Store Mode
Choose how your business handles returns — returns only, returns & warranty, drop-shipper, or both.
Store Mode
Settings → Store Mode sets your business model. It decides which features appear across ReturnMate and the customer portal. You can change it at any time; existing returns are never affected — only which tools are shown for new ones.
| Mode | Warranty & repair workflows | Drop-ship supplier routing |
|---|---|---|
| Returns only | Hidden | Off |
| Returns & warranty | Shown | Off |
| Drop-shipper | Hidden | On |
| Drop-shipper & warranty (hybrid) | Shown | On |
What "warranty hidden" means
When a mode without warranty is selected:
- Settings pages for Warranty Settings, Faults / Diagnostics, Third Party Repairs and Supplier Warranty Terms are hidden; Resolution Options keeps only the soft-close setting.
- The Recovery (supplier warranty claims) area is hidden — drop-shippers still get Supplier credits.
- Create Return offers no third-party repair, counter swap or warranty reasons; the RMA list drops the warranty filters.
- Dashboard and Analytics hide warranty & repair charts and the failure analysis tab.
- The customer portal offers only standard return reasons and no third-party repair link; warranty reasons submitted directly are rejected.
- Existing warranty returns keep their diagnostics and resolution tools so they can still be finished.
Your warranty policies, reasons and fault taxonomy are kept while hidden — switching back restores everything.
Drop-ship modes
Both drop-shipper modes turn on Supplier Return Locations (see Return Locations & Methods). Add at least one supplier location and assign SKUs to it for routing to take effect.
Setup wizard
New stores choose their Store mode on the Return Types step of the setup wizard; the warranty and supplier steps appear only for modes that need them.