Demystifying Shopify's Return Approved Emails: How to Dynamically Display Order Numbers

Hey store owners!

One of the most common headaches when running an online store is making sure all your customer communications are clear, consistent, and professional. And let's be honest, Shopify's email notification templates, while powerful, can sometimes feel like a puzzle. Especially when you're trying to get specific bits of information, like an order number, to appear exactly where you want it.

Recently, I saw a great discussion pop up in the Shopify Community forums that really hit home for a lot of you. Our friend, offroadjim, was pulling his hair out trying to get the order number to show up in a particular spot within the "Return Approved" email notification. He already had it at the top right, but wanted it clearly visible within the return information section, currently marked by a generic "Return #####" placeholder.

Understanding Shopify's Email Template Quirks

As gracetech1 wisely pointed out in the thread, "Shopify’s notification templates can be a little confusing at first since they use separate Liquid variables from the actual theme files." This is a crucial distinction! If you're used to tweaking your theme's .liquid files, you might expect the same variables to work everywhere. But for email notifications, there are often specific variables designed for that context.

It's an easy thing to miss, and it's why offroadjim spent hours on this seemingly small task. We've all been there!

The Mission: Placing the Order Number Precisely

Let's look at the specific snippet offroadjim was working with. He wanted to replace this line:

Return #####

...with the actual order number. The good news is, the community quickly jumped in with a clear, concise solution!

The Community's Solution: Harnessing {{ order.name }}

Both PaulMartin_1 and gracetech1 independently arrived at the same, correct answer: the Liquid variable you need is {{ order.name }}. This variable dynamically pulls the order number associated with the return and injects it right into your email.

Here's how to implement this fix in your Shopify store:

1. Navigate to Notifications: From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Notifications.

2. Find the "Return Approved" Template: Scroll down or search for the "Return Approved" email notification template and click on it to edit.

3. Locate the Placeholder: In the HTML body of the email, you'll need to find the specific line that contains Return #####
. You might want to use your browser's search function (Ctrl+F or Cmd+F) to quickly locate it within the code.

   Based on offroadjim's template, it was nested within a

   tag:

               {% else %}
   Below is the return information for you. 
   Please include a copy of this e-mail in with the return and use a trackable 
   shipping method (e.g., UPS Ground).
   
   
   
   Return #####
   
   
   
   Our return policy can be found in the following section of our website.
   
   
   
   pages/atlantic-jet-sports-return-and-exchange-policy
   
   
   
   Please pack the return well so that nothing is damaged in shipping.
   
   
   
   ****** IMPORTANT: Please do not place address labels on the item box or package. 
   If the box that the item came in is defaced, it can not be returned.
               {% endif %}
   

4. Replace the Placeholder: Change Return #####
to Return {{ order.name }}
.

   So, the relevant section would now look like this:

   
   Return {{ order.name }}
   
   
   

5. Preview and Save: Always, always, always use the "Send test email" or "Preview" function within the Shopify editor to ensure your changes look correct before saving!

A Critical Nuance: When {{ order.name }} Isn't Enough

Here's where gracetech1 dropped a gem of an insight. While {{ order.name }} is the primary solution, they noted:

"One thing to watch though is that some return notification templates use return.name instead of order.name depending on how the return was created, so it may be worth testing both variables in preview mode."

This is a super important point! Depending on how your returns are initiated or processed (e.g., through a specific app, or if it's a standalone return not directly linked to an existing order in the same way), the context for the Liquid variable might shift. So, if {{ order.name }} doesn't display correctly in your test email, try replacing it with {{ return.name }}.

PaulMartin_1 also mentioned {{ po_number }} as another possibility, though less common for standard order numbers. It's good to keep in mind, especially if you deal with purchase orders.

Why These Small Tweaks Matter

Getting these details right in your customer communications isn't just about aesthetics; it's about clarity and trust. A clear, consistently displayed order number in a return approval email:

• Reduces customer confusion: They instantly know which order the return pertains to.
• Minimizes support tickets: Fewer customers reaching out to ask, "Which order is this for?"
• Boosts professionalism: Shows attention to detail and a smooth process.

It's these little customizations, often unearthed through community discussions like offroadjim's query, that empower us as store owners to create a truly polished and efficient customer experience. Don't be afraid to dive into those Liquid templates – with a little guidance, you can make them work exactly how you need them to!