Inspect returned stock before offering it again

A customer agreeing to return an item does not put it back into stock. A parcel arriving does not automatically make every item inside sellable.

Use a controlled return-receipt process that separates the customer's remedy from the physical stock decision. Applicable consumer rights and product-specific requirements still govern the case; this guide focuses on avoiding inaccurate availability.

Connect the parcel to the return case

Use the order or return reference through your authorised verification process. Record the arrival and identify what the parcel is expected to contain.

Do not assume a parcel belongs to a particular customer solely because the product looks familiar. Resolve an unclear reference privately.

Keep the relevant case history available so the receiver understands whether the report concerned damage, a wrong item or another issue.

Receive into a separate state

Place the returned goods somewhere clearly distinct from ready-to-sell stock until inspection is complete. A busy packer should not accidentally choose an uninspected return.

Record physical receipt without automatically adding to available quantity. Your software may support a dedicated state; otherwise use a controlled manual process.

Do not claim that oBizee or another tool enforces this separation unless the actual workflow has been verified.

Check contents and identity

Compare the product, variant, quantity and included components with the expected return. A bundle may be incomplete even when the main item is present.

Record what you observe without immediately attributing blame. Packaging or transit may also affect the result.

If photographs are useful, associate them with the protected case reference and avoid unnecessary personal information in the image.

Inspect according to the product

Check the relevant condition and any safety, hygiene or quality requirements. Different goods need different standards; an unopened accessory and a perishable product are not equivalent.

Do not rely on appearance alone where specialist assessment is required. Obtain appropriate guidance for regulated or safety-sensitive products.

Keep the result specific: intact and complete, damaged fastening, missing component or awaiting assessment. A vague “okay” makes later decisions harder to explain.

Decide the stock disposition

Possible outcomes may include return to normal stock, repair assessment, supplier return, a separately disclosed sale category or disposal through the proper process.

Do not assume that reducing the price makes every condition acceptable for resale. The offer, product suitability and applicable requirements must still be respected.

Record who authorised the disposition and why. If the item remains uncertain, keep it out of normal availability.

Apply the movement once

When an item is legitimately returned to sellable stock, connect the movement to the return reference. Check whether another process already adjusted the balance.

Do not add the ordered quantity if fewer sellable pieces actually returned. Do not restore a complete bundle when a necessary component is missing.

Use the inventory guide to distinguish physical receipt, inspection and available quantity. These are separate events, even if one person handles them consecutively.

Keep the customer action on its own track

A stock inspection does not by itself establish that a refund or replacement has completed. Follow the applicable remedy process and communicate the actual status.

Avoid delaying a required customer action simply because the internal stock record is untidy. Escalate uncertainty to the authorised person rather than inventing a rule.

Preserve the connection between the support case and physical outcome without copying private details into general inventory reports.

For a returned set, record each component's disposition. One damaged piece should not disappear inside a single bundle status that implies every component was inspected and restored.

Review the pattern

Track recurring return reasons by product or process at an appropriate level. Repeated wrong variants suggest a different fix from transit damage or misleading size information.

Use catalogue preparation to reduce expectation gaps and the photography guide to improve representation.

A returned item should re-enter availability only when its identity, condition and disposition support that decision. The customer's message starts the return process; it does not complete the stock movement.