How to restock returns

Why the timing matters

If you wait days to put a returned unit back into inventory, your forecast looks tighter than it really is. Daily sales and days of stock are calculated from what your store admin says is on hand. A returned unit sitting in a box on the counter but not logged as stock will make the system think you are lower on inventory than you actually are, which can push a SKU into looking like it needs reordering sooner than it does.

Sellable vs not sellable

Before you adjust the count, check the item. If it is resellable as new, add it back to available inventory right away. If it is damaged, missing parts, or otherwise not fit to sell as new, do not add it back to sellable stock. Either write it off, set it aside for a discounted or final-sale listing, or send it back to the supplier if your return terms allow that. Mixing damaged returns into your regular sellable count will throw off both your fulfillment accuracy and your reorder math.

What this means for reordering

Once a returned unit is correctly added back to on-hand inventory, it quietly fixes itself in SteadyShelf. The app does not need a separate "returns" workflow. It just reads the current on-hand number and recent sales activity. A returned item that goes back into stock reduces how much new stock you need to order for that variant, the same as if you had never sold it in the first place.

Step by step

1. Inspect the returned item and decide if it is sellable as new.
2. If sellable, add the quantity back to that variant's on-hand stock in your store admin as soon as you decide.
3. If not sellable, keep it out of sellable inventory and route it to write-off, clearance, or supplier return instead.
4. Do this promptly rather than batching returns once a week, since delays distort your current stock picture.
5. Check the SKU's suggested order quantity after the adjustment, in case the returned stock now covers your near-term needs.
6. Keep a simple note of why any unit was written off, separate from your regular inventory count, for your own records.

Worked example

Say you sell a jacket and have 10 units on hand. A customer returns one in original condition. You inspect it, confirm it is sellable, and add 1 back to on-hand stock, bringing you to 11. If your daily sales for that jacket are 2 units, lead time is 5 days, and safety days are 2 days, your reorder point is 2 x (5+2) = 14 units. At 11 on hand you are below that reorder point and due to order. Had you forgotten to add the returned unit back, your count would have shown 10, making the gap look slightly bigger than it is, but either way you are close to needing a new order.

How SteadyShelf helps

SteadyShelf does not have a dedicated returns workflow and does not track condition, lot, or reason for return. It simply forecasts and suggests orders based on whatever on-hand quantity is in your store admin, so once you adjust that number correctly after a return, the forecast and reorder suggestions stay accurate.

$29/month flat, unlimited products and suppliers, 30-day free trial. Run the numbers now with the free reorder point calculator.

SteadyShelf is launching on the Shopify App Store. Join early access to get the install link first.

Related guides

• How to scale up orders after a successful test
• How to send purchase orders to suppliers
• How to set approval rules for purchase orders
• How to report on inventory to a business partner

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