Total the real cost of a return: return shipping, inspection, restocking and write-off.
The result is the signed sum of its components: positive items are added and deductions subtracted. Expressing it as a share of the positive components shows how much of the gross figure survives to the bottom line. Working the returns process up from its components makes clear which line is moving it, which a single headline number hides.
Product Return Cost
Net Cost per Return = Return shipping per item + Inspection and processing labour + Repackaging and restocking + Write-off loss on unsellable items − Value recovered by reselling
Net Cost per Return = Return shipping per item + Inspection and processing labour + Repackaging and restocking + Write-off loss on unsellable items − Value recovered by reselling The result is the signed sum of its components: positive items are added and deductions subtracted. Expressing it as a share of the positive components shows how much of the gross figure survives to the bottom line.
Working the returns process up from its components makes clear which line is moving it, which a single headline number hides.
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Return shipping per item, Inspection and processing labour, Repackaging and restocking, Write-off loss on unsellable items, Value recovered by reselling. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.