Intro: No Box No Label Returns are changing how customers send items back

Returns have always had a friction problem. A customer wants to send something back, but before they can even start, they need a printer for the label and something to pack the item in. Most shoppers don’t have a printer at home. Hunting down a box or envelope just to make a return is the kind of friction that kills follow-through — and when customers abandon a return, merchants lose the item, the goodwill, and often the repeat purchase.

ShipStation is the first shipping platform, in collaboration with UPS, to offer discounted No Box
or Label with UPS in a dedicated returns portal—bringing a new level of convenience to merchants and their customers. This innovative solution lets shoppers complete returns without packaging or label, items with nothing but their phone—no printer, box, or packaging required.

No Box or Label with UPS removes both barriers at once. Customers get a digital barcode sent to their phone, walk into the nearest The UPS® Store location, and hand the item to a staff member. This barcode returns shipping experience helps to eliminate prep entirely – no printing, no packaging, no prep.

The problem with traditional returns (and why printer-free returns matter)

The standard return process puts the work on the customer. They need to download or print a label, find appropriate packaging, tape it up, and get to a drop-off point. Each of those steps is a place where a return can stall. A customer who can’t print or doesn’t have a box nearby will often just give up — which means the customer leaves with a frustrating experience they’ll remember.

That last part matters more than ever. As highlighted at The Delivery Conference 2026, the return experience isn’t just an operational step — it’s a defining customer moment. A difficult return doesn’t just end a transaction, it often ends the relationship.

For merchants using ShipStation Returns and Exchanges, this friction has been a constant challenge. The product works. The process is the problem.

What shipped: No Box or Label Returns with UPS, now on ShipStation

No Box or Label is a new return option currently available with UPS on ShipStation. When a customer initiates a return, they can choose No Box or Label with UPS as their return method. ShipStation emails them a digital barcode. They take that barcode and their item to a The UPS Store® location. A staff member scans the code, packs the item in a polybag, and ships it back to the merchant. The customer never touches packaging or a printer.

Merchants can enable the option in their returns settings in a few clicks. Customers see it as a choice in the returns portal alongside standard return methods. It’s fully within the ShipStation workflow — no third-party tools or workarounds – making it easy to automate returns shipping with ShipStation.

Why it matters: Reduce friction with returns without packaging

Returns can drive loyalty — not just reduce loss. A key insight from The Delivery Conference: customers who have a smooth return experience are often more likely to buy again than those who have never had an issue at all. When returns feel easy, the experience shifts from “problem” to “proof” that your brand delivers when it counts. This is where brands can truly improve returns customer experience.

No printer? No problem. Most households don’t have a printer, and the gap between wanting to return something and actually doing it often comes down to that single requirement. Removing that step helps reduce return friction ecommerce brands struggle with every day.

Packaging is handled at the counter. Customers don’t need to find a box, a mailer, or tape before they go. A staff member at The UPS Store® location packs the item in a polybag on the spot. This is especially well-suited for apparel, soft goods, and smaller everyday items that don’t need rigid protection.

Available with ShipStation + UPS. No other shipping platform currently offers No Box or Label with UPS with access to discounted rates as a seamless solution on our dedicated returns portal. If you’re competing for customers who care about post-purchase experience, this is a real differentiator — and it’s live now.

How it works: A simpler, printer-free returns experience

Enabling No Box or Label with UPS for your store:

  1. Go to Account Settings in ShipStation
  2. Select Selling Channels, then Store Setup
  3. Click the Actions menu next to your store and choose Edit Store Details
  4. Open the Returns tab and select Configure Returns Settings
  5. Under Shipping, click Manage next to Return Carriers
  6. Toggle on No Box or Label and agree to UPS Terms of Service

Once enabled, the option appears automatically in your returns portal, enhancing your overall shipping returns workflow.

What the customer sees:

The customer goes through the returns portal, selects the item and return reason, and chooses No Box or Label as the return method. They can view nearby The UPS Store® locations before confirming. After submitting, they receive a digital return barcode by email. They bring that barcode and the item to The UPS Store® location — no packaging needed. Staff scan the code, pack the item, and send it back, completing a fully streamlined returns without packaging or label experience.

See it in action

Real-world example: Printer-free returns in action

A customer buys a fleece jacket that doesn’t fit. Before No Box or Label, the return process required printing a label and sourcing a box large enough for the jacket. Without a home printer and with no cardboard on hand, the customer puts it off. A few weeks later, the customer circles back, and the return window has closed.

With No Box or Label with UPS enabled, the same customer goes to the returns portal, chooses the no-box option, and gets a barcode in their inbox. On their lunch break, they stop at the nearest The UPS Store® location, hand over the jacket, show the barcode, and walk out. The merchant receives the item back within days, and the customer has a clean resolution. That’s the kind of return experience that drives repeat purchases.

That’s the difference highlighted at The Delivery Conference: when a return is easy, it doesn’t feel like a failure — it feels like the brand followed through. That’s the kind of experience that helps reduce return friction ecommerce brands face and builds long-term loyalty. And that’s what customers remember.

Available now: No Box or Label Returns

Available with ShipStation + UPS.

Customers can now access this option at The UPS Store® locations—no box or label needed.

  • $1.50 per shipment
  • 10 lb max
  • Polybag-friendly, non-fragile items only

Get started

If you already have ShipStation Returns set up for your store, you can enable No Box or Label with UPS in your returns settings today and start to automate returns shipping with ShipStation while improving the overall customer experience.

Enable No Box or Label in your returns settings.

Madison Unruh
Madison Unruh
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