If you sell in multiple markets, a single, blanket returns policy often creates friction for shoppers and extra work for you. Shopify’s latest Merchant Changelog update removes that limitation, allowing you to toggle self‑serve returns and cancellations per market directly from the admin. In this post we break down what changed, who needs to act, and how to configure the new settings in just a few clicks.
What Changed and Why It Matters
Previously, the self‑serve returns toggle lived at the store level—turn it on and every buyer, regardless of the market they purchased from, could request a return or cancellation. The new UI adds a market‑specific layer: each market now has its own “Return” and “Cancel” toggles beside any third‑party returns apps you may have installed. Existing settings automatically carry over, so there’s no migration or re‑enable step for merchants who were already using the feature.
How to Configure Returns & Cancellations per Market
The new toggles appear alongside any third‑party returns apps in the checkout editor, giving you an instant visual comparison of Shopify’s native experience versus external solutions.
Impact on Developers
From a developer perspective, the change is purely UI‑driven; the underlying Admin API schema for returns hasn’t changed. However, if you build custom checkout extensions or return‑policy apps, you should be aware that merchants can now enable Shopify’s native self‑serve flow per market. To avoid conflicts, consider adding logic that checks the market‑level toggles before presenting your own return UI. You can query the setting via the Admin API:
query GetMarketReturnSettings($marketId: ID!) {
market(id: $marketId) {
id
name
returnPolicy {
selfServeEnabled
cancelEnabled
}
}
}If you detect that the native toggles are enabled, you might choose to hide your custom button or surface additional guidance instead of duplicating functionality.
Action Checklist for Merchants
• Review each market’s return policy in Settings → Returns & refunds.
• Enable or disable self‑serve returns and cancellations per market as needed.
• Verify that third‑party returns apps are still configured correctly; the new toggles sit next to them in the checkout editor.
• Test the buyer experience in a sandbox checkout for each market to confirm the correct flow.
• Document any market‑specific rules for your support team, especially if you turn off self‑serve returns for high‑risk regions.
Bottom Line
Shopify’s market‑specific self‑serve returns and cancellations give you the flexibility to meet local regulations and shopper expectations without juggling separate stores or complex workarounds. The rollout is seamless—your existing settings stay intact, and the only action required is a quick review of each market’s toggle. For developers, it’s a reminder to respect the new per‑market flags when building custom return solutions. Start configuring today and ensure your customers enjoy a smooth, region‑appropriate post‑purchase experience.
