Setting Up a Repair Module
Choose between Computer Repairs and Walk-in Repairs, pick a preset for your trade, and set up the module your repair counter runs on.
A repair module turns ReturnMate into a repair counter system. It adds counter intake, repair jobs, estimates, customer consents, device passwords and collection on top of your normal returns and warranty workflow.
This article covers choosing a module, turning it on, and every setting on the module page.
Who it is for
Repair modules are built for stores that take items in over the counter and fix them. For example:
- Computer and laptop repair stores
- Phone and tablet repair stores
- Music stores with a repair workshop
- Watchmakers and jewellers
- General walk-in repairers, such as bikes, sewing machines, power tools and small appliances
If you only handle returns and warranty claims for things you sold, you do not need a repair module.
Computer Repairs or Walk-in Repairs
There are two repair modules. Both use the same repair workflow. They differ in the item types, wording, templates and consents they start with.
Computer Repairs is for laptops, desktops, custom builds and components. It includes data-work consents and backup declarations, because computer repairs often touch customer data.
Walk-in Repairs is for everything else that comes across the counter: instruments, amplifiers, bikes, watches, jewellery, sewing machines, power tools and small appliances. Data-work fields are off by default.
Presets
A preset flavours a module for a specific trade. It renames the module, sets the item types and the word used for the item, and adds trade-specific intake forms, checklists, service presets and consent wording.
| Module | Preset | Module name | Item is called |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Repairs | None | Computer Repairs | device |
| Computer Repairs | Phones & tablets | Phone & Tablet Repairs | device |
| Walk-in Repairs | None | Walk-in Repairs | item |
| Walk-in Repairs | Music store | Music Store Repairs | instrument |
| Walk-in Repairs | Watch & jewellery | Watch & Jewellery Repairs | piece |
The presets also change what staff can plan at intake. Music and jewellery presets list work that cannot be undone, such as a refret or a resize. The phones preset adds an activation lock check. See Phone, Music and Jewellery Repairs for the details of each.
Turn a module on
You can turn a module on from Settings or from the setup wizard. Only store owners and admins can enable a module or change its settings. Other staff can open the page and see how it is configured.
From Settings
Open Industry modules
Go to Settings → Industry modules. You see one card for each repair module. A module with a preset shows its preset name, such as Music Store Repairs.
Enable the module
Choose Enable module on the card you want. ReturnMate loads the built-in templates and consent texts straight away.
Choose a preset if you need one
Under Intake, pick a Vertical preset that matches your trade, then choose Save settings. The preset's extra templates and consent texts are added when you save.
Work through the settings
Set your participating locations, turnaround, payment policy and the other settings described below. Choose Save settings when you are done.
Once a module is enabled, its card shows three shortcuts: Repair catalogue, Open repairs workspace and Open repair intake.
From the setup wizard
The setup wizard asks Do you run a repair counter? Pick the card that fits your store:
- No repair counter
- Computer & device repairs
- Phone & tablet repairs
- Music store repairs
- Watch & jewellery repairs
- Walk-in repairs (other)
The wizard enables the matching module and preset for you. Repair modules include warranty workflows, so the wizard switches warranty on if you had chosen a returns-only mode.
One repair module per store
A store runs one repair module at a time. If Computer Repairs is on and you try to enable Walk-in Repairs, the page shows One repair module at a time and asks you to disable the other module first.
Changing your answer in the setup wizard switches modules in one go. The old module is turned off and the new one is turned on together.
What enabling sets up
Enabling a module loads a starter pack so you can check in your first repair straight away.
- Templates: intake forms, diagnostic and QA checklists, and requested-service presets for the module and its preset. They are listed read-only in the Templates section of the module card.
- Consent texts: the wording customers agree to at the counter, such as Repair service terms, Diagnostic fee and Approved scope and spending limit. Computer Repairs also loads data-work consents like Backup declaration and Data erasure.
The card header shows which template set version you have and the latest version available.
Re-seed built-in templates
Re-seed built-in templates adds any built-in template or consent text that is missing. It never overwrites anything you already have. Use it if your consent texts are empty, or after a newer template set is released.
Edit consent wording
In Consent texts, choose Edit on any consent, change the title or text, then choose Publish new version.
Publishing creates a new version. It does not change jobs that were already signed. Each job keeps a reference to the exact version the customer agreed to.
The built-in consent texts are a starting point. Read each one and adjust it to match your own terms, fees and uncollected-goods policy before your first real customer signs.
Participating locations
Participating locations controls where items can be checked in. Tick the locations that run a repair counter.
Leave every box unticked to allow intake at all locations. If no locations are listed, add them first under Return Locations & Methods.
If someone tries to check in at a location that is not ticked, the intake is refused and they are pointed back to this setting.
Intake settings
These settings shape the counter intake screen.
- Vertical preset: the trade flavour described above. Choose the neutral option to use the module without a preset.
- Item types offered at intake: the types staff pick from when checking an item in. Type a new one and choose Add, or remove one with its cross. Reset to module defaults goes back to the module's own list. If you change preset and never customised the list, it follows the new preset.
- Data work consents (backup, data transfer, erasure, device access): shows the backup status, planned data operations and device access fields at intake, and requires the matching consents. It is on by default for Computer Repairs and off for Walk-in Repairs. Turn it off if your repairs never touch customer data.
Device passwords can only be recorded at intake when data work is on. See Device Passwords and Access.
Module settings
Workflow
- Require a QA pass before a job is ready for collection: on by default. When off, technicians can move a job straight from repairing to ready for collection. When on, only a manager can release a job without a passed QA checklist, and they must give a reason.
- Hold declined jobs for the customer to choose: on by default. When a customer declines an estimate, the job waits for their decision (collect as-is, dispose, or pay a diagnostic fee) instead of closing straight away.
Dates and review windows
- Default promised turnaround (days): pre-fills the promised date at intake. The default is 5 days. You can change the date on each job.
- Workmanship window (days): if the same item comes back within this many days of a completed job, the intake flags it as a possible repeat repair. The default is 90 days.
- Uncollected review after (days): jobs that have been ready for collection longer than this appear in the Uncollected review tab of the repairs workspace. The default is 30 days.
Security and value
- Keep device credentials for (days): passwords and PINs stored on a job are wiped when the item is collected or the job is cancelled, or after this many days at the latest. The default is 30 days. You can choose from 1 to 90.
- Manager sign-off above (declared value): items with a declared value at or above this amount need a manager sign-off. The default is 2000 in your store currency. Set it to 0 to never ask.
Parts stock
Inventory authority for consumed parts decides where stock is reduced when a part from your own stock is fitted.
- Automatic uses your ERP connection when one is enabled, otherwise Shopify when the app can write inventory, otherwise none.
- Shopify inventory always uses Shopify.
- ERP always uses your ERP.
- None (audit only) records the part use without changing stock anywhere.
Online repair booking
The Online repair booking section lets customers book a drop-off or posted-in repair on your returns portal. It is off by default. See Online Repair Booking for each setting.
Stock locations
Stock locations lets a single location draw repair parts from somewhere other than the module default. Each row has:
- Kind: Store, Warehouse or Vehicle.
- Inventory authority: leave on Module default unless this location keeps its own stock elsewhere.
- ERP warehouse ID: the matching warehouse in your ERP, if you use one.
- Shopify location: the linked Shopify location, shown for reference.
Each row has its own Save button.
Quotes & payment
Quotes & payment sets how itemised repair estimates are priced and collected.
- Default payment policy: Pay before work starts, Pay on collection, or Deposit, then balance. The default policy must be one you have allowed.
- Allow "pay on collection": the customer accepts online and pays at the counter when they pick the item up.
- Allow deposits: take a deposit when the estimate is accepted and charge the balance on collection. Choose a Default deposit as a fixed amount or a percentage, and set the Deposit value. Staff can change the deposit on each estimate.
- Quote prices include tax: on by default. When off, prices are entered excluding tax and Shopify adds tax on the invoice.
Each estimate can override the default policy until its first charge is invoiced. See Repair Estimates and Payment.
Turning a module off
Choose Disable module on the card. New intake is blocked straight away. Jobs that are already open carry on through the repair workflow until they are finished. Nothing is deleted.
Plans and usage
Repair modules are available on every plan. You just need to enable one.
Each item you check in becomes its own return record and counts once toward your monthly usage. A visit with three items counts as three.