# Receive Returned Goods

Receiving is the step that moves stock, so it is the step to be careful about.

Record what actually turned up, in what condition, and into which location, because everything downstream reads those three answers.

![The four steps of a sales return: open a delivered order, choose Create Return to pull its line items in, set quantities to adjust how much comes back and the warehouse it returns to, then create the return.](https://www.sorviai.com/help/returns/return-steps.png)

*Step three is the receiving decision: how much actually came back, and which warehouse it goes to.*

## Receive it

- **Open the authorised return**

  From the returns list, or from the original invoice.
- **Record the quantity that arrived**

  What actually turned up, which is not always what was authorised.
- **Choose the location**

  Where the units go back to. Stock increases at this point, not before.
- **Record the condition**

  Resaleable goods return to sellable stock. Damaged goods can be received without becoming available again.
- **Save**

  Stock moves. The return is now ready to credit.

> **Warning:**
>
> **Condition is not cosmetic**
>
> Receiving damaged goods as resaleable puts units back into your available stock that you cannot sell. They will be quoted, ordered and picked, and the problem will surface as a shortage weeks later.

## Partial and awkward receipts

| Case | How to handle it |
| --- | --- |
| Some units back, rest kept | Receive only the returned quantity. The credit covers those units. |
| Goods damaged in transit | Receive as damaged. Stock does not become sellable but the customer is still credited. |
| Wrong item sent back | Receive it against the correct item line, or reject the return. |
| Nothing ever arrives | Leave the return authorised, or cancel it. Do not receive goods you do not have. |
| More arrives than authorised | Receive up to the authorised quantity. Raise a second return for the rest. |

## What it does to your stock

Units come back at the cost they left, following the item's valuation method. That is what makes the margin on the original sale reverse cleanly rather than at a price that has moved since. Damaged receipts increase stock on hand without increasing available stock, which is the distinction that keeps your fulfilment queue honest.