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POST
/
returns
curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.arcuserp.com/v1/returns \
  --header 'Authorization: Bearer <token>' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '
{
  "original_order_id": "a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
  "reason": "wrong_item",
  "refund_amount": 150,
  "items": [
    {
      "order_item_id": "11111111-2222-3333-4444-555555555555",
      "quantity": 1,
      "condition": "unused"
    }
  ],
  "restocking_fee": {
    "type": "percentage",
    "value": 10
  },
  "auto_refund": true,
  "refund_payment_id": "22222222-3333-4444-5555-666666666666"
}
'
{
  "id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
  "object": "return",
  "entity_id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
  "return_number": "<string>",
  "original_order_id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
  "account_id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
  "vendor_id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
  "vendor_rma_number": "<string>",
  "inspection_required": true,
  "restocking_fee": 123,
  "refund_amount": 123,
  "return_to_vendor": true,
  "notes": "<string>",
  "metadata": {},
  "received_at": "2023-11-07T05:31:56Z",
  "closed_at": "2023-11-07T05:31:56Z",
  "cancelled_at": "2023-11-07T05:31:56Z",
  "created_at": "2023-11-07T05:31:56Z",
  "updated_at": "2023-11-07T05:31:56Z"
}
{
"error": "not_found",
"code": "not_found",
"type": "not_found",
"hint": "The requested order does not exist or does not belong to this entity.",
"param": "expand[0]",
"required": "accounts:read",
"request_id": "req_abc123"
}
{
"error": "not_found",
"code": "not_found",
"type": "not_found",
"hint": "The requested order does not exist or does not belong to this entity.",
"param": "expand[0]",
"required": "accounts:read",
"request_id": "req_abc123"
}
{
"error": "not_found",
"code": "not_found",
"type": "not_found",
"hint": "The requested order does not exist or does not belong to this entity.",
"param": "expand[0]",
"required": "accounts:read",
"request_id": "req_abc123"
}
{
"error": "not_found",
"code": "not_found",
"type": "not_found",
"hint": "The requested order does not exist or does not belong to this entity.",
"param": "expand[0]",
"required": "accounts:read",
"request_id": "req_abc123"
}

Authorizations

Authorization
string
header
required

API key issued per entity via Settings > Developers > API Keys. Each key carries scopes (e.g. orders:read, products:write). Bearer token format: Authorization: Bearer ark_live_ent_Test keys use ark_test_ent_. Both are issued per entity
via Settings > Developers > API Keys.

Headers

Idempotency-Key
string

Client-generated unique key for idempotent POST/PATCH/DELETE operations. Alias for the Idempotency parameter. Max 255 chars. On retry with the same key, the original response is returned without re-executing the operation. Keys expire after 24 hours.

Maximum string length: 255

Body

application/json
original_order_id
string<uuid>

The originating sales order. Required unless this is a standalone RMA.

account_id
string<uuid>

Customer account. Derived from the original order when original_order_id is provided.

reason
string

Free-text reason for the return.

refund_amount
number<float>

Total dollar amount to refund before restocking fee deduction.

restocking_fee

Flat number (e.g. 25.00) or object form: { type: 'percentage', value: 10 } or { type: 'flat', value: 30 }.

items
object[]

Inline return line items. Added atomically with the RMA. quantity is accepted as an alias for quantity_authorized.

auto_refund
boolean
default:false

If true, issue the refund immediately after RMA creation. Requires refund_payment_id and payments:write scope. The response includes a 'refund' object.

refund_payment_id
string<uuid>

Required with auto_refund=true. The original payment to refund against.

refund_method
enum<string>
default:original

Refund routing. 'original' refunds to the original payment method.

Available options:
original,
store_credit,
check,
cash
override_window
boolean
default:false

Bypass the entity's return_window_days check. Requires returns:write.

customer_initiated
boolean
default:false

True when return was initiated via the customer portal.

notes
string
metadata
object

Response

Created RMA (hydrated with items[] and refund if inline operations ran)

RMA (return merchandise authorization). Phase A -- refund_amount is readOnly via PATCH; written only by POST /v1/returns/{id}/refund.

id
string<uuid>
object
enum<string>
Available options:
return
entity_id
string<uuid>
read-only
return_number
string
read-only
status
enum<string>
read-only

Use action endpoints to transition status; PATCH cannot write status.

Available options:
authorized,
expected,
received,
inspecting,
restocked,
written_off,
closed,
sent_to_vendor,
cancelled
original_order_id
string<uuid>
account_id
string<uuid>
vendor_id
string<uuid> | null
vendor_rma_number
string | null
inspection_required
boolean
restocking_fee
number | null
refund_amount
number | null
read-only

SSOT: written only by POST /v1/returns/{id}/refund (refundReturn canonical). PATCH cannot write this field.

return_to_vendor
boolean
source
enum<string> | null
Available options:
csr,
customer_portal,
marketplace
notes
string | null
metadata
object | null
received_at
string<date-time> | null
read-only
closed_at
string<date-time> | null
read-only
cancelled_at
string<date-time> | null
read-only
created_at
string<date-time>
read-only
updated_at
string<date-time>
read-only