Glossary
What are the T&Cs? General terms and conditions of sale
June 4, 2026
The T&Cs (General Terms and Conditions of Sale, Terms and Conditions) are the contractual document that governs the commercial relationship between an e-commerce merchant and their customer: price, order, payment, delivery, right of withdrawal, guarantees, and disputes. In France and the EU, they must be accessible before purchase, particularly at the checkout. The T&Cs protect the consumer and secure the seller.
The T&Cs form the contractual framework for online sales. They explain the rules applicable to ordering, payment, delivery, returns, and the responsibilities of both the merchant and the customer.
Summary
Definition of T&Cs in e-commerce
The T&C define the sales rules applicable to each order placed on the shop. The customer accepts them by validating their purchase (checkbox or explicit link depending on the setup).
Common clauses:
To fully understand this concept, we notably find Products and prices (incl. VAT, currencies, obvious errors), Order and confirmation, Payment (accepted methods, due date), Delivery (times, fees, zones), Right of withdrawal (14 days in B2C EU, exceptions), Returns and refunds (product return), Legal warranties (conformity, hidden defects) and Liability, intellectual property, mediation.
Useful distinctions:
To fully understand this concept, we notably find T&C vs ToU (Terms of Use): T&C = sales ; ToU = use of the site (account, content), T&C vs legal notice: notice = publisher identity (SIREN, contact); T&C = sales contract, T&C vs privacy policy (GDPR): the second deals with personal data and B2C T&C vs B2B T&C: consumer rules (withdrawal) vs negotiated professionals.
Why T&Cs are essential for an online store
Selling online without compliant T&Cs exposes you to disputes, payment refusals, and penalties.
For an online store, this notably includes: Legal obligation: pre-contractual information in B2C (Consumer Code, EU directive), Customer trust: transparency on deadlines, returns, warranties, Structured after-sales service: basis for handling refund requests, Payment disputes: chargebacks, PayPal claims, Marketplaces and ads: certain platforms require clear policies, and Conversion: reassured customer before payment on the online store.
The T&Cs must be written in a comprehensible language, not in inaccessible jargon. In the event of a contradiction between a banner promotion and the T&Cs, the version most favorable to the consumer may prevail.
What the general terms and conditions of sale must cover
Mandatory pre-purchase information (non-exhaustive B2C France/EU list):
Concretely, this includes in particular: Essential characteristics of the product, Price including tax, delivery costs, offer deadline, Payment and contract execution terms, Right of withdrawal and standard form, Return cost if borne by the customer, and Warranties and after-sales service.
Use case: Shopify fashion store in FR selling B2C. "T&C" page in the footer, link at checkout ("I accept the general terms and conditions of sale"). T&C specify: shipping time 2-5 business days, 14-day withdrawal, free returns in mainland France, refund within 14 days after receiving the return. Downloadable PDF withdrawal form. Customer service cites T&C article §8 in case of a size dispute. T&C update dated January 2026 after carrier change.
Products excluded from withdrawal (personalization, hygiene seals): clearly listed in the T&C and product sheet.
Managing T&Cs on Shopify
Shopify offers policy templates under Settings > Policies (Shopify Help Center):
In Shopify, you will notably find Terms of Service: equivalent to T&Cs/ToUs depending on the drafting, Refund policy: return addendum (can be merged with T&Cs), Privacy policy: GDPR, distinct from T&Cs, and Shipping policy: delivery times and costs.
Implementation:
In Shopify, this notably includes customizing the template with a legal expert or a generator adapted for FR/EU, publishing Policy pages; automatic links in checkout footer, enabling acceptance of terms at checkout if required, and translating if Shopify Markets is multi-country.
Shopify templates are a starting point, not final legal advice. Adapt them to your business (digital products, pre-orders, subscriptions).
The essentials to remember about the T&C
To keep in mind, we notably find: GTC = e-commerce sales contract (price, delivery, returns, warranties), Distinct from the TOS, legal notices, and privacy policy, Mandatory and accessible before purchase in EU B2C, Shopify: Policies, footer checkout, templates to customize, and site/customer service consistency; legal review recommended.
Associated terms, FAQ, and going further
Associated Terms
Notions related to this topic notably include Product Return: procedure described in the T&C, Refund Request: application of the T&C, GDPR: data policy, separate document, and Checkout: acceptance of the T&C.
FAQ
Are T&C mandatory on Shopify?
In B2C France/EU, yes: you must inform the customer and govern the sale. Shopify facilitates publication via Policies; the legal content is your responsibility.
T&C and return policy: same page?
Possible on a single complete T&C page, or separate (T&C + Shopify Refund policy). The essential part: clear and accessible information before purchase.
Right of withdrawal: 14 days?
In B2C EU, the general rule is 14 days to withdraw, except for legal exceptions (personalized products, unsealed goods, etc.). Detail this in your T&C.
Are Shopify templates sufficient?
Not on their own: they are bases in English/general law. Have them validated by a professional for French law and your specific sector.
Going Further
Notions related to this topic notably include Managing e-commerce returns, Return rates and strategies, Customizing Shopify checkout, and Return to the Qstomy e-commerce glossary.
Sources: Shopify Help Center (Legal policies), Consumer Code (FR), directive 2011/83/EU (distance contracts). Informational content, not legal advice.
Enzo
13 May 2026
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