Difference between reversing a transaction and refunding a transaction

woocommerce refund tracking

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Adding server side events (order refunds and subscription auto-renewals) to your Google Analytics reports.

Difference between reversing a transaction and refunding a transaction

There is a difference between reversing a transaction and refunding a transaction.

Reversing a transaction is done by sending a negative value while refunding a transaction will populate the native refund metrics available in Google Analytics.

Reversing/Refunding a transaction examples

Reversing a transaction

Refunding a transaction

Reversing a transaction

Here is an example of reversing a transaction.

Screenshot shows initial order data received in GA (order #166):

reverse order GA

Screenshot shows initial product data received in GA (product “my prod 5”):

reverse order GA by product

Order #166 initial details:

items: 18x “my prod 5” (18x 5$ = 90$)

shipping : 5$

order-total: 95$

Once we apply a partial refund to that order, refunding 8x “my prod 5” (refund 40$) here is the GA data updated.

Screenshot shows order data after refund in GA (order #166):

google analytics reverse order

Screenshot shows product data after refund in GA (product “my prod 5”):

woo refund product

Order #166 details after refund:

items: 18x “my prod 5” (18x 5$ = 90$)….reduced to 10x “my prod 5” (10x 5$ = 50$)

shipping : 5$….remains the same

order-total: 95$….reduced to 55$ (refund 40$)

Please note: on Product Performance report Unique Purchases number is increased.

Reversing order action will decrease Revenue, Quantity…etc. but will be counted as a separate transaction!!!

Refunding a transaction

Here is an example of refunding a transaction.

Screenshot shows initial order data received in GA (order #163):

subscription refund

Order #163 initial details:

items: 24x “my prod 4” (24x 5$ = 120$)

shipping : 5$

order-total: 125$

Once we apply a partial refund to that order, refunding 4x “my prod 4” (refund 20$) here is the GA data updated.

Screenshot shows order data after refund in GA (order #163):

woo subscription

Screenshot shows product data after refund in GA (product “my prod 4”):

woo refund

Order #163 details after refund:

items: 24x “my prod 4” (24x 5$ = 120$)

shipping : 5$

order-total: 125$

All data remains the same, just filled “Product Refund Amount” data.

Please note: on Product Performance report Unique Purchases number remains the same.

Refunding order action will not decrease Revenue, Quantity…etc. and won’t be counted as a separate transaction.

Download plugin

Adding server side events (order refunds and subscription auto-renewals) to your Google Analytics reports.

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