Transparency is a key factor for a successful Shopify business empire. Many factors go with the term ‘being transparent’. A Shopify shipping policy is one of them. A shipping policy for your Shopify store is crucial to safeguard your brand and customers, define your procedures, and set out guidelines that govern your interactions.
These objectives are crucial to be achieved, for which your policy must be carefully constructed to encompass the workings of your business, potential scenarios, and expected customer requirements.
This article will outline the significance of a well-crafted shipping policy for your Shopify store, the various elements that should be included, and how to construct a successful policy for your Shopify store.
Contents
What is a Shipping Policy?
Starting from scratch. A Shopify shipping policy is a need-to-be-shared set of terms with your customers. This policy describes how you will deliver items to your buyers. It includes information about shipping times, prices, and international options. By sharing this policy, your customers can easily understand everything they need to know about shipping without contacting your team for help.
As a Shopify business admin, you must include all your shipping parameters with which you treat your shipments (shipping service provider), along with shipping guidelines, expected timelines of customer deliveries and a guide for customers describing the steps as to how your business will deal with customers’ issues (with the product or the store).
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Why is the Shipping Policy Page Important For Your Shopify Store?
Having a well-defined shipping policy is essential for merchants who sell physical goods. This policy not only improves the overall buying experience for customers but also sets clear service expectations and simplifies the customer support process.
1. Meets Customers’ Expectations
A shipping policy page is crucial in addressing any concerns or inquiries from customers regarding your delivery and fulfillment process before they decide to purchase. This ensures that their shopping experience with you will be positive as they know the estimated delivery time and what to expect in case of delays.
2. Enhances Brand Image
A clear and concise shipping policy addresses customer concerns and enhances your store’s credibility. It displays transparency to your customers, which builds their trust. Research has demonstrated that an open shipping policy can increase the likelihood of converting up to 47% of first-time shoppers into repeat buyers.
3. Protects the Business
A well-crafted shipping policy not only safeguards you from receiving negative reviews and damaging your reputation but also reduces the likelihood of customer complaints relating to extended shipping times and complicated return procedures. You can minimize the risk of negative feedback by giving your customers clear expectations.
What Should Your Shopify Shipping Policy Include?
Many things go into structuring a perfect Shopify shipping policy, but the content and structure of shipping policies differ for every Shopify business. A business’s shipping policy depends on several factors, such as the logistics process, countries where the shipments are to be made, type of products and much more.
However, certain points are common for every business’s shipping policy.
1. Shipping Process
As a Shopify admin, you must ensure that your shipping policy contains every detail that is helpful for your customers, like the processing time of each order and how many days (working) it will take to ship post-order processing. Also include the details, whether your business ships the orders on public holidays or weekends, along with clarifying your policies for handling pre-orders of out-of-stock items.
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2. Shipping Timeline
Not every business has an exact order delivery time. In such cases, you can provide your customers with basic details as to how long your standard processing and shipping method takes. Give them details about the delivery estimation for different locations. For example, you have a US-based business to offer a next-day or two-day delivery to your US-based customers. However, international customer orders can take longer (i.e., 5-7 working days).
3. Shipping Charges
Provide customers with an understanding of the estimated shipping fees they will incur. Clarify the calculation methods used, such as based on weight or location, or mention if flat shipping rates are available. Additionally, you can utilize this section to draw attention to scenarios where shipping fees can be waived, including offering free shipping for orders exceeding a specific value.
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4. Shipping Options
Many online retailers offer various shipping options to their customers. These options can include next-day delivery, two-day delivery, and standard shipping. To provide clarity, creating a table outlining the specifics of each service level is recommended, as it helps customers understand what to expect from each option.
5. Delayed/Late Shipment Policies
It’s possible for shipments to experience delays or even get lost during transit due to unforeseen circumstances. It’s important to inform customers how to report a missing package to your team and provide details on resolving the issue. Will a replacement be shipped with expedited shipping, or will the order be refunded? Let your customers know.
6. Returns and Refunds
A dedicated section in your shipping policy for returns and refunds can reduce the risk of customer returns. Clearly explain your return process and refund policy.
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7. International Shipping and Restrictions
It’s important to inform your customers if your products are only available in certain locations worldwide. Ensure to emphasize the countries you can ship to and the available shipping options in those areas. If you cater to a global audience, provide a section that specifies the freight companies and logistics providers you work with, the countries you deliver to, and the shipping services you offer.
How to Create A Shipping Policy Page For Your Shopify Store?
Now that you have learned why shipping policy is important for your Shopify store and what basics must be included in the shipping policy, you can start creating your Shopify shipping policy.
Step 1 –
Go to Shopify Admin > Settings.
Step 2 –
Choose Policies on the Settings page.
Step 3 –
Scroll down⏬ the Policies section till you reach the Shipping Policy section.
Step 4 –
Copy and paste your created Shopify shipping policy and Save your changes.
Your Shopify shipping policy page has been created. 👏
From this policies section, you can also create pages for terms and conditions, refunds and returns, privacy policies and much more.
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Build Your Shopify Shipping Policy
The shipping policy, terms & conditions and returns & refunds pages are some of the most ignored CMS pages in every eCommerce website, but not for eCommerce admins. A shipping policy page and a terms & conditions page are equally important like other CMS pages for an eCommerce website.
The shipping policy of your Shopify website consists of some highly crucial and useful information that assists customers with their expectations and any legal actions. A shipping policy keeps your customers updated with website information like pricing, additional charges, freight & insurance charges and much more. Ensure you include every minute detail that is needed for even a customer to know about.
Hope this blog provided you with the information you were looking for. If you need any guidance with your Shopify store, contact us or text us via our official Facebook page.
Our experienced Shopify developers are available at your service.
Happy Shopifying!!!
