If you refund outside return before return opened can they open a return?

[dqdistribution]

Curious if this can decrease return metrics?

[janet9988]

You can cancel as out of stock. But it would earn you a defect.

[kensgiftshop]

If you refund the buyer before a return is started, not sure they could start a return then?

If they could, don't think it would make any difference on your metrics, it would still be a return, no matter when you refunded.