Best return management for startups

There are roughly 40-60 dedicated return management platforms targeting ecommerce, ranging from enterprise solutions (ReturnLogic, Optoro) to lightweight SaaS tools aimed at mid-market sellers. The common failure point is that most startups use patchwork solutions—Shopify's basic returns flow plus a spreadsheet, or worse, manual email chains with customers. The real pain is threefold: visibility (you don't know where a return is in the pipeline), customer experience (confusing processes kill repeat purchases), and profitability (no automated logic to restock, refurbish, or liquidate returns intelligently). The gap isn't in features—it's in simplicity and affordability. Most solutions require integration expertise or significant monthly spend that early-stage founders can't justify. A vibecoder focusing on plug-and-play return workflows, built natively for Shopify/WooCommerce with transparent refund rules and basic inventory sync, would capture the sub-$5M revenue startup segment that's currently underserved. That segment has roughly 500K+ active ecommerce stores globally. The opportunity sits at the intersection of ease-of-use and return profitability—helping founders automate their return decisions without needing a dedicated ops person.