Which items come back too often?
Last updated: 31 October 2026 · The MargenOptimierer app is in German. Button and menu names are shown exactly as you see them, with the English meaning in brackets.
An item comes back too often when its return rate is above its target return rate. A return counts as soon as the goods have arrived with you and you've accepted the return at OTTO, and every unit sent back is one return. The Optimierung (optimization) page shows you all items above their target in the Retouren (returns) tab.
How it works
- Open the Optimierung page.
- Click the Retouren tab.
- Choose the period at the top right.
- Click the Artikel über Ziel (items above target) tile at the top. The table then shows every item above its target.
- Click an item in the table. Under Warenzustand der Retouren (item condition of returns) you can see what condition its goods came back in.
Example: 12% return rate on the acacia chair
The acacia chair has a target return rate of 8%, inherited from the account. In the period you sell 50, and 6 of them come back. That's a 12% return rate, 4 returns within your 8% and 2 above it. The chair is therefore listed under Artikel über Ziel, and its return rate is shown in red.
Bei 8 % Ziel-Retourenquote dürfen von 50 verkauften Stühlen 4 zurückkommen, 6 sind 2 zu viel.
What else counts with returns
Why the goods came back
OTTO doesn't pass the reason your customer gives on to MargenOptimierer. You only see the item condition. You enter it yourself at OTTO when you accept or reject the return.
An item with no sale in the period
If you didn't sell an item in the period but accepted a return of it, there's no return rate. MargenOptimierer still counts it among the items above target, and instead of the rate it shows, for example, „1 Retoure, kein Verkauf im Zeitraum“ (1 return, no sale in the period).
Next
- Why is an item a cost driver?
- How do I set my targets?