Want to learn how to create a shipping and return policy for your online store?
If you are thinking about how to create a shipping and return policy for your online store, then this article is for you.
Read till the end to understand the necessary steps needed to create a shipping and return policy.
To create a shipping and return policy:
- Understand What a Shipping Policy Is
- Familiarize Yourself With
- Shipping rates & costs
- Shipping methods and delivery times
- Shipping restrictions
- Missing or lost packages
- International shipping
- Return and exchange information
- Understand what a Return Policy Is
- Decide Which Products Can Be Returned
- Indicate the Returns Period
- Protect Yourself From Fraud
- Indicate if Returns Are Free or to Be Paid For
- Specify Your Returns Conditions
- Indicate the Return Process Deadline
- Ensure Your Return Policy Is Visible
- Create an FAQ Section
- Create Dispatch Emails
- Make Sure the Shipping and Return Policy Is Easy to Understand
- Update Your Shipping and Return Policy Often
Ready, let’s dive in.
1. Understand What a Shipping Policy Is
To create a shipping policy, first understand the meaning of a shipping policy.
A shipping policy is a concise document or webpage that outlines important information around shipping when an order is placed.
It includes all shipping details like shipping costs, methods delivery times, etc.
2. Familiarize Yourself With…
Shipping Rates and Cost
Include your shipping rates and costs.
This enables your customers to review and calculate the cost of the products on your online store.
Shipping Methods and Delivery Times
List out your shipping methods and delivery times.
Outline your different shipping methods so your customers will choose the one that works; also put out the estimated delivery times so your customers will know when to expect delivery.
Shipping Restrictions
Display your shipping restrictions on your shipping policy.
Any shipping restrictions such as shipping to certain countries or PO boxes should be displayed.
Be very clear on what restrictions exist and who is impacted by the restrictions.
Missing or Lost packages
Add missing or lost packages to your shipping policy.
Direct your customers on what to do if the package gets missing; this reassurance creates peace of mind.
Do this by displaying contact information and directions on how to report missing or lost packages.
International Shipping
Showcase your international shipping policy.
Include a statement on who is responsible for customs and import duties.
Communicate which carrier handles your international shipments and who takes care of international taxes, charges, and any additional fees.
Return and Exchange Information
Add return and exchange information to your shipping policy.
Display your return and exchange information to your customers; add details such as how long it takes to get a refund and your online store return policy.
3. Understand what a Return Policy Is
The first step to creating a return policy is to understand what return policy means.
A return policy is a set of guidelines that your customers can refer to when they return a product. It states the conditions under which you, the store owner, will accept returns.
4. Decide Which Products Can be Returned
In your return policy, you have to state which products can be returned.
During sales and discounts periods, this policy does not apply.
5. Indicate the Returns Period
Indicate the returns period in order make your return policy look professional.
Add the period of returns to your policy, so customers know how long they have to return product they don’t want.
That is 30 to 90 days.
6. Protect Yourself From Fraud
Your return policy should be made in such a way that you are protected from fraud.
Put out rules like; the products have to be checked to see that it hasn’t been used for a refund or an exchange.
7. Indicate if Returns Are Free or to Be Paid For
To create your return policy, indicate if returns are free or to be paid for.
Tell your customers if they have to pay the shipping fee for the return.
This affects the shipping cost and custom fees.
8. Specify Your Return Conditions
Specify your return conditions for clarity in your return policy.
State if products can only be exchanged or if credits can only be spent in your store.
9. Indicate the Return Process Deadline
To create a professional return policy, indicate the return process deadline.
Tell your customers how long it takes to get a refund or a replacement item.
10. Ensure Your Return Policy Information Is Visible
Make sure your return policy information is available, add your return policy to your product pages.
Add a brief explanation of exchanges and returns at the top of your product cards with a link to the return policy of your site.
11. Create an FAQ Section
Include an FAQ section to your return policy.
Answer all frequently asked question regarding returns and exchange.
The FAQ section should not be too extensive; it should comprise of short texts and simple language without any confusing legal terms so your customers understand it.
12. Create Dispatch Emails
Use dispatch emails to include information about your return policy.
Always include an explanation of your exchange and returns policy, or a link to the corresponding page, in all your confirmation and delivery-tracking emails.
13. Make Sure the Shipping and Return policy Is Easy to Understand
Make sure the shipping and return policy is easy to understand.
Make sure the shipping and return policy is written in clear simple terms for customers to understand.
14. Update your shipping and return policy often
It is important that you update your shipping and return policy often to suit your business as it grows.
Update your shipping and return policy every 6 months, and each time you change your shipping methods so your customers are aware.
Recap
To create a standard and professional shipping and return policy, first understand what a shipping policy is, add shipping rates and costs, shipping methods and delivery times.
Also put out shipping restrictions, missing or lost packages and international shipping. List the return and exchange information.
First, understand what a return policy is, decide which products can be returned, and indicate return periods.
Put out conditions to protect yourself from fraud, indicate if returns are free or to be paid, and specify your return conditions.
Indicate the return process deadline, ensure your return policy information is visible and add the FAQ section.
Use dispatch emails, make sure the shipping and return policy is easy to understand and update your shipping and return policy often.
