How can I prove I returned an item?

Keep the tracking number and a screenshot of the tracking page, the receipt or drop-off confirmation, and photos of the item, the packed contents, and the sealed parcel with the label. Message the seller with the tracking number so the date is on record.

Is a proof-of-postage receipt enough?

Not always. A receipt that only shows you paid for postage does not show what was in the parcel or that it reached anyone. Ask for tracking, and check what the seller or marketplace requires for a refund.

The seller says my return was empty or a different item. What now?

Send them your photos of the item and the packed contents, the sealed parcel and the label, plus the tracking. If they still refuse a refund, ask your card issuer, the marketplace or a consumer advice service which evidence they accept.

Should I film myself packing a return?

For a valuable, fragile or heavy item, yes: one take showing the item, the box being sealed and the label is quick, and the date is easy to show if it is stamped on the video.

Does a timestamp on the photos guarantee a refund?

No. It makes the date easy to see, but the seller, marketplace or card issuer decide under their own rules. Photos of the packing and the label, with the tracking and receipt, make your account easier to follow.

How to prove you sent an item back: the photos to take before you post a return

Updated 28 October 2026 · 4 min read

Before you post a return, photograph the item (and anything wrong with it), the contents going into the box, the sealed parcel with the return label visible, and the receipt or drop-off confirmation, then keep the tracking number and a screenshot of the tracking page. Keep it all until the refund has landed.

A return can go wrong after it leaves your hands: it is lost, delivered to the wrong place, or the seller says the box was empty or the item was a different one. Photos do not replace tracking, but they show what you sent and when you sent it. This is general advice, not legal advice; the seller's returns policy, the marketplace's rules and local consumer law decide your rights, so read the return instructions first and follow them where they differ from this guide.

What should I photograph before I pack the item?

1. The item as you are sending it, all sides, with the tags, accessories, manuals and any serial number in view.

2. The fault or damage, if that is why you are returning it, close up and then one step back. A short video helps if the fault only shows when the item is on.

3. The order confirmation or return authorisation on a screen or on paper, next to the item, so the order and the item can be matched.

What should I photograph when I pack and seal the parcel?

The contents laid out before they go in the box, then the box with the packing material in place.
The sealed box from the top and the sides, then the return label stuck on, with the address and the barcode readable.
If the seller gave you a return label or code, photograph or screenshot it, and note which carrier it belongs to.
If you are returning something heavy, valuable or fragile, a video of the packing, in one take, is quick and hard to argue with.

What should I keep from the drop-off?

Ask for a receipt or certificate that shows the date, the carrier and a tracking number, and photograph it before you leave. A receipt that only shows you paid for postage does not show that this parcel was sent, so ask for the tracking number and the address on it.
Photograph the parcel being handed over, or the drop-off point or locker, if it is allowed.
Screenshot the tracking page after you post it and again when it shows delivery, because tracking pages are not kept online for ever.
If the carrier offers extra insurance or signed-for delivery, decide before you post, and check what the seller or marketplace requires for a refund.

Stampzy's camera on an iPhone (English interface) with the date, time and place stamp shown live in the viewfinder — The stamp is shown in the viewfinder, exactly as it will be printed.

What should I do after I post it?

Tell the seller through the same channel you used to buy, with the tracking number, so there is a written record of the date you sent it.
Open or update the return request on the marketplace or shop page if there is one, and upload the tracking.
Keep your photos, the receipt and the messages until the refund has arrived, and for a while after.
If the seller says the parcel never arrived, send them the tracking, the packing photos and the receipt, and ask the carrier to trace it. If the refund is still refused, your card issuer, the marketplace's dispute process or a consumer advice service may be able to help; their rules differ, so ask which evidence they accept.

How do I keep the date with the photos?

The iPhone Camera saves the date and time inside each photo, and the coordinates if Location Services is on for the Camera. That data is often removed when photos are uploaded through a web form, a chat app or an email service, so the person reading your claim may only see the picture.

Check that your phone's date and time are set automatically. Keep the original photos on your phone as well as any copies you upload. A date printed on the image itself stays visible wherever the file goes, which is useful when the seller asks when you packed the parcel.

Frequently asked questions

How can I prove I returned an item?: Keep the tracking number and a screenshot of the tracking page, the receipt or drop-off confirmation, and photos of the item, the packed contents, and the sealed parcel with the label. Message the seller with the tracking number so the date is on record.
Is a proof-of-postage receipt enough?: Not always. A receipt that only shows you paid for postage does not show what was in the parcel or that it reached anyone. Ask for tracking, and check what the seller or marketplace requires for a refund.
The seller says my return was empty or a different item. What now?: Send them your photos of the item and the packed contents, the sealed parcel and the label, plus the tracking. If they still refuse a refund, ask your card issuer, the marketplace or a consumer advice service which evidence they accept.
Should I film myself packing a return?: For a valuable, fragile or heavy item, yes: one take showing the item, the box being sealed and the label is quick, and the date is easy to show if it is stamped on the video.
Does a timestamp on the photos guarantee a refund?: No. It makes the date easy to see, but the seller, marketplace or card issuer decide under their own rules. Photos of the packing and the label, with the tracking and receipt, make your account easier to follow.

Where Stampzy helps

Stampzy is a camera that stamps the date and time onto the photo as you take it, with text lines you type, such as the order number and "return packed". When the phone has location access it can print the coordinates (in Vietnam, the commune/ward and province) and, online, a place name. The stamp shows live in the viewfinder, stays on the photo when you upload it, and photos are made and stored on your iPhone, with no account; the camera works offline. In Video mode the stamp is drawn into every frame, which suits a packing video; stamped video is part of Stampzy Pro.

When the phone has recently checked the time against the network, the stamp says "Verified time"; otherwise it says plainly that it shows the device's time. Neither is proof of anything: a stamp is your own record, and a consistency code is not a legal record. A free photo carries a small Stampzy mark, which is a QR code when the stamp prints an address or coordinates.

Coming soon to the App Store See Stampzy's camera