Compare the operating models
A fictional customer returns a blue shirt and swaps for a red one of the supplied same price. Another returns a shirt but buys an unrelated kettle. Cash moving at the same visit does not make both journeys an exchange.
| Business requirement | Exchange-linked replacement | Return plus independent sale |
|---|---|---|
| Blue → red shirt | Replacement intent links both lines | Possible but loses exchange context |
| Shirt return + kettle | Implies unrelated item is replacement | Two distinct commercial actions |
| Returned stock | Still needs disposition | Still needs disposition |
Work through the chosen model
Retain original sale line, returned quantity, return disposition and supplied financial handling. An exchange also links the replacement line. A new kettle sale has its own sale identity; physical return eligibility is separate from how the next purchase is classified.
- Identify original item and intent
- Record return and replacement or new sale
- Handle physical goods and supplied payment separately
Exchange links help staff explain replacements but require explicit intent. Financial netting alone can conceal distinct sales.
The shirt swap links blue-return to red-replacement. The kettle has a separate sale linked to the visit only. A same-price swap implies no extra price difference here, not automatic restocking.
When the other model fits
Customer returns a shirt and leaves without another item. Call it an exchange?
Show the worked answer
No. It is a return under the supplied return/refund policy.