Warehouse Returns Associate

Job Summary:

The Returns Associate is responsible for coordinating the receipt, inspection, evaluation, and processing of returned automotive parts and accessories. This role ensures returns are handled accurately, efficiently, and in compliance with return authorization (RMA) requirements, quality standards, company procedures, and safety expectations. The position primarily handles returns processing and may support general warehouse duties such as receiving, picking, packing, shipping, inventory movement, replenishment, cycle counts, staging, loading, unloading, and other distribution center support duties based on staff needs and warehouse priorities.

• Oversee the receipt, inspection, and processing of returned automotive parts and accessories, ensuring compliance with return authorization requirements, including RMA documentation.
• Inspect returned products for accuracy, condition, warranty eligibility, damage, shortages, missing components, and resale or restocking potential.
• Establish, communicate, and enforce return procedures to improve efficiency, accuracy, and compliance within the returns process.
• Collaborate with Customer Service, Warranty, Warehouse Operations, vendors, and other departments to resolve escalated return issues, discrepancies, customer concerns, and warranty claims.
• Manage restocking processes, warranty evaluations, vendor returns, product disposition, and disposal decisions in accordance with company guidelines.
• Ensure returned inventory is properly labeled, documented, staged, restocked, returned to vendor, or disposed of based on established procedures.
• Support general warehouse operations as needed including picking, packing, shipping, receiving, put away, replenishment, inventory counts, staging, loading, unloading, and other warehouse support tasks.
• Pick, pack, and ship customer orders accurately and efficiently according to company standards when assigned to support warehouse operations.
• Receive inbound inventory and verify shipments against packing slips, purchase orders, return documentation, and system records.
• Put away inventory in designated warehouse locations using proper inventory control procedures.
• Replenish picking locations and assist with stock rotation as needed.
• Perform cycle counts and assist with maintaining inventory accuracy.
• Load, unload, stage, move, and transfer products safely and accurately to support daily warehouse and distribution needs.
• Operate warehouse equipment such as pallet jacks, forklifts, order pickers, or RF scanners, as certified and required.
• Train, coach, and mentor returns associates or warehouse team members involved in the returns process to support performance, accuracy, productivity, and compliance goals.
• Monitor and analyze return trends, prepare reports, and recommend process improvements to reduce return rates, errors, costs, and delays.
• Maintain accurate records for return processing, warranty claims, inventory adjustments, vendor returns, audits, and compliance requirements.
• Meet productivity, quality, attendance, accuracy, and safety expectations.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe returns and warehouse work area while ensuring adherence to company policies, quality standards, OSHA safety regulations, PPE requirements, and warehouse operating procedures.
• Collaborate with supervisors and team members to support daily operational goals.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Previous warehouse, returns, inventory control, customer service, automotive parts, or distribution center experience preferred.
• Experience with RMA processing, warranty returns, vendor returns, inventory systems, or ERP/WMS systems preferred.
• Automotive parts, wheels, tires, suspension, lighting, or accessories experience is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, follow-up, and accuracy in documentation and system updates.
• Ability to inspect products and determine appropriate disposition based on condition, warranty guidelines, and company procedures.
• Strong communication and problem‑solving skills with the ability to work cross‑functionally with Customer Service, Warehouse…