Create a professional, customised return & refund policy for your own website or independent online store in seconds.
Return policy rules, legal requirements, and best practices for Indian online sellers.
No. If you sell on Tradesala, you are covered by Tradesala's platform return policy — no separate policy needed for your Tradesala store. This tool is for sellers who also run their own independent website or D2C store and need a customised return policy document for it.
Yes. Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, online sellers in India must display a clear return, refund, and cancellation policy. Not having one can lead to consumer complaints and regulatory action. A clear policy also builds buyer trust and reduces disputes.
A complete return policy should include: return window (days from delivery), eligible reasons for return, list of non-returnable items, step-by-step return process, refund method and timeline, exchange or replacement terms, and contact details with support hours.
7–15 days from delivery is most common. 7 days is standard for electronics. 15–30 days works well for apparel, footwear, and lifestyle products. A longer window generally increases buyer confidence and conversion rates.
Typically non-returnable: perishable goods (food, fresh produce), opened consumables, intimate wear and innerwear (hygiene), customised or personalised products, digital downloads, items returned after the window, and items missing original packaging or tags.
Original payment method (UPI, card): 5–7 business days. Store credit or wallet: usually instant. NEFT bank transfer: 3–5 business days. Under the Consumer Protection Act, refunds must be processed within a reasonable time after the return is accepted.
Yes — but only if clearly stated in your policy before purchase. Under Indian consumer protection rules, customers cannot be forced to accept store credit in lieu of a cash refund for defective or incorrectly delivered items. Store credit works well for change-of-mind returns where both parties agree.
If the return is due to your error (wrong item, defective product), you must bear the return shipping cost. For change-of-mind returns, you may charge the customer for return shipping — but this must be stated clearly in your policy upfront. Free return shipping on all orders significantly increases conversion but adds cost.