A returned parcel isn't just a refund — it's inventory back in your hands that needs a decision. The sellers who recover the most value decide each return's fate at receipt; the ones who pile returns in a corner discover the pile has become dead stock.
The four-fate triage
Restock: unopened, resalable as new — back to inventory immediately. Refurbish: opened but sellable — repackage, replace missing parts, sell at full or slight discount. Liquidate: damaged packaging or minor wear — sell as 'seconds' at marked discount, clearly disclosed. Scrap: unsalable — the honest write-off.
Category defaults
Apparel restocks if unworn — the try-on return is normal and resalable. Food/beauty doesn't restock once opened — hygiene and safety kill resale. Electronics refurbish — open-box sells at discount with disclosure. Know your category's default before the return arrives.
The bench-time decision
The fate is decided when the return is opened — a 30-second QC at receipt (unopened? worn? damaged?) routes it to the right pile. Deferred decisions pile up; weekly triage turns a returns backlog into a warehouse of 'maybe later'.
The liquidation channel
Liquidated stock needs an outlet — 'seconds' listings, staff sales, bulk liquidators, or honest discounted listings. The recovered 40% beats the stored 0%.
Pure Parcel runs the whole stack described here — one place for every carrier.
See how →The playbook
Triage at receipt
30-second QC decides the fate — not next week.
Know the category default
Apparel restocks; food scraps; electronics refurbish.
Build a seconds channel
Liquidation needs an outlet — build it in advance.
Track recovery %
Returned stock's value recovery is a real metric.
