About shipping policies for Shopping Actions (US only)

Shopping Actions US

Using Shopping Actions, you can ship directly from your warehouse or central shipping hub. Shopping Actions shipping policies are intended to ensure timely updates and positive customer experiences. This article outlines the policies to be followed when shipping products to your customers. Learn more about Shopping Actions

For more information on how to set up shipping, skip to how to set up your shipping and taxes.

Note: You may only participate in Shopping Actions if the shipping services for your website are compatible with those of the program. Your configured shipping settings must apply to all offers on your website, including those you offer through Shopping Actions. If you don't have a website or any type of e-commerce, you may still be able to participate in Shopping Actions. Learn more about Shopping Actions integration

Requirements 

Choose shipping services with short transit times

To make the most of your shipping services, the recommended transit time is less than 10 days. Learn more about estimated delivery time

Handling time

It is recommended that your handling times do not exceed 4 days. This will help you to remain competitive. Aim for a total interval of no more than 2 weeks between order placement and delivery. Don’t include inventory items with longer handling times in Shopping Actions.

Note: Orders that aren't shipped within 3 days of your handling time may be canceled automatically. For example, if you have a handling time of 2 days, and you don’t ship your orders within 5 days from when they are placed, they will be cancelled. Note that you are responsible for the cost of an item when a canceled item has been shipped to the customer. To ensure a good customer experience, make sure your handling times are accurate.

Tracking numbers  

When you mark your items as shipped you must provide a valid tracking number to the customer within 1 day of shipment.

Supported carriers

  • UPS
  • USPS
  • FedEx
  • DHL
  • eCourier
  • CXT
  • OnTrac
  • Emsy
  • Ont
  • Deliv
  • Dynamex
  • Lasership
  • MPX
  • UDS

 

Packaging recommendations

Follow these recommendations when packaging your Google Express orders:

  • If the customer is not on your marketing list, don't provide marketing inserts in packages.

Packing slips

To ensure a positive customer experience, all packing slip information should include:

  • Google order ID
  • URL to access order details and initiate returns: http://g.co/express/orders
  • Google Customer Service contact: g.co/contactexpress

To avoid customer confusion or misinformation, less comprehensive packing slips should not include:

  • Price information
  • Return instructions that direct customers to contact the merchant
  • Merchant customer support information

Note: If you are unable to update the above information on your packing slips, you can send shipments without including any packing slip at all, but this is not recommended.

Unsupported shipping options

The following shipping options are not supported with Shopping Actions purchases:

  • Additional shipping information, freight, or less than load (LTL) deliveries: Google can't collect information from customers regarding the need for scheduled deliveries, liftgates, white glove service, or other recipient-specific differentiation. Items that need to be shipped by freight or LTL are not supported. 
  • Dynamic shipping costs: Google can't support shipping costs that change dynamically based on the origin of the shipment, or costs that differ based on residential or commercial delivery addresses.  Likewise, membership-based shipping pricing (for example, ShopRunner) is not supported.
  • Curbside delivery: Google does not currently support the curbside delivery of items purchased through Shopping Actions.
  • Unsupported delivery destinations: Google does not currently support delivery to PO boxes, APO/FPO boxes, Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico.

Understanding estimated delivery date

Estimated delivery date is the “arrives by” date that customers are shown when checking out. This value is calculated as “maximum handling days + maximum transit days.” Estimated delivery date is calculated using days, and also takes order cutoff time into account. 
Here is an example of what estimated delivery date might look like with the settings below in Merchant Center:

Order placed after the cut-off of 3 p.m. EST
0 - 1 handling days (fulfilled Monday - Friday)
3 - 5 transit days (fulfilled Monday - Saturday)

Minimum estimated delivery date: 6 calendar days
 

 Maximum estimated delivery date: 9 calendar days
Day of order Day of week Status Day of order Day of week Status
Day 1 Wednesday Order placed after cutoff Day 1 Wednesday Order placed after cutoff
Day 2 Thursday Handing time Day 2 Thursday Handing time begins (Day 0*)
Day 3 Friday Transit time Day 3 Friday Handling time ends (Day 1)
Day 4 Saturday Transit time Day 4 Saturday Transit time
Day 5 Sunday No action Day 5 Sunday No action
Day 6 Monday Transit time (including Delivery day) Day 6 Monday Transit time
      Day 7 Tuesday Transit time
      Day 8 Wednesday Transit time
      Day 9 Thursday Transit time (including delivery day)

* “Day 0” means “same day” for orders placed before the cut-off time. For orders placed after cut-off, “Day 0” is then the next business day. In other words, all handling time is counted starting with “Day 0,” regardless of when the order is placed in relation to the cut-off time. 

If a customer places an order at 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday, at checkout, they’ll see “arrives by the following Thursday.” Since the customer missed the daily order cutoff, the delivery estimate doesn’t begin calculating until the following day. Then, Shopping Actions uses the maximum handling and delivery range to calculate the arrival date ( including holidays). Keep in mind that while Merchant Center will show you a range of delivery days, the customer will see the nine-day estimate to account for any potential issues that arise during processing and shipping.

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