Customer Service Beginner

Reship

Also known as: Reshipment, Replacement Shipment, Resend

Definition

A reship occurs when a seller sends a replacement order because the original shipment was lost, damaged, or otherwise failed to reach the customer successfully. It’s a common customer service resolution for delivery failures.

When to Reship

Situation Action
Package lost (no scans for 7+ days) Reship after investigation
Delivered but customer claims not received Verify address, then reship
Package arrived damaged Reship if return not required
Wrong item shipped Reship correct item
Stolen package Reship with signature required

Reship Process

  1. Verify the issue - Confirm the problem is legitimate
  2. Check inventory - Ensure item is in stock
  3. Create new order - Flag as reship for tracking
  4. Upgrade shipping - Consider faster/more secure method
  5. Communicate - Notify customer of new tracking
  6. File claim - Recover costs from carrier if applicable

Reship Policies

Businesses should establish clear reship policies:

  • Time window - How long after delivery to accept claims
  • Verification - What proof is required
  • Limits - Number of reships allowed per customer
  • Value thresholds - Different rules for high-value items
  • Shipping method - Standard or expedited replacement

Preventing Reships

  • Address verification - Catch errors before shipping
  • Signature required - For high-value items
  • Photo confirmation - GPS-stamped delivery photos
  • Package tracking - Proactive monitoring for issues
  • Secure packaging - Prevent damage in transit

Cost Considerations

Reships are expensive:

  • Product cost (if original not returned)
  • Shipping cost (often expedited)
  • Customer service time
  • Carrier claim processing

Reship vs. Refund

Reship Refund
Keeps the sale Loses the sale
Customer wants product Customer wants money back
Product still available Out of stock situations
Better for retention Sometimes necessary
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