Return reasons
Turn free-text customer explanations into the approved categories used by your returns team.
STAYCHARTED AMT / RETURNS · REPAIR · RECOVERY
AI classification for returns and reverse logistics
Categorize return reasons, inspection findings, and visible product conditions with StayCharted AI Model Trainer. Support review across your reverse supply chain.
FROM YOUR EXAMPLES
It works, but it does not fit our existing equipment.Compatibility issueIllustrative category · Not a live prediction
Where this fits in your work
Condition and inspection findings
Evaluate photos for visible condition and text for reported or tested faults as separate tasks.
Disposition review queues
Suggest which review queue should examine a completed inspection record before an authorized person decides.
PREPARE YOUR EXAMPLES
Start with a file your team has already labeled.
Use historical return notes paired with the reason your team approved. Keep customer-reported reasons separate from inspection findings: “broken” may describe damaged packaging, a missing accessory, or a functional fault. Train a model for one defined decision at a time. Include only information available when that decision will be made.
Use one row per example with an approved answer. Keep the input representative of what the model will receive later, and agree on how to label ambiguous cases before training.
| Input | Task | Example category |
|---|---|---|
| It works, but does not fit our equipment. | Return reason | Compatibility issue |
| Unit received without power adapter. | Inspection finding | Accessory missing |
| Powers on; charging port fails intermittently. | Inspection finding | Charging fault |
| Photo showing a torn outer carton. | Visible condition | Packaging damage |
Illustrative rows and categories. Use your own approved labels.
From examples to reviewed results
Prepare
Resolve inconsistent labels and remove unnecessary sensitive information.
Train
Choose a model on your plan and train on representative examples.
Validate
Inspect held-out accuracy by category and the mistakes that remain.
Use and improve
Publish, fill a file or call the API, then review and feed corrections into the next version.
KEEP REVIEW IN THE WORKFLOW
Know where the model stops.
Keep human review for safety-related findings, uncertain conditions, resale eligibility, and disposal decisions. Confidence is not proof that an item is safe, complete, or functional. A model can miss rare defects; test difficult examples and review errors by category before relying on it.
Evidence and implementation
Standardize the reason a product came back
Suggest your own categories for compatibility issues, unwanted items, missing components, reported defects, or transit damage. Shared category definitions help teams compare similar cases, while reviewed examples capture how your organization draws the boundaries. A return-reason label can support reporting; it does not prove who caused the problem or whether a refund is owed.
Separate visible condition from functional testing
Train an image model on representative intake photos labeled with visible conditions, such as packaging damage or surface wear. Keep this separate from text models trained on technician findings. A picture may show a torn carton but cannot establish whether the device inside works. Physical testing and qualified inspection remain part of the process.
Help teams organize disposition review
From completed inspection text, suggest a queue such as restock review, repair review, or recycling review. The input must include the evidence your reviewers use. Warranty terms, product restrictions, test results, and authorized staff determine the final decision. StayCharted does not automatically approve resale, refunds, recycling, or disposal.
Example: a small-appliance returns center
Start with a text model that categorizes return notes. Separately test an image model for visible intake condition. After a technician completes testing, another defined classification task can organize the inspection finding. Do not treat these separate outputs as an automatic end-to-end disposition decision. Compare each model’s errors with the cost and risk of the review task it supports.
Use results in your returns workflow
Process an exported spreadsheet or connect your returns platform through the API on a supported plan. Your integration passes the relevant input, receives a category and confidence, and applies your review rules. Check uncertain cases and samples of confident results. Corrections can become examples for a later training run; they do not silently change the published model.
File fills return category suggestions for your existing import process. API calls return results to your own software; your integration decides how to apply them. Plan allowances and workspace rate limits still apply.
Common questions
How does StayCharted support a reverse supply chain?
It can categorize return notes, inspection findings, and labeled condition photos. These suggestions help organize review across returns, repair, and recovery workflows; existing systems and authorized staff control the actions.
Can it decide whether a returned item should be restocked?
It can suggest a restock-review category from suitable inspection inputs. It does not independently establish resale eligibility. Product testing, business rules, and authorized reviewers determine final disposition.
Can photos detect all returned-product defects?
No. Image classification depends on visible evidence and representative labeled photos. It may miss rare or hidden defects and cannot replace functional or safety testing.
Do we need one model for the whole returns process?
Start with separate, clearly defined tasks. Return reason, visible condition, and inspection finding answer different questions and may use different text or image inputs.
Does it automatically issue refunds or update inventory?
No. StayCharted returns classification results. Your integration and existing controls decide whether to update records, assign work, or take other actions.
Explore the details
Try it on your own examples.
Free includes text Classifier Models and one AI Classifier Model. Essentials adds API access; Business adds Dedicated AI Models. Vision is an optional add-on on paid plans.