Return item fees charge per unit when a return (RMA) is processed at the warehouse. They use a tiered rate structure — a first return charge, optional tiered ranges, a remainder rate, and an optional additional SKU rate — and can be scoped to specific product profiles to charge different rates for different product types.
For an overview of all available fee types, see Overview: 3PL Billing Fees. To charge for the return shipping label instead of or in addition to the item fee, see How to Set Up Return Label Fees in 3PL Billing. For how charges are calculated at bill time, see How Return Fees Are Calculated in 3PL Billing.
Before You Begin
Return item fees are configured inside a billing profile. To apply different rates for specific product types, set up product profiles first — see How to Use Product Profiles in 3PL Billing.
Important
All 3PL Billing configuration must be done via the ShipHero web dashboard. The mobile app does not include billing or return fee functionality — its role in a returns workflow is limited to physically receiving returned items at the warehouse.
Table of Contents
- How to Set Up Return Item Fees in 3PL Billing
- Return Item Fee Rate Structure
- Optional Return Item Fee Configuration
How to Set Up Return Item Fees in 3PL Billing
- Go to 3PL Billing > Billing Profiles and select a billing profile.
- Select the Fees tab, then click Returns > Add Fee > By Return.
- Enter the Remainder Return Rate — this is the fallback per-item rate and is required.
- Optionally configure additional rate components and scoping. See Return Item Fee Rate Structure and Optional Return Item Fee Configuration below.
- Click Save.
Important
Return item fees are only triggered when the RMA status is updated to Complete — not when inventory is received at the warehouse. See How Return Fees Are Calculated in 3PL Billing for full details on the RMA status requirement.
Return Item Fee Rate Structure
Return item fees use a tiered rate structure with up to four charge components. Items are grouped by product profile — the charge sequence runs independently for each profile group.
| Component | What It Charges | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| First Return Charge | Charged for the first item returned in each product profile group. | Yes |
| Return Within Range | Tiered rates defined by start/end position and rate. Items within a range are charged at that range's rate. Items outside all ranges fall back to the remainder rate. | No |
| Return Remainder Charge | Charged for all items beyond the first return and outside any defined ranges. | Yes |
| Additional SKU Charge | Charged for the first item of each additional SKU within a product profile group. Only applies when additional SKU charging is enabled. | No |
Updating Return Ranges Replaces All Existing Ranges
If you update the return ranges on an existing fee, the entire list of ranges is replaced — all existing ranges are discarded and only the new ones are saved. Always include the full set of ranges when making updates.
Optional Return Item Fee Configuration
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Product profiles | Scopes the fee to returns containing products assigned to the specified profiles. Items in other profiles are handled by other fees or left uncharged. |
| Applies to products without a profile | Charges returned items whose product has no profile assigned. |
| Applies to any product profile | Charges all returned items regardless of product profile. |
| Charge additional SKU | Enables an extra charge for the first item of each additional SKU within a product profile group. Automatically enabled when an additional SKU rate is provided. |
| Return ranges | Tiered pricing rules, each with a start position, end position, and rate. Items within each range are charged at that range's rate instead of the remainder rate. |