What is it?

The WooCommerce integration connects your WooCommerce store to Ingrid Returns, so you can offer a branded self-service returns experience without building a returns system of your own.

Ingrid Returns reads your order and line-item data directly from WooCommerce through the WooCommerce REST API (version 3). Customers look up their purchase by order number and email, choose the items they want to return, pick a reason, and receive a carrier label — all from the Ingrid Returns widget. On your side, every return outcome flows back into WooCommerce automatically: refunds, exchange orders, and inventory restock.

You set the integration up once in Returns Back-office using your WooCommerce REST API credentials. After that, return flows run automatically — customers interact only with the widget, and your store stays in sync.

Key benefits

No custom build. Offer a full self-service returns portal without developing your own returns logic.
Automatic refunds. Refunds are created in WooCommerce automatically once returned items are confirmed at the warehouse — no manual entry in WooCommerce Admin.
Automatic exchanges. Exchange orders are created in WooCommerce automatically, with timing you control.
Automatic inventory restock. When items are approved for restock at quality check, Ingrid Returns increments your WooCommerce stock automatically — a capability not every platform integration supports.
One place to manage returns. Every return is visible in Returns Back-office the moment it's initiated, with no manual reconciliation.

How it works

The integration uses the WooCommerce REST API to read order data and to write return outcomes back to your store.

A customer opens the Ingrid Returns widget and enters their order number and email.
Ingrid Returns fetches the matching order from WooCommerce and checks the items against your return rules.
The customer selects items and a reason, and a carrier label is generated and sent to them.
The customer ships the parcel. Ingrid Returns tracks it in transit.
When the parcel arrives, warehouse staff confirm receipt and record quality decisions.
Ingrid Returns then triggers the configured outcomes in WooCommerce — refund, exchange order, and inventory restock where applicable.

Restock is a WooCommerce advantage. Unlike some platform integrations, WooCommerce supports fully automatic inventory restock. When returned items are approved for resale at quality check, Ingrid Returns adds the stock back to the right product variant in WooCommerce automatically — no manual updates needed.

Use cases

Scenario	What happens
Standard self-service return	The customer starts a return in the widget, a carrier label is generated automatically, and you review it in Returns Back-office.
Refund on receipt	Ingrid Returns creates a refund in WooCommerce once returned items are confirmed at the warehouse.
Exchange flow	The customer picks a replacement in the widget, and a new order is created in WooCommerce.
Quality check before refund	Warehouse staff inspect returned items, and refunds are issued only for approved items.
Automatic inventory restock	Approved items are added back to WooCommerce stock automatically, capped at the quantity originally sold on the order line.
Multi-carrier returns	Customers see multiple carrier options based on your price setup.

The integration works best with WooCommerce stores running standard order workflows. Stores with heavily customized checkouts or non-standard order structures may need extra setup — check with the Returns team before onboarding.

Configuration guide

Setup takes just a few steps and is done once per store:

In WooCommerce Admin, go to WooCommerce → Settings → Advanced → REST API and create a new key with Read/Write permissions. WooCommerce shows you a Consumer Key and Consumer Secret — copy both before leaving the page, as the secret is shown only once.
In Returns Back-office, go to Settings → Admin, select your shop, and choose Edit ecom integration.
Enter your store URL, Consumer Key, and Consumer Secret, then save.
Create a test order in WooCommerce and run a test return through the widget to confirm everything connects.

Your WooCommerce store must have the REST API enabled and use a non-plain permalink structure (a WooCommerce requirement for the REST API to work). WooCommerce 3.5 or later is required.

For detailed field-by-field instructions and the full post-setup checklist, see the WooCommerce configuration guide.

FAQ

Can customers return orders placed before the integration was set up?
Only if those orders exist in Ingrid Returns — for example, from a data import. Orders that were never synced can't be returned through the widget. Ask the Returns team whether a bulk import of historical orders is possible.

Does the integration work with WooCommerce plugins like Subscriptions or Bundles?
The integration is built on the standard WooCommerce REST API. Compatibility with third-party plugins depends on how each plugin exposes order data. Confirm with the Returns team before onboarding stores that use non-standard order types.

Is inventory automatically restocked in WooCommerce after a return?
Yes. When returned items are confirmed at the warehouse and approved for restock, Ingrid Returns updates WooCommerce stock automatically through the REST API — no action needed from you.

What happens if my store is briefly unreachable when Ingrid Returns tries to write a refund or exchange?
Ingrid Returns retries automatically. If it still can't complete, the item appears in Returns Back-office for manual review.

Can I use the integration across multiple WooCommerce sites?
Yes. In a multi-site WordPress setup, each site is treated as a separate shop and needs its own credentials.

Getting started

To get started, generate your WooCommerce REST API credentials, add them in Returns Back-office, and run a test return end to end. Once your test refund, exchange, and restock all appear correctly in WooCommerce, you're ready to go live.

Related articles: WooCommerce refunds, WooCommerce exchanges, WooCommerce payments.