Generate return labels for one or all of the packages in a multi-package shipment

[david83]

Currently, when generating a return label, you can only generate a label for a single package. Many of our orders are sent as multiple packages. If a customer desires to return there entire order, there isn't an easy way to generate multi-package return labels for an existing shipment. We'd really love this functionality.

[sales9]

Since 2013 and still not available???

multi box shipment to be returned. should have a return shipment button/option to do this quickly.

Multi box usually means many sku's,  creating 1 by 1 and clicking each sku individually is daunting.

seems simple enough, all shipment info is in SS. 

From Create Return button - Return shipment option, then select all or partial, create return, email or print

[cpetersonpeak]

We are not using ShipStation because of this.  We are a rental business that will always have our goods returned.  This is the only piece of functionality missing and it's keeping us from using the product.  We are currently using UPS Worldship because it easily allows for the multi-package returns.  REALLY wish ShipStation would implement this with UPS so we can move to the platform

[CLNF]

It's 2024 and I'm still trying to figure out how to make this happen. Most of our orders are multi-package, so if something happens to be shipped to the wrong place, it's a pain to get the whole order back to our warehouses. 

[CaraAdmin]

Hello @CLNF!

Thank you for your post in the community. Return labels for multiple packages are not currently available. I have marked this down as a feature request for the development team. For more information on returns, see the Return Label help center article. 

Happy Shipping!

-Cara

[cfarbe1]

Yes, we also need this feature! 

[bvanscoyk]

@CaraAdmin This feature was first requested over a decade ago. This is something almost every shipper offers within their first party software, and something that is CLEARLY needed by your users. It's clear at this point the needs of your users are not important and you'd rather add things like 2FA that can't be opted out of. 

Is this actually going to be reviewed or are we just going to be stuck looking for other options forever? 

[CaraAdmin]

Hello @bvanscoyk!

Thank you for inquiring about this feature request! I've contacted our developers to check for updates, and I’ll share any new information as soon as I have it.

I appreciate your persistence and patience!

-Cara

[MikeTowels]

@CaraAdmin Wanted to add to all of this decade of messages. almost 6 months after that last message --- still this option is not available . WHY ?! 

[krashdb]

So there are two options... You either have to split the order (vs traditional multi-package single order) or you have to leverage the V2 API and setup your own custom automation that auto creates all return labels, based on each outbound packages "label id" under the parent... aka single order "package set" after the outbound labels are created. Only way to do it currently if you want to include individual return labels for each child package to ship out with the OG packages under the master/parent package-set label.

If you can't go the API code route, then split your orders... It will still keep the same #orderId for each order, it just adds 2 top-level order in the Order Listing table like so:

#0001 (1 of 2) | SKU | Product Name | other columns etc. 
#0001 (2 of 2) | SKU | columns... 

For split order: This could actually be more helpful... (for your rentals), esp if they are complex bundles w/multiple pieces or QTY of large equipment. But they won't share one main master tracking link. But look at what Amazon does, they send you multiple tracking links when you buy a bunch of stuff, and they group several of those items under one of the shipments. If you ship at the same time, they will still make it together, unless one or two happen to not get scanned into the same truck at the FedEx or UPS hub etc. But that could happen regardless of having one tracking link vs two separate. Prob better to just have both tracked independently anyways... A little more messy in the SS order panel, but may be worth it until SS actually rolls out -> create replica labels reversed based on the package set outbound labels...

Could be better for return tracking as well @CLNF 

Here's ChatGPT after posting what I just wrote and asking to better explain it lol

Returns are created per outbound label. In a multi-package shipment, you’ll have multiple outbound labels (master + child labels). ShipStation’s API creates a return for one label at a time, so to get two return labels you generate two returns—one for each label_id. ShipStation Docs+1

What that means for your two approaches:

• Single shipment with 2 packages (recommended):
  Buy the outbound MPS label → you’ll get multiple label_ids (one per package). Then call POST /v2/labels/:label_id/return for each label you want a return for. Result: two return labels tied to the same shipment. ShipStation Help+1

• Two separate shipments (what you saw as “1 of 2 / 2 of 2”):
  Each shipment has its own single outbound label, so “include return label” would give you one return per shipment. This works, but it’s messier than a proper multi-package shipment.