Shipping and returns policies for small online shops

The promises your shop makes, written down and kept.

Writing is free. Shop Pass $1.95/month or $19.50/year · Free during preview.

A returns policy, with the working shown

What the Policy Writer made from one made-up candle shop’s answers. In the left margin, where each line came from; in the right, what the “Before you publish” list would catch.

1Return window 30 days, counted from delivery, so the clock starts when the parcel lands.
2Exchanges one yes or no; the sentence is written for you.
3How customers reach you becomes the first step of every return.
4Return shipping “The customer pays, unless we made a mistake”.

Juniper & Pine Candle Co. returns and refunds policy

Returns

You can return most items within 30 days from the day the order is delivered. Items must be unused, in their original packaging.

You can ask for an exchange instead of a refund.

How to return an item

Write to us at hello@example.com before you send anything back. We will reply with the return address.

Return shipping is paid by the customer, unless the return is because of our mistake (a damaged, faulty or wrong item); then we pay it.

… then refunds, damaged or wrong items, and the date it was last updated. Copy it as HTML, Markdown or plain text.

FixNo way to reach you, while the policy tells customers to write first.
FixNo ship time stated: the FTC rule then gives you 30 days, and says so.
ConsiderA window counted from purchase that can end before the parcel arrives, with the days worked out.
ConsiderA restocking fee on top of return postage the customer pays.

On the counter

Desk	You bring	You leave with	Cost
Policy Writer	Handling time, where you ship, return window, who pays return postage, refund timing, final-sale items	A shipping policy and a returns policy in plain English, as HTML, Markdown or plain text	Free
Before you publish	Nothing extra	A check list on every result: what to fix, what to look at twice, what is already right	Free
Late Order Desk	The order date, the ship time you stated, your new date if you have one	The rule’s dates: ship-by, the 30-day line, when an order cancels itself, when the refund is due	Free
Shop Pass	Your shop	Ready-to-send delay notices, both policies as one .html file, and a private Shop Shelf with every version, a dated change log and your late orders	$1.95/moFree during preview

One late order, counted to the day

Under the FTC’s Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, a shop needs a reasonable basis to ship in the time it states (or within 30 days when it states none). If it cannot, it must offer the customer a choice before that time: wait, or cancel for a full refund. This order was placed Friday, October 9, 2026, with 3 business days promised; the shop can manage October 28.

Fri Oct 9Order received, paid and complete.
Wed Oct 14Ship-by date. The first delay notice must be sent before this.
Wed Oct 28New date, within 30 days of the ship-by date: no answer counts as agreeing to wait.
Fri Nov 13The 30-day line. A later or unknown date needs the customer’s yes, or the order cancels here.
+7 working daysRefund due after any cancellation (one billing cycle if you gave the credit).

Count your order’s dates Dates are free. The ready-to-send notices are a Shop Pass feature.

The receipt, before you buy anything

HostNowStore

Policy Writer, unlimited: Free
Before you publish list: Free
Late Order Desk dates: Free
Shop Pass, monthly: $1.95
… or yearly (two months free): $19.50
Pass includes: delay notices, the .html download, the Shop Shelf

Free during preview$0.00

Checkout is not switched on yet, so no payment is taken: every Shop Pass feature is open to everyone until it is.

What is in each

The fine print, up front

Not a lawyer. The policies are plain-English drafts built from your answers; read them before you publish and get legal advice if your situation is unusual.
Not the FTC. We quote the rule from the FTC’s own business guide and link to it. State laws can add rules.
Not a host or a shop platform. Despite the name, we sell no web hosting, no store builder and no payment processing.
Not keeping your customers’ data. The desks store nothing. The Shop Shelf keeps your answers and your own order labels: never customer names or addresses.