> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.alforse.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Supplier returns > Return received goods to a supplier, preserve serial or batch identity, claim credit, and create a replacement PO. A **Supplier Return** authorizes goods to be sent back to a supplier. It associates the original receipt or purchase order with the outbound shipment, supplier credit, quality issue, and replacement order while preserving each event as a separate audit record. Alforse screenshot**Supplier Return detail with return lines, shipped quantities, source links, and selected serials or batches** A supplier return controls what may leave and preserves where the goods came from. ## What a Supplier Return controls Start from **Purchasing → Returns**, choose **Supplier Return**, and select the supplier. The supplier may give you its own authorization number; record that in **Supplier RMA #**. Alforse's customer-facing RMAs are a different Sales entity. Whenever possible, choose **Add from receipt**. Alforse lists posted receipt lines for the supplier that still have quantity available to return, newest first. A source-linked line retains its receipt, purchase order, and invoice provenance. At confirmation, Alforse locks the relevant source rows and prevents active returns from authorizing more than was received. Use **Add manually** for a blind supplier return when no source document is available. A manual line deliberately skips the source-quantity cap, so confirm the item, unit, price, and quantity yourself. NOTE Confirming authorizes the outbound return but does not remove inventory. Stock and cost change only when the linked shipment is posted. ## Header fields FieldType
**Return ID** The readable return number. Alforse assigns the next `RTS` sequence when you do not enter one.
**Supplier**`reference` The supplier receiving the goods; required.
**Purchase Order**`reference` Optional link to the original order.
**Supplier RMA #** The authorization or case number supplied by the vendor.
**Supplier Contact / Location**`reference` Who is coordinating the return and the vendor address involved.
**Order Date**`date` The date of the return authorization; required.
**Expiration Date**`date` The authorization expiry shown on the return. Alforse does not currently block shipping after this date.
**Return Location**`reference` The Alforse location shipping the goods back.
**Currency** The currency used for the supplier credit.
**Assignee**`reference` The employee responsible for the return.
## Line fields FieldType
**Item**`reference` The item being returned.
**Return Quantity**`number` The quantity authorized to leave, expressed in the item's inventory unit.
**Unit Price**`number` The supplier credit basis per inventory unit.
**Restock Fee Percent**`number` The percentage deducted from the gross supplier credit.
**Return Reason**`reference` A shared company-defined reason such as Defective, Warranty, or Wrong Item Shipped.
**Serial numbers / Batches to return**`reference` The on-hand tracked identities selected for this line.
**Shipped** The posted returned quantity compared with the authorized quantity.
Purchase quantities may use a supplier pack or other conversion factor, but Supplier Return quantities and prices are stored in the inventory unit. When a line comes from a receipt or purchase order, Alforse converts it during authoring rather than carrying the supplier unit into the return. After confirmation, the item, quantity, unit, price, restock fee, and source links are fixed. Those fields can only be changed while the return is Draft. Return reason and the selected serials or batches remain operational details while the return is open. ## Status
**Draft** Build the authorization and select what will go back.
**To Ship** Confirmed; at least one line still expects shipment.
**Completed** Every line is fully shipped or marked **Stop Shipping**.
**Cancelled** The authorization was withdrawn before a shipment remained against it.
Status is driven only by shipping. Posting the return shipment increases each line's shipped quantity; voiding it reverses that quantity. **Stop Shipping** short-closes a remainder, while **Resume Shipping** makes it outstanding again. Supplier credit and a replacement purchase order do not participate in completion. Only one Draft shipment can exist for a Supplier Return. Choosing **Ship** again opens it, and Alforse fills it with the outstanding quantity on lines that have not been short-closed. ## Tracked items For a Serial- or Batch-tracked item, pick the specific on-hand identities to send. Alforse offers Available identities whose receipt provenance resolves to a posted receipt from this supplier. A receipt-linked line with exactly one eligible identity selects it automatically. Posting a full serial or batch return changes that tracked entity to Consumed. A partial batch return splits off a consumed departing child while leaving the reduced parent available. Voiding the shipment restores the identities and records a separate genealogy event. Supplier Return lines do not have a disposition field: the material leaves inventory. If an issue's affected material is marked **Return to Supplier**, Alforse can create a Draft Supplier Return from the issue and preserve its source and tracked-entity links. That issue cannot close until the linked return is shipped, short-closed, or cancelled. ## Supplier credit and replacements **Issue Credit** is available after quantity ships. It creates a Draft supplier memo for shipped quantity not already reserved by a non-voided memo. Although the button uses the business phrase “Issue Credit,” Alforse stores this AP document as a **Debit** memo because it reduces what you owe the supplier. The memo amount is quantity × unit price, less the restock fee. Creating it does not post the memo or settle cash. Open it under Supplier Credits and choose **Post**. A Draft memo already reserves the creditable quantity, while the Supplier Returns list counts only Posted credit in its **Credited** total. HEADS UP A non-Voided debit memo, including a Draft one, blocks voiding the supplier-return shipment. Void the memo first if the physical shipment must be reversed. **Create Replacement** makes a separate Draft purchase order and links it back to the return. It copies all authorized lines, not only shipped or credited quantities, and converts them back to the appropriate purchase unit. Review pricing and quantities before releasing the replacement PO. ## Related **Purchase orders** See the supplier commitment and source lines behind a return. [Open](/docs/reference/purchase-orders.md) **Receipts** Understand the inbound documents that establish returnable quantity. [Open](/docs/reference/receipts.md) **Shipments** Learn when posting removes returned goods from inventory. [Open](/docs/reference/shipments.md) **Issues** Create a Supplier Return from affected material marked Return to Supplier. [Open](/docs/reference/issues.md) This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.