return-initiation
Purpose
Initiates a formal Shopify Return on a delivered order — specifying which line items to return, quantities, and reason. This creates the return record in Shopify's native returns system (distinct from simply issuing a refund). Used by support agents when a customer contacts them to return delivered items. The return record enables tracking, warehouse inspection, and exchange/refund resolution downstream. Note: returnCreate requires the order to be in FULFILLED status. For orders that haven't shipped yet, use cancel-and-restock instead. For already-returned items needing a refund, use refund-and-reorder.
Prerequisites
shopify auth login --store <domain>- API scopes:
read_orders,write_returns
Parameters
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| store | string | yes | — | Store domain (e.g., mystore.myshopify.com) |
| format | string | no | human | Output format: human or json |
| dry_run | bool | no | false | Preview operations without executing mutations |
| order_id | string | yes | — | GID of the order (e.g., gid://shopify/Order/12345) |
| return_line_items | array | no | all fulfilled | Array of {fulfillment_line_item_id, quantity, reason, reason_note} to return |
| return_reason | string | no | OTHER |
Default return reason for all items if not specified per-item: SIZE_TOO_SMALL, SIZE_TOO_LARGE, WRONG_ITEM, NOT_AS_DESCRIBED, DEFECTIVE, STYLE, COLOR, UNWANTED, OTHER |
| notify_customer | bool | no | true | Send return initiation notification email to customer |
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