royal Mail/Australia Post and another carrier?  Loop will continue to automatically rate shop between multiple carriers to determine which carrier generates a label for that customer. The Printerless Returns QR code will only appear for a customer if FedEx/USPS/Canada Post/Royal Mail/Australia Post is used as the carrier for their label. 

Will handling fees still apply to printerless returns? Yes, handling fees will still apply as they would for any other return with a printed label.

Will I as the merchant be refunded for an unused printerless label? As with traditional USPS labels, merchants will be charged at return initiation but if the QR code is not scanned after 28 days then a refund will be requested on your behalf. All other carriers are bill-on-scan, so if the QR code isn't scanned, the merchant will not be charged for the label.

What if my customer opted for an Instant Exchange? Printerless capabilities will work just the same for instant exchange as they would for any traditional exchange.

Does UPS charge extra for QR code labels? Yes. UPS applies a surcharge for each QR code (labelless) return label generated. This surcharge is in addition to the standard shipping cost. Contact your Account Manager for specific pricing details before enabling this feature.

I use my own UPS account (BYOA). Can I get QR codes? Yes. UPS QR codes are available for merchants using their own UPS carrier account through EasyPost. There is a one-time onboarding process with UPS that takes approximately 5 business days for approval. Contact your Account Manager or Loop Support to get started.

Why aren't QR codes generating for some of my returns? UPS QR codes require all products in the return to have a SKU assigned. If a product is missing a SKU in your Shopify admin, the QR code will not generate for that return and the customer will receive a printable label instead. Check your product catalog to ensure all items have SKUs assigned.

Do UPS QR codes work for cross-border returns? UPS QR codes are currently available for US domestic returns only. Customers drop off at any UPS Store location in the United States.

Please contact support@loopreturns.com with any additional questions.