The difference between “cancel order” and “set as pending return”
Both “cancel order” and “set as pending return” are ways to process a cancellation request but with different logic and background.
Orders can be “cancelled” and subscription status can be “set as pending return”.
When should you use “cancel order”?
Cancel order should be used when there is no active subscription attached to the order and the product has not been delivered yet. Cancelling an order in the circuly operations backend also cancels the order in the shop system. This is relevant if you work with fulfilment partners who do not have access to the circuly backend as a user but process the orders (that is send it out for delivery to the end customer) based on the order status in the shop system.
Another reason for orders are cancelled and not set as pending return because cancelling an order has monetary implications: when you cancel an order, you can process a refund at the same time. Whereas when you set the subscription status as pending return, only future recurring payments are stopped.
When should you use “set a spending return”?
Marking the subscription status as pending return should be done when there is an active subscription for an order or when the product has already been delivered to the customer. Marking the subscription status as pending return means that you should expect the product to come back which is not the case when an order is cancelled because no product has been delivered anyway. But a subscription is created either when the product is being delivered or has been already delivered.
Another reason why subscription status are set as pending return and not cancelled because setting the subscription status as pending return triggers the return process.