Set Up a Custom Domain for Branded Returns Page
Plans: Premium, Enterprise Platforms: All platforms
As part of the legacy version of AfterShip Returns, the default returns page URLs were formatted as {org.short_name}.returnscenter.com.
However, with the latest update, effective 6th January 2025, the default returns page URLs will be changed to {org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns.
AfterShip Returns merchants on Premium and above plans can create a new CNAME entry to update their AfterShip Returns’ return page URL to a customized URL.
If you want to create a new custom domain for your AfterShip Returns’ return page and format it the way you want, you will need access to your DNS provider to create a new CNAME record. You can create any CNAME to suit your brand goals.
This tutorial will show you how to create a custom domain for your returns portal.
In this article, we will show you:
How does a custom domain work
Acquire a domain from a domain registrar
Creating a new CNAME record
Set up a custom domain in AfterShip Returns
FAQs
Default domain URL: https://{org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns
Custom domain URL: https://returns.yourdomain.com
There is no impact on existing merchants. You can continue using https://{org.short_name}.returnscenter.com or your custom domain, you will automatically receive a new domain https://{org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns.
If a new organization is established in your account, we automatically create a default domain for it based on the new format as https://{org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns.
Enabling SSL is mandatory due to a new Cloudflare policy. If you're already using a custom domain, make sure SSL is enabled to ensure an uninterrupted experience.
There are several popular domain registrars that can help store owners register a domain name, such as GoDaddy, Domain.com, and Bluehost.
If you don't have a domain yet, you'll need to register one first.
To link your custom domain to AfterShip, you need to set up a CNAME record:
Log in to your domain's DNS provider.
Create a new CNAME record.
Set the subdomain name (e.g., returns).
Set the target hostname as domains.aftership.com.
Save the changes.
Refer to your DNS provider’s documentation for specific instructions on how to create a CNAME record. For example, you can follow the process on Cloudflare.
CNAME record changes may take up to 72 hours to propagate, but they often take effect much sooner.
Once your CNAME record is created, you can configure the custom domain within AfterShip.
Go to AfterShip Organization Settings > Domains
Click Add custom domain.
Enter your custom domain (e.g., returns.yourdomain.com ) and select the product you'd like to associate with the domain.
For example, a customer might choose to use returns.brandname.com exclusively for Returns, and tracking.brandname1.com exclusively for Tracking.
Click Add. Once added, your custom branded returns page URL will be ready for use.
No, the Premium plan allows only 1 custom domain. However, users can use the same custom domain for all the products. The only different is that their path would be changed based on the product they are making it available for.
Example: If a customer wants to use their custom domain `antiquevase.returns.com`for both Returns and Warranty. This is how the custom domains can be used. They just need to Make domain available for both `Returns`and Warranty.
Return URL: antiquevase.returns.com/returns
Warranty URL: antiquevase.returns.com/warranty/{page_name}
To add multiple custom domains, exclusively for each product, users must upgrade to the Enterprise plan. Enterprise plan users can add upto 5 custom domains.
Overview
As part of the legacy version of AfterShip Returns, the default returns page URLs were formatted as {org.short_name}.returnscenter.com.
However, with the latest update, effective 6th January 2025, the default returns page URLs will be changed to {org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns.
AfterShip Returns merchants on Premium and above plans can create a new CNAME entry to update their AfterShip Returns’ return page URL to a customized URL.
If you want to create a new custom domain for your AfterShip Returns’ return page and format it the way you want, you will need access to your DNS provider to create a new CNAME record. You can create any CNAME to suit your brand goals.
This tutorial will show you how to create a custom domain for your returns portal.
What you’ll learn
In this article, we will show you:
How does a custom domain work
Acquire a domain from a domain registrar
Creating a new CNAME record
Set up a custom domain in AfterShip Returns
FAQs
How does a custom domain work?
Default domain URL: https://{org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns
Custom domain URL: https://returns.yourdomain.com
There is no impact on existing merchants. You can continue using https://{org.short_name}.returnscenter.com or your custom domain, you will automatically receive a new domain https://{org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns.
If a new organization is established in your account, we automatically create a default domain for it based on the new format as https://{org.short_name}.aftership.com/returns.
Enabling SSL is mandatory due to a new Cloudflare policy. If you're already using a custom domain, make sure SSL is enabled to ensure an uninterrupted experience.
Acquire a domain from a domain registrar
There are several popular domain registrars that can help store owners register a domain name, such as GoDaddy, Domain.com, and Bluehost.
If you don't have a domain yet, you'll need to register one first.
Create a CNAME record in your domain’s DNS provider
To link your custom domain to AfterShip, you need to set up a CNAME record:
Log in to your domain's DNS provider.
Create a new CNAME record.
Set the subdomain name (e.g., returns).
Set the target hostname as domains.aftership.com.
Save the changes.
Refer to your DNS provider’s documentation for specific instructions on how to create a CNAME record. For example, you can follow the process on Cloudflare.
CNAME record changes may take up to 72 hours to propagate, but they often take effect much sooner.
Set up the custom domain in AfterShip Organization settings
Once your CNAME record is created, you can configure the custom domain within AfterShip.
Go to AfterShip Organization Settings > Domains
Click Add custom domain.
Enter your custom domain (e.g., returns.yourdomain.com ) and select the product you'd like to associate with the domain.
For example, a customer might choose to use returns.brandname.com exclusively for Returns, and tracking.brandname1.com exclusively for Tracking.
Click Add. Once added, your custom branded returns page URL will be ready for use.
FAQs
1. Can a Premium plan user add a custom domain for every product (Tracking, Returns, Protection, and Warranty)?
No, the Premium plan allows only 1 custom domain. However, users can use the same custom domain for all the products. The only different is that their path would be changed based on the product they are making it available for.
Example: If a customer wants to use their custom domain `antiquevase.returns.com`for both Returns and Warranty. This is how the custom domains can be used. They just need to Make domain available for both `Returns`and Warranty.
Return URL: antiquevase.returns.com/returns
Warranty URL: antiquevase.returns.com/warranty/{page_name}
2. What happens if a user wants to add more than one custom domain?
To add multiple custom domains, exclusively for each product, users must upgrade to the Enterprise plan. Enterprise plan users can add upto 5 custom domains.
Updated on: 16/01/2025
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