order:query — validated against api_version 2025-01

---
name: shopify-admin-return-initiation
role: customer-support
description: "Create a formal Shopify Return record for an order, specifying line items, quantities, and return reason — the first step in the native returns workflow."
toolkit: shopify-admin, shopify-admin-execution
api_version: "2025-01"
graphql_operations:
  - order:query
  - returnCreate:mutation
status: stable
compatibility: Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI
---

## 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 |

## Safety

> ⚠️ Step 2 executes `returnCreate` which creates a formal return record and — if `notify_customer: true` — sends an email to the customer. This is appropriate only after verifying with the customer that a return is expected. Run with `dry_run: true` to preview the return line items and quantities before committing.

## Workflow Steps

1. **OPERATION:** `order` — query
   **Inputs:** `id: <order_id>`
   **Expected output:** Order `name`, `displayFulfillmentStatus` (must be `FULFILLED` — abort if not), `fulfillments` with `fulfillmentLineItems` including `id`, `quantity`, `discountedTotalSet`

2. **OPERATION:** `returnCreate` — mutation
   **Inputs:** `returnInput.orderId`, `returnInput.returnLineItems` array (each with `fulfillmentLineItemId`, `quantity`, `reason`, `customerNote`)
   **Expected output:** `return.id`, `return.status: OPEN`, `userErrors`

## GraphQL Operations

```graphql
# order:query — validated against api_version 2025-01
query OrderForReturn($id: ID!) {
  order(id: $id) {
    id
    name
    displayFulfillmentStatus
    displayFinancialStatus
    customer {
      id
      defaultEmailAddress {
        emailAddress
      }
      firstName
      lastName
    }
    fulfillments {
      id
      status
      fulfillmentLineItems(first: 50) {
        edges {
          node {
            id
            quantity
            lineItem {
              title
              variant {
                id
                sku
              }
            }
            discountedTotalSet {
              shopMoney { amount currencyCode }
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}
```

```graphql
# returnCreate:mutation — validated against api_version 2025-01
mutation ReturnCreate($returnInput: ReturnInput!) {
  returnCreate(returnInput: $returnInput) {
    return {
      id
      status
      order {
        id
        name
      }
    }
    userErrors {
      field
      message
    }
  }
}
```

## Session Tracking

**Claude MUST emit the following output at each stage. This is mandatory.**

**On start**, emit:
```
╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║  SKILL: return-initiation                    ║
║  Store: <store domain>                       ║
║  Started: <YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM UTC>             ║
╚══════════════════════════════════════════════╝
```

**After each step**, emit:
```
[N/TOTAL] <QUERY|MUTATION>  <OperationName>
          → Params: <brief summary of key inputs>
          → Result: <count or outcome>
```

If `dry_run: true`, prefix every mutation step with `[DRY RUN]` and do not execute it.

**On completion**, emit:

For `format: human` (default):
```
══════════════════════════════════════════════
OUTCOME SUMMARY
  Order:               <name>
  Return ID:           <id>
  Line items included: <count>
  Return status:       <status>
  Customer notified:   <yes/no>
  Errors:              0
  Output:              none
══════════════════════════════════════════════
```

For `format: json`, emit:
```json
{
  "skill": "return-initiation",
  "store": "<domain>",
  "started_at": "<ISO8601>",
  "completed_at": "<ISO8601>",
  "dry_run": false,
  "steps": [
    { "step": 1, "operation": "OrderForReturn", "type": "query", "params_summary": "order <id>", "result_summary": "<status>", "skipped": false },
    { "step": 2, "operation": "ReturnCreate", "type": "mutation", "params_summary": "<n> line items, reason: <reason>", "result_summary": "return <id>", "skipped": false }
  ],
  "outcome": {
    "order_name": "<name>",
    "return_id": "<id>",
    "return_status": "<status>",
    "line_items_count": "<count>",
    "customer_notified": "<true/false>",
    "errors": 0,
    "output_file": null
  }
}
```

## Output Format
No CSV output. The session summary reports the return ID and status. Line items included in the return are listed in the step 2 output.

## Error Handling
| Error | Cause | Recovery |
|-------|-------|----------|
| `displayFulfillmentStatus` not `FULFILLED` | Order hasn't shipped yet | Use `cancel-and-restock` for unfulfilled orders |
| `fulfillmentLineItemId` not found | Line item ID doesn't belong to this order's fulfillments | Re-query the order to get correct fulfillment line item IDs |
| `userErrors` from returnCreate | Invalid quantity or reason | Check `quantity` doesn't exceed `fulfillmentLineItem.quantity` |
| Return already exists | A return was already created for these items | Check order returns in Shopify admin |

## Best Practices
1. Always run `dry_run: true` first — confirm the fulfillment line item IDs and quantities before creating the return record.
2. The `return-initiation` skill creates the return record only — it does not issue a refund. After inspecting the returned item, use `refund-and-reorder` to process the monetary refund.
3. Set `reason` per line item when items have different return reasons — this improves your returns analytics in Shopify.
4. For exchanges (not refunds), create the return record here and then use `refund-and-reorder` with `create_replacement: true` to generate a replacement draft order.
5. The return `status` will be `OPEN` after creation — it moves to `IN_PROGRESS` when a return label is generated and `CLOSED` when the refund is processed.