Which delivery deadline and shipping costs must an online store display?

Q&A • Shipping

Which delivery deadline and shipping costs must an online store display?

Shipping information is pre-contractual information, not a detail on the contact page. If it first appears at the last checkout step, it arrives too late.

Short answer

  1. The delivery deadline must be stated before purchase, as part of the pre-contractual information.
  2. If no deadline is agreed, delivery must take place within 30 calendar days of the contract being concluded.
  3. Shipping costs must be visible before the order is confirmed, not appear as a final surprise.
  4. If you miss the deadline, the customer may grant an additional period and, if that fails too, terminate the contract.
  5. The risk of loss or damage stays with the seller until the customer receives the parcel.

What to publish and where

  1. State the estimated deadline on the product page, specifying working days or calendar days.
  2. Show the shipping cost in the cart, already calculated for the destination province or country.
  3. Publish a shipping page with zones, rates, timescales and exceptions for the islands, Ceuta and Melilla.
  4. Send the tracking number when the order ships, naming the carrier.

Practical examples

  • Example: «Delivery in 2 to 4 working days in mainland Spain» is a useful deadline; «fast shipping» is not.
  • Example: shipping to the Canary Islands can involve customs handling and extra cost. That must be flagged before payment.
  • Example: if the carrier loses the parcel, the store answers to the customer and claims against the carrier afterwards.

Common mistakes

  • Showing shipping costs only at the final checkout step.
  • Advertising «free shipping» with a minimum order value that is not shown on the product page.
  • Applying the mainland rate to the Balearics, the Canaries, Ceuta and Melilla.
  • Sending the customer to the carrier when a parcel goes missing.

How 4shopy helps

  • Rates are defined by zone and weight, with separate rules for the mainland, the islands and Ceuta and Melilla.
  • Shipping cost is calculated in the cart, before reaching payment.
  • Each order stores its shipping status and tracking number.
  • Dispatch emails are sent automatically and stay recorded with the order.

See also