How to Get Store Policies and Legal Pages Right
The policy pages an online store publishes, such as privacy, shipping, returns, subscriptions and terms, and the US rules that decide what some of them must say.
Marcus Adeyemi
At a glance
- California Online Privacy Protection Act requires a conspicuously posted privacy policy for sites collecting personal information from California residents
- Recurring charges the federal Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act requires clear terms and express consent
- Shipping promises governed by the FTC Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule
- Reviews the FTC's 2024 rule bans fake reviews and the suppression of negative ones
Why it matters
Why it matters: Policies are promises customers rely on, and several laws require particular disclosures, from a posted privacy policy to clear terms before recurring charges.
Best practice
- Link policy pages from the footer and at checkout
- Write policies in plain language that matches what the store actually does
- Date each policy and update it when practices change
- Show subscription terms before the customer pays
- Have legal counsel review policies for the states you sell into
Common pitfalls
Watch out for:
- Copying another store's policies without checking they fit
- Return windows that differ between the policy and product pages
- Privacy policies that do not mention the tracking tools in use
- Hiding subscription terms behind a link after checkout
When to call in a specialist
Bottom line Bring in help when launching subscriptions, when selling into states with their own privacy laws, or when policies have not been reviewed since the store changed.
Where this comes from
- California Attorney General — California Online Privacy Protection Act
- Federal Trade Commission — Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act
- Federal Trade Commission — Trade Regulation Rule on the Use of Consumer Reviews and Testimonials
The figures and practices above come from the sources listed.
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