> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.zinc.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create Return Request

> Submit a return request for an existing order

Submit a return request for a previously placed order. Returns are reviewed
and resolved asynchronously — subsequent reads will show the current status
and any return labels.

## Request

Required fields:

* **order\_id** — UUID of the order being returned. The order must belong to the
  caller and be in `order_placed` status.
* **items** — One or more line items being returned. Each entry has
  `order_item_id` (UUID of a line on the order) and `quantity` (1–100).
* **reason** — One of the values in the Reasons table below.

Optional fields:

* **notes** — Free-form context (max 2000 characters). Recommended when
  `reason` is `other`.

```json theme={null}
{
  "order_id": "8c2d…",
  "items": [
    { "order_item_id": "a1b2…", "quantity": 1 }
  ],
  "reason": "damaged",
  "notes": "Arrived with crushed corner."
}
```

## Return Reasons

| Reason                | When to use                                           |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| `damaged`             | Arrived damaged in transit                            |
| `not_delivered`       | Package never arrived                                 |
| `empty_box`           | Package arrived empty / item missing                  |
| `wrong_item`          | A different item shipped than what was ordered        |
| `defective`           | Item works incorrectly / quality issue                |
| `not_as_described`    | Item doesn't match the listing                        |
| `wrong_size`          | Apparel or sizing mismatch                            |
| `no_longer_needed`    | Customer changed their mind                           |
| `forced_cancellation` | Retailer / system forced cancellation after placement |
| `other`               | Anything else — include details in `notes`            |

<Tip>
  Use `other` only when none of the specific reasons fit. Categorized reasons
  route faster.
</Tip>

## Response

A successful request returns the new return request with `status: "open"` and
an empty `label_urls` array. See
[Get Return Request](/v2/api-reference/returns/get-return) for the full
response shape.


## OpenAPI

````yaml /versions/latest.json POST /returns
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Zinc
  summary: >-
    Zinc lets you search, buy, and return items from top online retailers with a
    single API.
  description: >-
    Search, buy, and return items from top online retailers with a single API.
    Supports AI agent ordering via MPP (HTTP 402) — no account required.
  version: '2026-04-27'
  x-logo:
    url: https://mintlify.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/zinc/logo/light.png
  x-guidance: >-
    Zinc lets AI agents buy products from online retailers via a single API. Use
    POST /agent/orders to place an order — no Zinc account needed, payment is
    handled via MPP (HTTP 402 flow). Provide a product URL (e.g. Amazon),
    shipping address, and max_price in cents. The API charges max_price + $1 API
    fee upfront and refunds the difference on completion. Authenticated
    endpoints (orders, products, managed-accounts) require a Bearer token (API
    key prefixed zn_). Docs: https://zinc.com/docs
servers:
  - url: https://api.zinc.com
    description: Production
security:
  - BearerAuth: []
paths:
  /returns:
    post:
      tags:
        - returns
      summary: Create Return Request
      operationId: create_return_request_returns_post
      parameters:
        - name: authorization
          in: header
          required: false
          schema:
            anyOf:
              - type: string
              - type: 'null'
            title: Authorization
      requestBody:
        required: true
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestCreate'
      responses:
        '201':
          description: Successful Response
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestResponse'
        '422':
          description: Validation Error
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/HTTPValidationError'
components:
  schemas:
    ReturnRequestCreate:
      properties:
        order_id:
          type: string
          format: uuid
          title: Order Id
        items:
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestItem'
          type: array
          minItems: 1
          title: Items
          description: Per-product lines being returned
        reason:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestReason'
        notes:
          anyOf:
            - type: string
              maxLength: 2000
            - type: 'null'
          title: Notes
      type: object
      required:
        - order_id
        - items
        - reason
      title: ReturnRequestCreate
    ReturnRequestResponse:
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
          format: uuid
          title: Id
        order_id:
          type: string
          format: uuid
          title: Order Id
        status:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestStatus'
        reason:
          $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestReason'
        notes:
          anyOf:
            - type: string
            - type: 'null'
          title: Notes
        resolution_notes:
          anyOf:
            - type: string
            - type: 'null'
          title: Resolution Notes
        items:
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ReturnRequestItem'
          type: array
          title: Items
          default: []
        label_urls:
          items:
            type: string
          type: array
          title: Label Urls
          default: []
        merchant_return_id:
          anyOf:
            - type: string
            - type: 'null'
          title: Merchant Return Id
        created_at:
          type: string
          format: date-time
          title: Created At
        updated_at:
          type: string
          format: date-time
          title: Updated At
      type: object
      required:
        - id
        - order_id
        - status
        - reason
        - notes
        - created_at
        - updated_at
      title: ReturnRequestResponse
    HTTPValidationError:
      properties:
        detail:
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/ValidationError'
          type: array
          title: Detail
      type: object
      title: HTTPValidationError
    ReturnRequestItem:
      properties:
        order_item_id:
          type: string
          format: uuid
          title: Order Item Id
        quantity:
          type: integer
          maximum: 100
          minimum: 1
          title: Quantity
      type: object
      required:
        - order_item_id
        - quantity
      title: ReturnRequestItem
      description: A single product line on a return — which order item, how many.
    ReturnRequestReason:
      type: string
      enum:
        - damaged
        - not_delivered
        - empty_box
        - wrong_item
        - defective
        - not_as_described
        - wrong_size
        - no_longer_needed
        - forced_cancellation
        - other
      title: ReturnRequestReason
      description: Universal return reason codes (Shopify + Amazon prepaid alignment).
    ReturnRequestStatus:
      type: string
      enum:
        - open
        - approved
        - denied
      title: ReturnRequestStatus
    ValidationError:
      properties:
        loc:
          items:
            anyOf:
              - type: string
              - type: integer
          type: array
          title: Location
        msg:
          type: string
          title: Message
        type:
          type: string
          title: Error Type
      type: object
      required:
        - loc
        - msg
        - type
      title: ValidationError
  securitySchemes:
    BearerAuth:
      type: apiKey
      in: header
      name: Authorization
      description: Zinc API key (Bearer zn_...)

````