Chat with ARRrrr Support Crew to activate Return Labels
For approved accounts, we can offer Pay-on-Use Return Labels, which ARRrrr a great way to include a return label in your outbound shipments that you won't pay for unless it's used 🏴☠️
Return Labels Must Be Activated: The return label feature is only approved upon request. If you’re interested just let us know by chatting with us using the button on the bottom right of the screen.
Not Available for UPS: Return Labels are currently only supported for USPS labels, not UPS... but this is something we hope to offer in the future!
How do Return Labels work?
Creating a Return Label: To create a Return Label, open the "Extra Services" area when creating a label and check the Return Label box.
Here's how that looks:
Addresses Swapped: When you create a Return Label, the Ship From and Ship To addresses are swapped, so your address will be where the package is sent.
You Only Pay if the Label Gets Used: You will only be charged for the postage cost if your customer uses the return label you created and USPS scans it in 😉
What options do I have for pay-on-use Return Labels?
You have a couple of options for creating pay-on-use Return Labels. They are:
Return Labels Only: Select this option if you only want to create a return label.
You can print or email this label. All you need to do is input the address of the returnee in the "Ship To" field as if you were shipping to them like normal.
When you select the Return Label option, Pirate Ship automatically swaps the Ship To address with the Ship From, so the Ship From address will be where the package is returned to.
Here's how that option looks:
Return Labels Included: This option gives you both an outbound label to ship the package to the recipient and a pay-on-use return label that your recipient can use to ship it back if needed.
To choose this option, enter the recipient's details in the "Ship To" field, open the Extra Services area, check the Return Label checkbox, and select "Return Labels Included."
You'll then print a regular label and a return label, which will have the Ship To and Ship From addresses swapped.
Here's where to find that option:
What services can I use for Return Labels?
Most USPS Services Available: You can create return labels for every domestic USPS service except for Media Mail and Priority Mail Express 🙈
All U.S. States & Territories: You can create return labels for all 50 states and U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands!
Return labels aren't available for international labels
No International Labels: It's not possible to create a Return Label for any international label, because USPS only offers postage for shipments originating in the United States.
If your recipient needs to return a package from overseas, one option is for them to bring it to their country's postal service and pay for the label themselves.
Signature Confirmation is not supported for USPS return labels
No Signature Confirmation: Another thing to note is that USPS doesn't support Signature Confirmation as an option when creating Return Labels. Even if you select "Signature Confirmation" when making your Return Label, USPS won't include it in the service 😅
If you need Signature Confirmation on a package coming back to you, the best option is to create a regular label with Signature Confirmation and send it to your recipient.
Return labels cannot be used for military addresses
No Military Addresses: Unfortunately, you can't make return labels for military addresses. If you try, you'll get an error message reading: "Invalid Origin Postal Code."
Use the USPS Website for a Workaround: If you need a workaround, you can manually create a label on the USPS website.
Can I create Prepaid Return Labels as opposed to pay-on-use?
Use a Normal Outbound Label: If you'd like to create a prepaid Return Label instead of a pay-on-use one, you can:
Add a Ship From Address which is the address your customer or recipient will ship the package from, and create a normal shipping label with yourself as the recipient.
For more information, check out our guide: How can someone send an item back to me?
How do I know that I've created a Return Label?
When you're looking at a Return Label, you'll see a blue arrow like we've pointed out in this screenshot below:
Confirming Return Labels: Seeing this blue arrow is an indication that a Return Label has been created, and also that those addresses will be swapped.
In other words, the address shown here at the top as Jolly Rogers will be the sender, with your address as the recipient.
Sending YARrrr Return Label to your recipient
When YARrrr ready to send the return label you've created, you've got a couple of options! You can:
Download the label as a PDF and email it to your recipient 📩
Create and send a 'Share Link' that allows your recipient to print the label from the Internet 💻
Once you click the 'Print Label' button, these two screenshots point you where to find both options listed above:
Download Label
Create Share Link
Do Return Labels expire?
90-Day Time Limit: USPS pay-on-use return labels you purchase on Pirate Ship expire after 90 days.
Return Labels aren't supported for 2x7" labels
4x6" Label Sizes Only: Pirate Ship only generates return labels in the 4x6" format, and you can't use 2x7" labels for return labels.
If you've selected the label size 2x7" in your Settings > General Settings, return labels will be greyed out and unavailable.
Turn on 4x6" to Create Return Labels: If you purchase a regular 2x7" outbound label but need to include a return label with it, you can toggle on the 4x6" format in your General Settings to create a return label.
Let us know how we can help
Have any questions about using Pirate Ship to create Return Labels? Click the blue chat icon to get in touch with ARRrrr Support Crew - we're always here to help you get sailing, Matey! ⛵
Additional Resources: