Set up your return policies (for Shopify users)

Return policy determines when customers are eligible to initiate return requests and how return fees are applied to your store. To allow customers to request returns, you need to turn on self-serve returns in your Shopify admin page.

On this page

• Benefits
• Return policies in Shopify and Merchant Center
• Instructions to set up return policies
• Best practices

Benefits

• Customer confidence: Having clear return policies can increase customer confidence in your store. Shoppers are more likely to make purchases when they know they can return items if they are not satisfied. This option enhances the overall shopping experience and increases the likelihood of obtaining a “Top Quality Store” badge. Learn more About Top Quality Stores.
• Boost product performance: Return policy is a key factor for potential buyers who are making a purchasing decision. Displaying your return policies on your ads and products listings using annotations may help improve the overall performance of your products.
• Stand apart from your competition: Attract more shoppers and build trust by showcasing free and extended return policies.

Return policies in Shopify and Merchant Center

If you use Shopify as your platform, your return policies are always sourced from your Shopify store. However, you still need to add your return policy in Merchant Center. This step helps Google understand your return process and accurately represent your policies in search results and Shopping ads.

There are 2 ways to add your return policy in Merchant Center:

• Use the pre-filled crawled policy: Google often crawls return policies and publishes them in Merchant Center. When you connect your Shopify account to Merchant Center, your return policy will automatically be synced. Review this policy and complete it if necessary, or submit your entire policy yourself if no crawled policy is available.
• Manually submit your return policy to Merchant Center: If your return policy from Shopify hasn’t automatically synced yet, you can directly submit your return policy in Merchant Center.

Instructions to set up return policies

Free returns can be enabled by updating your return policies to include specific information regarding return cost and return window. You can update your return policy directly in Shopify or in your Merchant center account.

Step 1 of 2: Add your return policy in Shopify

You can either set up return policies in your shopify admin page or create a written return refund policy. Learn how to set up your return rules and return policy in Shopify.

Step 2 of 2: Share your return policies with Google

You can set up returns by creating return policies in your Merchant Center account. Return policies can be associated with all products, with specific groups of products, or even a single product.

Steps to set up return rules in Merchant center

1. In your Merchant Center account, click Delivery and returns.
2. Click the Return policies tab.
3. Click + Add return policy.

Learn how to Set up your return policies for Shopping ads and free listings.

Best practices

• Return policies are a key deciding factor for shoppers. Offer free returns, free exchanges, and longer return windows that can help customers choose your products over others.
• Providing offers like 30 day returns, 90 day returns, or lifetime guarantee can benefit businesses by boosting customer confidence, increasing sales, fostering loyalty, reducing returns, generating positive reviews, and improving brand reputation.
• You can create a seasonal override with your specific date ranges to offer an extended return window during the holidays.
• Indicate return policy exceptions, such as final sales and perishables, by creating an exception policy.

Related link

• Set up your return policies for Shopping ads and free listings