Solving Trial Product Return Metrics on Shopify

Have you ever tried to create a new system for tracking something, only to find out you’ve unwittingly reinvented the wheel? It’s like the time our team thought we’d revolutionize our office snack supply with a fancy, coded spreadsheet only to realize two weeks later someone else had already perfected it on a napkin. I felt a familiar pang of this déjà vu when I read about the conundrum one merchant was facing with Shopify—skewed return metrics from trial products. They’re pioneering an innovative trial program, but those pesky software constraints are being less than accommodating.

The Trial That Never Ends

Let’s travel back to the joys of science fairs in high school, where we eagerly assembled projects overnight, fueled by snacks and enthusiasm. Our merchant friend is essentially doing this with their product, offering a 10-day trial experience that demands the product’s return instead of a straightforward keep-it-or-return-it-with-a-refund scenario. Only, the digital science fair project here is being marked as a return by Shopify, muddling up their metrics.

Handling this without smudging your return numbers requires finesse. So, let's dive into these emerging solutions like we’re back at our science fair, making baking soda volcanoes explode with a mix of creativity and cunning.

Distinguishing Returns: It’s All in the Labels

Picture us in a bookstore, where each book beckons with stories yet told. Much like those books, our products need tagging – a clear differentiation. Let’s play librarian: we shall label them distinctly in our digital inventory system. Fortunately for us, Shopify offers a field called “tags,” which can elucidate the nature of our return process.

To do this, we add a simple identification system to our trial products. Each trial product could be adorned with a tag, maybe something catchy like “Trial_Return_Not_Refundable” (feel free to make it even more creative as long as it’s recognizable):

{
  "product": {
    "tags": ["Trial_Return_Not_Refundable"]
  }
}

When a return comes through, our tag is our trusty lighthouse in the fog, indicating this isn’t your regular refund-seeking return. Ah, clarity, thy name is metadata!

Third-Party Apps to the Rescue

Now, let’s daintily sidestep onto the realm of third-party apps, our digital Swiss Army knives. Imagine someone walking in with the exact tool you forgot you needed. And there are a few that stand out, like a particularly adept stall vendor at a bustling farmer’s market, offering precise solutions.

Rush’s Return Magic is one such helper, providing capabilities not only to handle typical returns but also to customize the process for trials. It allows us to mark specific returns in a way that says, “Hey, I’m special, don’t bundle me with the ordinary ones.”

Additionally, AfterShip Returns Center offers customizable return reasons. Once again, under this option, we create a return reason that matches the specific type, for instance, “Trial Period Return,” ensuring we categorize these returns accurately:

Trial Period Return: No refund issued, product returned post-trial.

The Logic of Segmenting Data

Remember when, back in school, we were convinced rock chocolate was indistinguishable from regular chocolate? Until we learned otherwise—the wisdom of segmentation saved many teeth. The concept applies here. With data, we refine our approach by isolating trial return types for separate analysis. This ensures our returns data doesn’t misrepresent the product quality or customer satisfaction.

In Shopify Analytics, we’re wizards creating custom segments. Dive into Reports, and using the “Filters” functionality, establish a new segment where returns associated with the magic “Trial_Return_Not_Refundable” tag are isolated. Our graphs and charts will now narrate the true tale of our triumph and trepidations.

Let’s Wrap it All Up – With a Metaphorical Bow

At the end of our merchant’s journey, we return to the beginning, where it all started: an idea not unlike our audacious snack spreadsheet. We unveil our achievements, dressed in insights and polished with the sheen of data integrity. We wave farewell to our trial products like balloons at a county fair, knowing they have a better path.

And wasn’t this a delightful trip? Navigating the maze of data discrepancies can feel overwhelming, much like when a pigeon commandeers your sandwich during a lunch break. Yet by exploring tags, apps, and data segmentation, we’ve turned tumultuous trials into tales of triumph.

So, here’s to our daring merchant, reimagining how returns can be tracked amidst the digital tangle of Shopify. Who knew solving return metrics could feel like crafting a culinary masterpiece? More icing, less confusion. Let’s keep inventing, innovating, and, most delightfully, intriguing!