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Follow the seller's return instructions, put the order details inside the parcel, and keep the tracking receipt until the refund arrives. Sellers usually give a prepaid label or a return address with a reference number, and a parcel without that reference can sit unprocessed. A LetterAgent label covers Canada-only parcels up to 5 kg.
Start the return through the seller's site or app, not by simply mailing the item back. That step creates the return record, sets the deadline, and usually produces either a prepaid label or a return authorization number. Read the conditions while you are there: some sellers refuse opened items, some charge a restocking fee, and some only accept returns within a set window after delivery. Photograph the item and its packaging before you seal the box. If the seller later claims the item arrived damaged or incomplete, those photos are your evidence, and they cost nothing to take.
Put the order number, the return authorization number if you have one, and your name inside the box, on paper, where it cannot fall off. An outside label can peel, tear, or get covered by a carrier sticker, and a parcel with no identifying paper inside is hard for a warehouse to match to your order. Include everything the seller asked for: tags, manuals, cables, and the original box if the instructions mention it. Keep a copy of the same details for yourself, plus a photo of the sealed parcel showing the label. For clothing returns, fold items neatly rather than stuffing them in, since a returned item that arrives creased and crumpled is more likely to be graded as worn.
| Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Start the return | Use the seller's portal to get a label or authorization | Creates the record the warehouse looks for |
| Pack it | Original packaging where possible, padding in gaps | Arrives in resalable condition |
| Label it | One label only, old labels removed or covered | Stops the parcel being routed to the wrong place |
| Hand it over | Drop off or arrange pickup, keep the receipt | Proof of shipment if the parcel goes missing |
| Track it | Watch tracking until delivery is confirmed | Shows when the refund clock should start |
Use the seller's prepaid label when one is offered. It is already tied to your return, the seller often pays the postage, and tracking feeds straight into their system. Buy your own label only when the seller tells you to ship at your own expense, or when no label is offered and the instructions give a return address. In Canada, a LetterAgent Xpresspost label works for that case, for parcels up to 5 kg, with a per-label quote you approve before payment. One caution: if you buy your own label, send the tracking number to the seller yourself. Their system will not know the parcel exists until you tell them.
Drop the parcel at the carrier location named on the label, or book a pickup if that option exists, and get a receipt either way. A receipt with a tracking number is the one document that settles most disputes about whether a return was sent. Check tracking a day later to confirm the parcel is moving, and again when it shows delivered. If tracking stalls for several days, contact the seller with the tracking number in hand rather than waiting silently. Refunds usually follow delivery and inspection, not shipment, so a parcel that arrives on a Friday may not be processed until the next business week.
Cross-border returns add a customs step. Mark the parcel clearly as a return, include the original order details, and keep the commercial value honest: understating it can hold the parcel at customs, while overstating it can trigger duties the seller will dispute. In Canada, returned goods may qualify for duty relief, but the paperwork has to match the original shipment. LetterAgent labels are Canada-only, so a return to a US address needs a carrier label bought another way. When in doubt, ask the seller which carrier and service they want, since a return sent by the wrong carrier can be refused at their warehouse door.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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