# Shipping & Returns: Critical Trust Signals > Shipping and return policies are major trust signals for AI agents. How to make them visible and verifiable on Shopify. - Canonical HTML: https://verityscore.io/en/kb/shipping-returns/ - Markdown alternate: https://verityscore.io/en/kb/shipping-returns.md - Language: en - Content type: kb - Published: 2026-02-03 - Updated: 2026-04-12 - Tags: shipping, returns, policies, trust - Audit zone: Policies ## Why commercial policies matter Verity Score verifies that your shipping and return policies are **accessible and verifiable** by AI agents. These are fundamental trust signals in the purchase decision. ## Why it matters for AI When an AI shopping agent compares two similar products, shipping and return policies are often the deciding factor. A store that clearly displays "Free 24-48h shipping" with an accessible policy page will be recommended before a store with vague or hidden conditions. ## The Common Problem Most Shopify stores have policy pages, but they're often poorly written, accessible only via a tiny footer link, without [structured data](/en/kb/schema-org), or sometimes blocked by robots.txt. Shopify Agentic Storefronts (March 2026) requires a complete Return Policy for eligibility ([Shopify, 2026](https://www.shopify.com/blog/perplexity-shopping)). ## What AI checks
The 3 aspects verified by AI agents for policies: page accessibility (HTTP 200, not blocked), real content (timelines, costs, conditions), structured data (shippingDetails, returnPolicy in schema.org)
Figure 1 - The 3 dimensions verified by AI agents for your policies
AI agents verify three aspects of your policies: - **Accessibility** : Are your `/policies/shipping-policy` and `/policies/refund-policy` pages reachable (no 404, not blocked by robots.txt)? - **Real content** : Do the pages contain precise data (timelines, costs) or just a generic template? - **Structured data** : Are `shippingDetails` and `hasMerchantReturnPolicy` present in your schema.org? Verity Score automatically checks these aspects and alerts you to missing or insufficient policies. ## How to Fix on Shopify 1. **Write clear policies** in Admin → Settings → Policies with precise data (timelines, costs) 2. **Verify accessibility** : test each URL manually 3. **Add schema** : `shippingDetails` and `hasMerchantReturnPolicy` in your Product JSON-LD 4. **Link from product pages** : not just the footer --- ## Related articles - [Schema.org Product: Why and How on Shopify](/en/kb/schema-org) - [Claims & Proof: Credibility in the Eyes of AI](/en/kb/claims-proof) - [E-E-A-T Signals for AI: How Agents Evaluate Trust](/en/kb/eeat-signals-ai) - [GEO Audit: The Complete Guide to Optimizing Your Shopify Store for AI](/en/kb/geo-audit) - [AI Buyer Score: The Shopping Agent Checklist](/en/kb/ai-buyer-score) --- **Ready to check your store?** [Run a free GEO audit →](https://verityscore.io) ## FAQ ### Why do shipping and return policies matter for AI product recommendations? AI shopping agents compare products using trust signals, and clear shipping/return policies are deciding factors. A store with verifiable 'Free 2-day shipping' and a '30-day return' policy will be recommended over one with vague or missing conditions. ### How do I add shipping and return info to my Shopify schema.org? Add shippingDetails and hasMerchantReturnPolicy to your Product JSON-LD in your theme's main-product.liquid file. These fields let AI crawlers read your policies directly from structured data without visiting separate pages. ### Can AI crawlers read my Shopify policy pages? It depends. If your robots.txt blocks /policies/ paths, AI crawlers can't access them. Also, policy pages must contain real content, not just Shopify's default template text. Check that your policy URLs return a 200 status and have specific details. ### What should a good shipping policy page include for AI readability? Include specific delivery timelines (e.g., '3-5 business days'), costs (free or exact amounts), carrier names, and geographic coverage. Avoid vague language like 'ships fast'. AI agents need precise, extractable data. ## Sources - [Google AI Shopping Features: How to Maximize Your Visibility (2026)](https://www.shopify.com/blog/google-ai-shopping) (official) - [Product Feed Optimization for AI Agents (2026 Guide)](https://ucphub.ai/product-feed-optimization-for-ai-shopping-agents-the-2026-distribution-guide/) (industry) - [9 Shopify AI Commerce Insights UK Retailers Need for 2026](https://www.pushgroup.co.uk/blog/9-things-every-shopify-merchant-needs-to-know-about-ai-commerce-in-2026) (industry) - [Perplexity Shopping: How to Optimize Your Store for AI (2026)](https://www.shopify.com/blog/perplexity-shopping) (official)