What should I check when a return label has not arrived?

Start with the seller’s return policy and the confirmation you received after requesting the return. Look for any stated deadline, instructions about how the label will be provided, and a timeframe for the next update. The FTC advises checking the seller’s return policy, deadlines, and customer-service details, and gathering relevant purchase documents before contacting the business [S1].

Then compare those instructions with your order records: the return request confirmation, order page, and any messages about the return. Check only the communication channels the seller identified or that you normally use for that order. Don’t assume the label must arrive by a particular method or date if the seller hasn’t said so.

The confirmation shows that the request was received, but by itself it does not establish when a label will be sent. The supplied FTC guidance does not set a label-delivery timeframe for an individual seller; the seller’s own instructions and order records are the relevant references [S1].

If you cannot find a stated timeframe, ask the seller rather than guessing how long to wait. Include when you submitted the request and ask whether the return is approved, how the label or other return instructions will be provided, and whether anything is needed from you. If a return deadline appears in the policy or confirmation, mention it so the seller can address the timing.

Give enough information for the seller to locate the order and answer the label question. Use the order reference or return-request reference if you have one, the date you requested the return, and a short description of the item. State what you checked and what is missing. Avoid adding unrelated complaints or guessing at the reason for the delay.

For example, assuming you requested a return on [date] and have an order reference, you could write:

“Hello, I requested a return for [item] on [date]. My order reference is [order number], and my return request reference is [reference, if available]. I received confirmation that the request was received, but I have not received a return label or further instructions. Could you please confirm the return status, explain how the label or return instructions will be provided, and let me know whether you need anything else from me? Thank you.”

Use placeholders until you fill in your own order details. Send the message through the seller’s stated customer-service channel, and keep a copy.

Reply in the same conversation if possible, so the earlier request and any reference number stay together. Briefly state when you first contacted the seller and summarize what remains unanswered—for example, whether the return is approved, how the label will be sent, or what action you should take next. Ask for a specific clarification rather than repeating the entire history.

Keep the purchase and return records, your messages, and any stated deadlines together. The FTC guidance supports gathering relevant purchase documents, but it does not establish that a particular seller has missed a required label-delivery deadline or guarantee a resolution [S1]. If the seller gives you a new timeframe, record it and follow up if that timeframe passes.