ReturnMethodEnumeration

ReturnMethodEnumeration is a schema.org Enumeration for how the customer returns the product. It is the value of MerchantReturnPolicy.returnMethod.

It has 4 members:

ReturnByMail: ship the item back (prepaid label or customer-arranged).
ReturnInStore: return in person at a physical location.
ReturnAtKiosk: drop off at a designated locker / kiosk (Amazon Locker, happy returns).
KeepProduct: the "just keep it" refund — customer keeps the item and still receives a refund (often applied to low-value items where return shipping exceeds the item's cost).

Full example of schema.org/ReturnMethodEnumeration json-ld markup

The markup is verified as valid with Rich Results Test from Google.

schema.org/ReturnMethodEnumeration

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MerchantReturnPolicy",
  "applicableCountry": "US",
  "returnPolicyCategory": "https://schema.org/MerchantReturnFiniteReturnWindow",
  "merchantReturnDays": 30,
  "returnMethod": [
    "https://schema.org/ReturnByMail",
    "https://schema.org/ReturnInStore"
  ],
  "itemDefectReturnFees": "https://schema.org/FreeReturn"
}
</script>

Multiple methods

An omnichannel retailer often offers several — ReturnByMail plus ReturnInStore. Model as an array on returnMethod.

Minimal valid version

The smallest markup that still produces a valid ReturnMethodEnumeration entity. Use it as the floor. Reach for the advanced example above when you want search engines and AI agents to understand more about your content.

schema.org/ReturnMethodEnumeration (minimal)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "MerchantReturnPolicy",
  "returnMethod": "https://schema.org/ReturnByMail"
}
</script>

Google rich results this unlocks

ReturnMethodEnumeration is a structural type. It does not produce a rich result on its own.

Its value comes from combining it with a primary type whose markup earns a rich result (Article, Product, Event, and so on). ReturnMethodEnumeration becomes the trunk that the primary type branches off viamainEntityorbreadcrumb. Include it on every page as the backbone of your markup.

Common ReturnMethodEnumeration mistakes

Mistakes that pass validation but silently fail to earn rich results or mislead consumers walking the graph. Avoid these and your markup will be ahead of most sites in the wild.

01
Free-text return method
Wrong
```
"returnMethod": "by post"
```
Right
```
"returnMethod": "https://schema.org/ReturnByMail"
```
Enum URLs match Google's return-policy rich-result chips; free text is parsed but not displayed.
02
ReturnInStore on a pure-online retailer
Wrong
```
ReturnInStore on a retailer with no physical presence
```
Right
```
ReturnByMail (or ReturnAtKiosk if supported)
```
Misrepresented method sends customers to locations that do not exist.

Schema properties in this example

ReturnMethodEnumeration Enumeration ReturnByMail ReturnInStore ReturnAtKiosk KeepProduct MerchantReturnPolicy returnMethod applicableCountry returnPolicyCategory merchantReturnDays itemDefectReturnFees FreeReturn

About the example data

Xoo Code Shop's return methods: by mail or in person at the Dunmore store.

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