> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.parcellab.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.parcellab.com/docs/retain/returns-portal/features/carrier-options.md). # Return Options ## Overview If multiple carriers are available for a return, these carrier options can be displayed for your customers in your space.vars.Product\_ReturnsPortal. Return options are displayed on the carrier selection page of the space.vars.Product\_ReturnsPortal, where your customers can select their preferred return shipment method.

Carrier selection page with two options for return carrier selection

If you only offer one carrier for return shipments, the carrier selection page can be enabled. Depending on the carrier, carrier options can be enabled to let your customers choose between different services (for example: printable return label, QR code, and carrier pickup). {% hint style="info" %} Carrier options can be pre-selected and displayed in any order on the carrier selection page. Less favorable carrier options can also be hidden behind a clickable link to reveal the full list.\ \ For optimizing the display of carrier options by label cost, see the section on [Configuring Return Label Rate Optimization](#configuring-return-label-rate-optimization). {% endhint %} ### Pickup Options If your carrier offers pickup for returns, this option can also be displayed. Your customers select a date and time slot for the collection of the return parcel and have the option of editing the pickup address if it differs from the delivery address. {% hint style="info" %} The options available depend on the options offered by your return carriers. You may also choose to exclude the selection of Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, or define a maximum number of selectable days. {% endhint %}

Return carrier option selected with date and time selector and address form

After a pickup is scheduled, your customers can opt to reschedule the date and time of the pickup if the selected return carrier offers this functionality. The pickup date and time can be modified from the return confirmation page. ### Drop-off Options If your return carrier offers drop-off lockers for selection, these can be displayed on the carrier selection page. {% tabs %} {% tab title="Return via parcel locker" %}

{% endtab %} {% tab title="Parcel locker options" %}

Alternative parcel locker locations displayed in a pop-up on the carrier selection page

{% endtab %} {% endtabs %} Depending on the information provided by your return carrier, the nearest drop-off locations can be displayed to make carrier selection easier for your customers. In the following example, the displayed distance to the drop-off location is calculated based on the delivery address. Further details on each drop-off location (for example: operating hours and address) can be displayed as well.

Return drop-off option selected with distance to the nearest drop-off locations and their respective operating hours displayed.

#### Return In Store If you offer in-store returns, this option can be displayed on the carrier selection page. Nearby store locations can be displayed based on your customer’s address.

Online return in store option with nearby store locations listed, including distance and store opening hours

### Key Benefits Enabling carrier selection clearly communicates expectations around the return shipment method to your customers. Offering multiple carrier options lets your customers choose the most convenient option based on their schedule (for example: scheduling a pickup from home instead of having to drop off the return). Activating the carrier selection page even with only a single carrier option increases transparency around the returns process. This can be valuable when you have different outbound and return carriers to avoid customer confusion. ## Configuring the Return Options Feature This section describes the configuration required for displaying return carrier options. ### Customer Requirements For the feature to work, you need to provide the following: * The carriers you are using for return shipments. * Text for carrier-specific instructions that is displayed within the carrier option. If you only have one carrier for returns, you can decide if you want to activate the carrier selection page for your space.vars.Product\_ReturnsPortal. This option will be pre-selected for your customers. ### Implementation Process To activate this feature for your space.vars.Product\_ReturnsPortal, please contact your parcelLab representative. ## Configuring Return Label Rate Optimization This section describes how you can optimize the display of carrier options by label cost. The rate optimization feature for carrier selection enables you to optimize the display of carrier options based on the label cost. Rate-based filtering can be added to the configuration of displayed carrier options, enabling cost optimization through the flexibility to display cost-effective options higher on the list while offering your customers multiple carrier options.

Example filter for optimizing return carrier display based on cost ranking of return label — Example filter on carrier option to show the cheapest carrier, and every other carrier that is at most 15% more expensive than the cheapest option.

### Customer Requirements For the rate optimization feature to work, each return option you intend to rank or filter by price must be supported by a parcelLab carrier integration that can retrieve a valid positive label rate for the specific return scenario. If a rate is unavailable or cannot be compared to the return order currency, the option is treated as having an unknown rate.

Supported Carriers

The following carriers and label providers are currently supported: * FedEx * UPS * USPS * EasyPost * Sendcloud

### Implementation Process This section describes how you can configure rate optimization for your existing carrier options in the parcelLab App. {% stepper %} {% step %} #### Enable rate optimization setting In your Returns Portal configuration settings, enable the **Rate Optimization** setting. This enables you to use rate-based filters in the display of your configured return options. You can enable the **Sort by rate** setting for your v2 Returns Portal to automatically display cheaper return options first. This setting overrides the configured display order of your carrier options. To keep your configured display order while using rate-based filters, disable the **Sort by rate** setting in your Returns Portal configuration. {% hint style="info" %} Rate-based sorting is only available for v2 Returns Portals. {% endhint %}

Rate optimization setting for v2 returns portal

{% endstep %} {% step %} #### Define rate-based filters for return options In the Return Options section, set the rate-based filters for each return option. When rate optimization is enabled in your Returns Portal configuration, the following filter fields become available to use when building filters on a carrier option. {% hint style="info" %} Legacy Returns Portals have limited access to the available rate optimization filters. {% endhint %}

Filter field	Description
Return Option \| Label Cost	The cost of the return label or return option.
Return Option \| Rate \| Position	The rank among eligible carrier options by label cost, where 1 is the cheapest and 99 indicates that the rate is unknown.
Return Option \| Rate \| Percentage Above Cheapest	The rounded percentage that the carrier option’s label rate is above the cheapest eligible option.
Return Option \| Rate \| Price Amount	The (positive) label rate amount used for rate optimization ranking.
Return Option \| Rate \| Price Currency	The currency of the label rate used for rate optimization ranking.

{% endstep %} {% endstepper %} --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.parcellab.com/docs/retain/returns-portal/features/carrier-options.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.