What are shop terms and why do you need them?

Shop terms are your business rules—the legal stuff that didn't fit in your other policies. Think of them as your shop's ground rules that protect you and set expectations.

Why it matters:

• Covers legal gaps your other policies miss
• Protects your business from disputes
• Sets boundaries with difficult customers
• Required by payment processors
• Shows you're a legitimate business

What to include:

• Who can buy from you (age restrictions, locations)
• Your right to refuse or cancel orders
• What happens if prices change
• Intellectual property rules (your designs, photos, content)
• Limitation of liability (what you're not responsible for)
• How disputes get resolved
• What happens during emergencies or situations beyond your control
• Wholesale terms (if you offer bulk pricing)

Questions to ask yourself when creating your terms

Core stuff everyone needs

What's off-limits? Age restrictions? Certain countries? Commercial use of your designs? Draw your lines now so customers know exactly where they stand.

How hands-on are you? Some sellers want to approve every single order personally. Others prefer full autopilot mode. Your terms should match your actual workflow and personality.

What's your risk tolerance? Stricter terms = fewer headaches but less friendly vibes. Find your balance.

How fast do you respond? Be honest about your communication speed. For example, "We check email Monday-Friday" sets real expectations.

Pricing gets messy. Accidentally list something for $5 instead of $50? Customer claims they saw it cheaper yesterday? Decide your move before it happens.

Problem customers exist. Will you refuse service to people who are abusive to your team or leave nasty reviews for no reason? Decide your boundaries now, before you're dealing with the drama.

What happens when stuff breaks? Supply disasters, shipping nightmares, natural emergencies. Have a communication plan.

Special situations

Do you offer wholesale? Set clear rules upfront—minimum orders, pricing tiers, who qualifies, how they order. This streamlines the process and helps serious buyers find you faster.

Using subscriptions? If you're using Big Cartel's subscription feature, be crystal clear about auto-renewal, when items ship (if relevant), and how people can manage their subscription. 

Selling digital stuff? When exactly do customers get their downloads? Immediately after payment? How many download attempts do they get? When do files expire? Be specific to avoid confusion.

Custom work gets complicated. Once customers approve a design, will changes cost extra? Do revisions restart your timeline? Say this upfront to avoid drama later.

Want to protect your designs? Think about resale restrictions (don't steal my work) and licensing options (here's how to use it legally). Give people a legitimate path to work with you.

Tips for writing your terms

Cover your gaps. What didn't fit in your other policies? Put it here.

Stay human. Legal doesn't have to mean robotic. Write like you'd explain it to a friend.

Be realistic. Don't promise perfection. Build in room for real-world problems.

Update as you grow. New products, new problems. Keep your terms current.

Get help when needed. Complex businesses might need a lawyer's input.

Examples

Basic terms (simple art shop): "You must be 18+ to order. We can cancel any order for any reason and will refund you if we do. Prices may change, but you pay what's shown at checkout. All our art and photos are copyrighted—don't steal them. We're not responsible if your package gets lost after we ship it. Sometimes crazy stuff happens (natural disasters, supply issues) that's totally out of our control. If there's a problem, email us and we'll work it out. These terms follow [your state] law."

Growing business (maker with wholesale): "By ordering, you agree to these terms. Must be 18+ to purchase. We can refuse or cancel orders, especially for suspected fraud or policy violations. All designs and content belong to us. Prices subject to change. We're not liable for damages beyond your order value. Be nice to our team or we'll ban you. Want wholesale pricing? Email [email protected] with your retail license—minimums start at $300. Sometimes the unexpected happens—supply chain disasters, natural emergencies, shipping nightmares. We'll communicate and make it right when we can. Disputes get resolved in [your county] courts under [state] law."

Comprehensive approach (established brand): "Welcome to our shop! By using our site or buying from us, you accept these terms. Ages 18+ only. We can refuse orders or modify these terms anytime. Our products are for personal use unless you buy our commercial license. All site content is copyrighted. We're not responsible for how you use our products. Our liability maxes out at your order total. No warranties beyond what's legally required. Wholesale available to verified retailers—contact [email protected] for pricing tiers and minimums. The world's unpredictable—pandemics, natural disasters, supply chain chaos. We'll navigate it together and keep you informed. Disputes go through binding arbitration in [location]. If any term here is invalid, the rest still applies. These terms follow [state] law and supersede any previous agreements."

Migrating your shop policies

Already have shop terms on a custom page? Move it to the new policy field instead. Here's why:

• We create the policy page automatically
• It shows up consistently in your shop footer
• Customers can find it easily
• You get an active policy indicator in your admin

To migrate:

1. Copy your existing policy text from your custom page
2. Paste it into the terms and conditions policy field in Shop preferences
3. Delete the old custom page
4. Save your changes

Managing your policy

Edit anytime: Change the text and click Save. Updates appear immediately in your shop.

Check if it's active: Look for the policy tag in your admin that shows if you have an active refund policy.

Preview your policy: Click the preview button to see how it looks in your storefront.

Delete if needed: Click "Delete policy" to remove it completely. This wipes the policy and removes the page from your shop.

Switch back to custom pages: You can always move your policy to a custom page if you want more control over formatting.