How to Create Shipping Policy on Shopify? Tips and Templates 2022

When customers know what to expect, there is greater satisfaction, and adding a shipping policy to your Shopify store can help manage those expectations.

When done correctly, your shipping policy can be a highly persuasive sales tool - both by reaffirming your commitment to customer service and by letting customers know what happens to their purchases after they click the buy button.

Shipping policies that are clear and concise benefit both parties. The policy will make customers feel confident that their purchase is protected, and if a shipping complaint is received, it will serve as insurance for your business.

Setting up your shipping policy on Shopify is a breeze, and we'll show you exactly how to do it in this article.

What Is a Shipping Policy

In shipping policies, you outline the rules, commitments, and procedures for shipping items. Return policies, exchange policies, and responsible parties for pricing are all part of standard policies.

The shipment policy does not have to be included on your eCommerce site, but it is highly recommended to assuage any potential customer concerns and ensure smooth eCommerce shipping.

Why This Is Important

The majority of online shoppers ask shipping questions when they place an order. What options do they have besides the standard shipping that the eCommerce store offers when their order is delivered? They want to know how much shipping will cost when their order is delivered.

It will be easier for you to answer these questions if you have a clearly defined shipping policy, and it will also make your customers' experience more pleasant. It is also a good idea to mention any shipping restrictions in your shipping policy so that your customers will not be disappointed.

What Should a Shipping Policy Include

The shipping policy you create and how you communicate it will depend greatly on your business operations and supply chain. Being transparent is the goal.

In light of unforeseen delays in shipment and increases in carrier costs, keeping your shipping policies up-to-date is more important than ever:

1. Easy Access to Shipping Details

If you keep a link to your shipping policy in the footer of your website, you may also want to think about how you can surface important shipping details in the right place at the right time.

2. A Concise & Clear Presentation

Make it easy for customers to find the information they need on your shipping policy page. Provide clear subheadings, tables, bolded text, and links to learn more whenever possible to make it easy to navigate.

3. Time Taken to Process Orders

Your customers are very concerned about shipping time. For this reason, it is helpful to include the time it takes for you to process an order as well as the time it takes to package it up and deliver it to your carrier.

Processing times are important because they directly affect delivery times. Make sure they are aware of anything that might delay processing, such as:

• Weekends and holidays are closed for business
• Orders must be processed by a certain time each day (after 6 p.m., for instance)

4. Options for Domestic & International Shipping

Do you offer domestic shipping options for certain regions? It is possible to break down international shipping into sections where you list the countries you ship to and the estimated delivery times. The information in a table can be easily scanned if you offer several shipping options.

For international shipping, you will have to cover the costs, estimated shipping times, and more for all relevant countries and regions.

Answer the following questions:

• What countries do you ship to?
• Are there any additional shipping charges?
• What is the shipping time to a customer's country or region?

5. Cost of Shipping

Provide the customer with a breakdown of shipping costs. You can publicize your free shipping threshold as a customer incentive in various places. The customer should also be informed of any potential surprise fees, such as duties and taxes that may apply.

Here are some examples:

• Regular shipping (7 business days): Free
• Expedited shipping (3 business days): $25
• Rush shipping (next day): $50

Include free shipping on your site in several different places (customers love free shipping). Any additional fees, like duties or taxes, should be disclosed so customers aren't surprised.

6. Fees & Taxes Associated with Imports

Additionally, if you handle international orders, you will need to cover foreign sales taxes and import fees, and whether you will incorporate them into your product pricing.

Answer these questions:

• When the shipping charges arrive, who will pay them?
• How do you calculate and include them in your store's prices?

7. Transparency Regarding Returns, Cancellations, and Changes

In addition to accommodating returns, your dedicated return policy should include information about how your company evaluates refunds, order edits, and exchanges, as well as what happens in the event of a lost or damaged order.

If you do not want to create a separate page for your return and refund policies, you can use your shipping policies page to be clear and transparent.

Your returns and refunds page, as well as your shipping policy, should include information such as:

• Evaluation of exchanges, changes, and refund requests
• The products must be in good condition
• Returns or refunds will be honored within the specified time after purchase or delivery
• What do you do if an order is lost or damaged

8. Possible Service Interruptions

Due to variables beyond your control, orders may take longer to arrive. In your shipping policy, you can explain to customers why it may take a little longer.

Most businesses update their shipping policies every few months, especially after adding new shipping options or carriers, expanding fulfillment networks, or anticipating delays.

How to Add Shipping Policy On Shopify

Step 1: Log in

Log in to your Shopify store using your registered email and password from any browser.

Step 2: Click on legal

Click on Legal at the bottom right of the settings page once you've logged in (in the bottom left of the settings page).

Step 3: Devise your legal policies

You can choose to create your store policies directly from a template (if you have one already) or create them using the Legal option. Ensure that the template copy reflects the ideals of your online shop by customizing and personalizing it.

Additionally, the content editing tool on this page offers additional formatting tools to allow you to style your policies however you like.

Step 4: Review your policies and save them

To ensure that your policies are flawless and consistent, you should carefully review them again after creating them. It is helpful to review your shipping policy to identify any potential issues that could cause confusion in the future.

Once you've checked out, click the "Save" button to add the policies to your store checkouts.

Template for a Shipping Policy

It is not possible to have a single shipping policy that fits every situation. You can use this template to create your own.

You should not use it as is. Consider cutting, adapting, expanding, or rearranging the following sections to meet the unique needs of your business.

Shipping Policy

Thank you for shipping with [your brand]! Below are our shipping terms and conditions. Before purchasing, please read them carefully.

·  Processing and shipping times

[Make sure they understand the difference between shipping and processing, and how long each will take. Tell them about possible delays in shipping].

Upon placing an order, we process it within three business days. Holidays and weekends are not days for shipping or delivering orders.

We might have to delay your order a few days if we have a high order volume. When placing your order, please keep this in mind. You will be notified by email or phone if there are any significant shipping delays.

·  Costs and estimates for domestic shipping

[Details such as calculated versus flat rate costs, additional shipping options, etc. should be included].

On orders over $50, we're happy to provide free domestic shipping. Free standard shipping typically takes seven business days, though sometimes there is a delay.

Where to Link the Shipping Policy

Even if you create a comprehensive shipping policy, it is of little use if your customers cannot find it. Below is a list of some best practices for linking your store's shipping policy to the website.

· Clearly shown on a web page

It's best practice to have a page on your website dedicated to your international and domestic shipping policies. FAQs are thoughtful detail that makes it easy for visitors to find answers to common shipping questions.

Shopify also offers shipping policy templates that you can study to create a comprehensive and concise shipping policy page.

You should link the page in the footer of the website and other key pages, such as the privacy policy, that need to be easily accessible.

· When checking out

Link both your shipping policy and FAQs to each product page to make it easier for your customers to access them. By doing so, customers will have the opportunity to review and analyze the shipping policy before checking out.

Conclusion

Initially, a shipping policy might seem like just another boring legal document with little effect on your business. Logistics and shipping are mediocre if you accept them as such.

It is also important to consider how you handle shipping and delivery if you are committed to providing your customers with a better experience.

You can turn a boring shipping policy into a competitive advantage if you optimize your logistics, outperform your competitors, and exceed customer expectations.