Imagine your Coupang store filled with carefully selected products bearing the coveted Rocket badge, confidently stored in CGF warehouses, ready for explosive sales. However, market dynamics shift unexpectedly, and anticipated high demand fails to materialize. Instead, mounting storage fees become an increasing burden. It may be time to consider product returns.
Returning inventory from CGF warehouses can effectively reduce holding costs, alleviate financial pressure, and create space for more promising products—ultimately optimizing your inventory structure.
This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough of the Coupang CGF return process, demonstrating how to efficiently withdraw underperforming products from CGF warehouses and redirect resources toward more valuable business operations.
I. Pre-Return Considerations: Balancing Costs and Benefits
Before initiating the return process, conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis. While returns reduce storage expenses, they also incur operational and shipping fees. Carefully compare potential savings against return costs to ensure the decision makes financial sense.
Additionally, evaluate the product's intrinsic value. For low-value items where return costs exceed potential benefits, disposal might be more economical. Coupang offers a disposal option with standardized processing fees that eliminates return shipping complexities.
II. The Return Application: Completing the Form
Coupang's CGF return process operates primarily through online applications. The return request form serves as Coupang's primary evaluation document. Follow this detailed completion guide:
- Accessing the Form: Navigate to Coupang's designated return application portal.
- Business Code: Locate your unique identifier (beginning with "C") in your seller dashboard under your store name.
- Email Address: Provide your registered Coupang seller account email.
- Transaction Type: Select "Return" from available options.
- Delivery Type: Specify "CGF" as the fulfillment method.
- Warehouse Reference Numbers: Find both the application and approval numbers in your CGF inbound shipping interface. Verify accuracy to prevent processing delays.
- Return Address: Supply complete recipient details including name, contact number, and physical address in the local language.
- Return Rationale: Clearly articulate reasons such as "slow-moving inventory" or "stock optimization." Transparent explanations facilitate faster approval.
- Product Specifications: Precisely identify items using their option IDs and corresponding quantities from your product detail or inventory management pages.
III. Review Process and Status Tracking
After submission, Coupang will evaluate your application. Processing times vary, but you can monitor progress through:
- Dashboard Notifications: Check the bell icon in your seller portal for status updates.
- Direct Inquiry: For urgent cases, email Coupang's customer service team regarding your application status.
IV. Understanding Return Fees
CGF returns involve several cost components:
- Warehouse Handling Fee: Currently ¥4 per unit for standard returns and ¥4.5 for disposals.
- Return Shipping: Actual costs based on product dimensions, weight, and destination.
- Storage Fees: Currently waived by Coupang.
V. Post-Return Optimization
Successful returns present opportunities for operational improvements:
Analyze underperformance causes to prevent recurrence. Reallocate recovered capital to higher-potential inventory. Consider adjusting pricing strategies, enhancing product listings, or intensifying marketing efforts to boost conversion rates.
Strategic inventory management through timely returns establishes a foundation for sustainable business growth on the Coupang platform.