What shipping protection is
Shipping protection is an optional fee shoppers can pay so that, if their parcel is lost, damaged or stolen in transit, you replace or refund it without fuss. Many shoppers like the peace of mind, and the fee helps you cover the cost of the occasional lost parcel.
There are two quite different ways stores run it. Some use a third-party protection service that handles claims. Others run their own simple policy: they charge a small fee and handle replacements themselves. The Nexora block is for the second approach: it adds a product you choose to the cart, and the promise behind it is yours.
The block adds a charge to the order; it isn't an insurance policy and doesn't process claims. Write down what you cover, for how long and how customers claim, and link to it from your Description or your shipping policy.
Your options on Shopify
Shopify doesn't have a built-in shipping protection checkbox for the cart. Merchants either install a dedicated protection service, add a protection product that shoppers must find themselves, or use a cart app that shows the option at the right moment.
| Approach | Who handles claims | Shown in the cart |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party protection service | The service, under its own terms | Usually yes, through their app |
| Protection product in your catalog | You | Only if shoppers find it |
| Nexora Shipping protection block | You | Yes, as a checkbox in the drawer footer |
Step by step: add shipping protection
- Create the product
In Shopify, add a product called
Shipping protectionwith your price, for example $2.99. Make it available on the Online Store channel. You may want to hide it from collections and search so it can't be bought on its own, and mark it as not requiring shipping if that fits your setup. - Turn on the block
In the Cart editor, switch on Shipping protection in Footer group. Drag it above Cart buttons so shoppers see it before the checkout button.
- Select the product
Under Shipping protection product, choose the product you created. The price shown in the drawer is the product's current price.
- Write the text
Edit the Title (default
Shipping protection) and Description (defaultShipping protection from damage, loss and theft). Make the description match what you actually cover. - Adjust the look
Set Title size, Description size and Price size, and choose whether to Show image, with Image width.
- Save and test
Click Save. On your store, open the drawer and tick the checkbox: the protection product is added. Untick it and it's removed.
Settings reference
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shipping protection product | The product added when the shopper ticks the checkbox. |
| Title | The main line next to the checkbox. |
| Description | A short line explaining what's covered. |
| Title size / Description size / Price size | Text sizes. |
| Show image / Image width | Show the product image and set its width. |
The checkbox starts unticked, so shoppers choose to add protection themselves. This keeps the fee clearly optional.
Example: simple protection for a ceramics store
- Product:
Breakage protection, $3.50, with a small shield image. - Title:
Breakage protection. - Description:
If anything arrives broken, we'll send a free replacement. Report within 7 days. - Footer group order: Shipping protection, then Cart buttons, then Payment icons.
Keep the promise easy to understand. A shopper who pays for protection and later has a claim refused because of small print is unlikely to come back.
Writing your protection policy
- What's covered: lost, damaged or stolen parcels, or only breakage.
- Time limit: how many days after delivery a customer can report a problem.
- What you need: for example a photo of the damaged item and packaging.
- What they get: a replacement, a refund or store credit.
- What's not covered: for example an incorrect address entered at checkout.
Add this to your shipping policy page in Shopify and keep the drawer Description to one short line that matches it.
Tips and common mistakes
- Block is empty: select a product under Shipping protection product.
- Fee looks wrong: the drawer shows the product's current price, so change the price on the product itself.
- Thresholds: the fee is a line on the order and can affect order totals your Shopify discounts look at, so test a cart near your free shipping minimum with protection ticked.
- Fulfilment: the protection product appears as a line on the order; make sure your team knows not to look for it in the warehouse.
- Be transparent: describe coverage honestly, and don't pre-tick or hide the fee.
Gift wrapping works the same way, with a product you choose. See gift wrapping on Shopify.
Frequently asked questions
Does the app insure my parcels?
No. The block adds a product you choose to the cart. What it covers, and how you handle claims, is up to your store's policy.
Is shipping protection added automatically?
No. The checkbox starts unticked and shoppers tick it if they want protection.
How do I change the price?
Edit the price of the protection product in Shopify. The drawer shows its current price.
Can I translate the title and description?
Yes, on the Translations page, for each language published on your store.
Do I need a separate app for this?
Not for a simple self-managed policy; the block is part of the free Nexora app. If you want a service that handles claims for you, you'd use a dedicated protection provider instead.
