Returns by Order Date: Your True Holiday Profit, Finally Clear

Every Q4, eCommerce sellers ask the same question:

“How much money did I actually make during the holidays?”

And every Q4, the answer is… complicated.

Amazon’s extended return window means customers can return November and December purchases all the way through the end of January. For sellers, that creates a messy financial reality:

• Sales spike in Q4
• Returns hit weeks (or months) later
• Profit reports get distorted
• True performance is impossible to analyze accurately

Until now.

ConnectBooks is excited to announce an industry-first feature designed specifically to solve this problem for eCommerce sellers:

The Most Accurate Way to Measure True Holiday Profit

Instead of showing returns based on the date the return was processed, ConnectBooks now allows you to view returns based on the original order date.

Why does this matter?

Because it changes everything about how you understand your Q4 performance.

The Problem: The “Holiday Profit Illusion”

When returns are logged by return date, here’s what typically happens:

• November and December look wildly profitable
• January looks terrible
• Your true return rate is buried
• You can’t trust Q4 profit reports
• You can’t make confident decisions about ads, replenishment, or future planning

For growing brands, this isn’t just annoying. It creates real financial risk.

You might think a product is a holiday winner when it’s actually a high-return money-loser. Or you might reinvest too aggressively, only to get hit with a wave of returns later.

The Solution: Returns by Order Date

Our new reporting option lets you categorize returns based on when the order was originally placed, not the date Amazon processed it.

This gives you:

✔ Accurate Q4 profitability

No more inflated December profit or ugly January cliffs.

✔ True return rate calculations

Understand which SKUs perform reliably and which ones refund their success away.

✔ Clear performance insights during peak season

Compare November and December with real numbers, not return-lag distortions.

✔ Better forecasting and smarter decisions

Plan inventory, replenishment, and ads based on reality, not delayed returns.

This has been one of the most requested ConnectBooks features and it’s now here!

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Why This Is a Game Changer for Amazon Sellers

Returns by Order Date is more than a new filter. It’s a fundamental shift in how you can analyze and understand your business.

With this update, you can now:

• See true profit for November and December
• Accurately measure return behavior for holiday shoppers
• Find high-return SKUs before restocking mistakes
• Understand customer behavior patterns
• Identify which products attract serial returners
• Calculate refund costs properly
• Run cleaner P&L analyses for seasonal sales

If Q4 is the heart of your business, this feature gives you the clarity you’ve always needed but never had.

How Returns by Order Date Works (Simple Overview)

You now have two ways to view returns in ConnectBooks:

1. Standard View: Returns by Return Date

This shows returns on the date they were processed (the Amazon default).

2. NEW View: Returns by Order Date

This attaches the return back to the order’s original sale date.

With one click, you can switch between the two giving you unmatched flexibility and clarity.

Real-World Example

Let’s say you sold 1,000 units in December. And, 150 of those units were returned in January.

Old way (Return Date):
December looks great.
January looks awful.
Return rate: unclear.

New way (Order Date):
December shows 1,000 orders and 150 returns.
Return rate: 15% (accurate).
Profit: clear and honest.

This is how clear your financial reporting should be.

Designed for eCommerce Sellers Who Need Real Numbers

Whether you're a brand owner, an agency, a bookkeeper, or a CFO, this feature helps you finally get the visibility Amazon never gives you.

It’s especially powerful for:

• Amazon FBA brands
• High-volume Q4 sellers
• Bookkeepers closing year-end financials
• Agencies analyzing client performance
• Finance teams preparing forecasts or budgets

If your profit depends on understanding returns, this feature is going to change how you operate.

Available Now in ConnectBooks

You don’t need to install anything or adjust settings.

Just log into your ConnectBooks dashboard and look for the new Returns by Order Date option in your reporting tools.

It’s live. It’s powerful. And it’s built to give you the financial clarity Amazon doesn’t.

The Bottom Line

For the first time ever, eCommerce sellers can get true holiday profit calculations without waiting months or guessing.

Returns by Order Date puts accurate, real-time visibility at your fingertips, helping you:

• Make smarter decisions
• Understand the real performance of your products
• Avoid misleading profit spikes
• Protect your cash flow
• Plan confidently for the new year

At ConnectBooks, our mission is simple: Give you the complete financial truth behind every SKU. This feature is one more step toward that mission.