How to submit refunds/returns using the Events API.
This guide explains how to submit return and refund data to LoudCrowd so commissions are correctly adjusted when items are returned. These requests use the same single endpoint as order events and are selected by header.
- Endpoint:
POST https://api.loudcrowd.com/event/ecomm - Topic header:
X-LC-TOPIC: ORDER_UPDATE - Authentication and base payload: see Submit Order Event
Important Notes
Refund Line Item ID Management
The refund_line_item_id is critical for proper commission tracking:
- Uniqueness: Each refund must have a unique
refund_line_item_id. - Consistency: Use the same refund ID across multiple updates to the same refund.
- Deduplication: LoudCrowd uses these IDs to prevent duplicate refund processing.
Commission Adjustment Logic
When processing returns:
- Full Refund: If the refund amount equals the line item amount, the entire line item is disqualified for commissions.
- Partial Refund: If the refund amount is less than the line item amount, commissions are adjusted proportionally.
- Multiple Refunds: Each refund must have a unique ID to track partial returns correctly.
Order Amount Updates
When submitting return events:
- Update the
amountfield to reflect the new total after refunds. - Update
platform_updated_atto the current timestamp. - Include all original
line_itemsplus the newrefund_line_items.
Common Scenarios
Full Item Return
{
"refund_line_item_id": "REFUND_001",
"line_item_id": "1",
"platform_refunded_at": "2021-01-03T10:00:00Z",
"sku": "SKU1",
"variant_sku": "VARIANT1",
"amount": "100.00",
"tax": "6.00",
"quantity": "2"
}Partial Item Return
{
"refund_line_item_id": "REFUND_002",
"line_item_id": "1",
"platform_refunded_at": "2021-01-03T10:00:00Z",
"sku": "SKU1",
"variant_sku": "VARIANT1",
"amount": "50.00",
"tax": "3.00",
"quantity": "1"
}