Return Policy

A Return Policy is a clause established by the seller or buyer in international trade regarding the return of goods, specifying return conditions, time limits, cost bearing, refund methods, and liability allocation. Usage scenarios include B2B and B2C cross-border transactions, especially applicable to e-commerce platforms, bulk commodity trade, and long-term supply agreements. Precautions: It must be distinguished from quality assurance, force majeure, and claim clauses in the contract; return policies typically address no-reason returns for non-quality issues or returns for quality issues, with the former's costs mostly borne by the buyer and the latter by the seller; the policy should clearly specify the return time limit (e.g., within 30 days after receipt), goods condition requirements (unused, original packaging), return shipping method (designated freight forwarder), and refund cycle. Unlike an exchange policy, a return policy focuses on refunds rather than exchanges; unlike a warranty policy, it does not involve repairs. Foreign trade practitioners should include it in sales contracts or platform rules to avoid disputes.