Multi-Store Installs
Enable multi-store returns and transfers, designate a Master Hub, and manage returns across retail locations from one ReturnMate install.
ReturnMate's multi-store mode is a hub-and-spoke model: one central warehouse (the Master Hub) plus your retail locations, all managed from a single ReturnMate install. Retail staff accept returns in store and transfer complex items — specialist repairs, supplier returns, dangerous goods — to the hub for processing.
Enabling multi-store
Open Return Locations & Methods
Go to Settings → Return Locations & Methods.
Turn on the toggle
In the Multi-Store Returns card, tick Enable multi-store returns and transfers.
Review the hub-spoke summary
Once enabled, an info banner summarises how the model works:
- Your Returns Receiving Address is your Master Hub (central warehouse)
- All Drop-off Locations are retail stores where customers can drop off returns
- Retail staff can transfer complex returns to the Master Hub for specialist repair, supplier returns, or diagnostics
- All return shipping labels are generated to the Master Hub address
Designating the Master Hub
When multi-store is on, your Returns Receiving Address is badged as the Master Hub — it's the delivery address on all return shipping labels and the destination for transfers from retail stores.
You can also flag one of your drop-off locations as the hub: when adding or editing a location, tick This is the Master Hub (central warehouse). Only one location can be the Master Hub. In the locations list, each location is badged as either Master Hub or Retail Store.
What changes when multi-store is enabled
| Area | Change |
|---|---|
| Navigation | A Transfers nav item appears, opening the Transfer Management page |
| RMAs | A Transfer RMA card appears on eligible RMAs at non-hub locations, with a Create Transfer action (Transfer for Diagnostics for counter-swap items) |
| RMA list | A location dropdown lets you filter the list to All locations or a single location; the hub is suffixed (Master Hub) |
| Shipping labels | Return labels are generated to the Master Hub address |
| Settings | Location badges (Master Hub / Retail Store) and the Master Hub checkbox appear in Return Locations & Methods |
For how transfers themselves work — reasons, labels, statuses, receiving — see Transfer Workflow and Master Store / Hub Routing.
Scoping users to locations
Staff access can be restricted per location in Settings → Users. When editing a non-admin user with locations configured, a Location Access section appears:
- Can access all locations — allow the user to view and manage returns at any location
- Assign to specific locations — otherwise, choose the locations the user can access (each shown as Master Hub or Retail Store). A user must have access to at least one location.
- Home Location — available for all roles; sets the user's default location
Admin users automatically have access to all locations. See Users, Roles & Access.
Location limits by plan
The number of locations you can add depends on your plan: Ops allows 2 locations, Scale allows 10, and Enterprise is unlimited. At the limit, adding new locations is blocked until you upgrade. See Plans, Billing & Usage Limits.
Linked store installs (advanced)
Beyond the location-based model above, ReturnMate can also link separate Shopify store installs into a hierarchy. Each store has a store type — Standalone (single location, the default), Master (central returns/repair facility) or Child (retail location) — and a child store is linked to its parent master so returns can be escalated between installs. A short location identifier (e.g. SYD-CBD) labels each store in transfers and reports.
There is currently no self-serve screen for configuring the store hierarchy — if you run ReturnMate on multiple Shopify stores and want them linked, contact support.