Shipping and return settings

If you’re an online merchant, you can use Search Console to view, add, and manage your shipping and return policies.

 OPEN THE SETTINGS PAGE

 

Add a simplified version of your site’s shipping and return details right from Search Console under Settings  > Shopping > Shipping and returns.

Policy details you can add and edit in Search Console include:

• Delivery time
• Shipping cost
• Return window
• Return cost

Access

You must be an owner or a full user of the Search Console property that’s associated with a Merchant Center account to set shipping and return information.

Add, edit, or delete policies in Search Console

If you’ve associated your site with Merchant Center, you can check the status of a policy, and add, edit, or delete a policy in Search Console. 

Shipping and return policies created or edited in Merchant Center won’t be available in Search Console, and can only be managed in Merchant Center. If you’re combining methods (such as using markup in addition to settings in Merchant Center), learn more about what takes precedence.

Add shipping policies in Search Console

1. Open the Settings page for your Search Console property. 
2. Under Shopping choose Shipping and returns.
3. Choose the Shipping tab and click Add shipping policy.
4. Select the country this policy applies to.
5. Add delivery times—this is a minimum and maximum number of days it should take an item to reach your customer.
6. Set up your shipping costs. Options include a flat rate (assign a currency to match the country in step 4), free over a certain amount, free, or other.
7. Click Submit. 
8. Repeat these steps for each country you ship to.

Add return policies in Search Console

1. Open the Settings page for your Search Console property. 
2. Under Shopping choose Shipping and returns.
3. Choose the Returns tab and click Add return policy.
4. Select the country this policy applies to.
5. Enter the return policy URL—the web address where customers can read your return policy.
6. Enter the return window. Choose the number of days customers have to make a return or no returns.
7. Set up your return cost. Options include a flat rate (assign a currency to match the country in step 4), free returns, or a percentage of the product price. (Additional return options and restrictions can be set up in Merchant Center). 
8. Click Submit. 
9. Repeat these steps for each country you ship to.

Edit or delete policies in Search Console

1. Open the Settings page for your Search Console property. 
2. Under Shopping choose Shipping and returns.
3. Click the  (more icon) for the policy you’d like to modify and choose Edit or Delete.
4. If editing, follow the dialog prompts. If deleting, your policy will be deleted immediately.

Shipping details are automatically approved. Return policies are manually verified and can take about 10-13 days. Once you’ve successfully submitted your return policy details, they’ll be marked as “pending” until Google verifies them. Learn more about return policy requirements.  

Learn more about modifying shipping and returns policies on Merchant Center and the range of other options available on Merchant Center.

Best practices

To keep your policies useful and current, consider these best practices when adding shipping and return information in Search Console:

• Use clear and concise descriptions for your shipping and return policies.
• Provide accurate and up-to-date information to avoid customer confusion.
  Note: Double check that there's an exact match between the shipping costs you submit to Google and shipping costs displayed on your website. To make sure customers don’t find a higher shipping cost on your website after clicking your Google listing, a listing might be rejected if Google finds a lower shipping cost on your listing than on your website.
• Regularly review and update your policies as needed to ensure that they reflect the latest information.