Hello, German law requires me to attach my right of withdrawal as a PDF to the confirmation email. Is there any way to do this? I am using the external app orderly emails to create templates for my confirmation emails.
Topic summary
A merchant needs to attach a right of withdrawal PDF to order confirmation emails to comply with German legal requirements. They are currently using the Orderly Emails app for email templates.
Key Points:
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Legal Requirement: German law mandates that withdrawal rights documentation be attached to confirmation emails. Simply linking to a webpage may not be legally sufficient, as content could be altered and proof of customer receipt is harder to establish.
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Shopify Limitation: Shopify does not natively support PDF attachments in automated order confirmation emails.
Proposed Solutions:
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Use third-party apps like Sufio: Professional Invoices or E-Docs that can attach PDFs (including invoices and e-invoices in ZUGFeRD/XRechnung formats) to confirmation emails.
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Upload the PDF via Settings → Files and insert a download link in the email template through Orderly Emails, though legal compliance of this approach is debated.
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Add withdrawal information to the store’s return policy page and link to it in emails (less certain legally).
Current Status: The discussion remains open with no definitive resolution on the most compliant approach, though app-based solutions appear most viable for actual PDF attachments.
1 Like
@luciaticozzi
Let the customer to download the pdf .
https://www.askquesty.com/post/how-to-upload-and-link-a-pdf-document-squarespace-tutorial
check this link you will get.
either you have to send the pdf on the customer mail.
Thank you.
But this video is for adding a PDF into the shop. I need to add into the confirmation email.
On which Confirmation Emails. which you want
When you buy a product from a shopify store, you get a confirmation email to confirm that you bought the products and that everything is fine, there is where I need to attach a pdf to every confirmation email we send out. We are using the external app orderly emails.
then you have to attach the pdf by manually for every time.
Even if my emails go automatically?
yes, may be.
Then attach a pdf file on cart page . when customer purchase your product then he will get pdf along with the confirmation.
Do you know how to do that? thanks
Hi, @luciaticozzi !
Thanks for reaching out in our Community forums and for sharing your concern, I’d be happy to help.
You mentioned that you need a way to attach your right of withdrawal PDF file to the confirmation email for all of your orders. I’d be happy to provide some guidance here but I’d always suggest reaching out to your independent legal counsel to ensure you are following your local laws.
Firstly, you could use a third party service that would generate the invoice email and embed the PDF file. I took a look around our App Store and found an app called The Sufio: Professional Invoices. This app offers the functionality to easily create and send credit and delivery notes, packing slips, pro forma invoices, quotes and estimates to your customers. They also claim that all of their documents are compliant with accounting legislation in Germany. Alternatively, I suggest checking out our App Store for other available delivery apps that may be suitable for your business. If you have any questions about the apps, or need a hand setting them up, feel free to reach out to the developers directly as they could provide some more information.
I was also able to find a possible solution by taking a look at this thread. It was suggested that involved adding the right of withdrawal form to your return policy page on your Shopify store, and linking this page on the confirmation email.
I’m happy to provide some tips and guidance and I’d love to know more about your business! What type of products are you selling? Are you planning on selling only domestically, or internationally?
Looking forward to hearing from you!
I am also looking for a solution for this and it’s frustrating that Shopify doesn’t seem to have this functionality as standard, considering it is a legal requirement in Germany. Why would you sell an ecom platform that does not satisfy legal requirements in the country of sale? Maybe this has been updated in the last 3 years, please advise if this is the case. Thanks
2 Likes
As far as I‘m informed it is required, that the pdf has to be attached to those mails. An external link is not sufficient and not compliant with the german regulations because the content of information could be altered afterwards if it‘s on a webpage.
Hi,
@AlexMH is right. Moreover, a link in the email alone is legally uncertain, because the burden of proof is more difficult (did the customer actually download the document?).
The relevant references are § 14 (1) of the German VAT Act (UStG) and the official FAQ on e-invoicing.
And of course, the bigger issue now is that electronic invoices (e-invoices) must be sent.
With our new app E-Docs, It is easily possible to
- send confirmation mails with invoice PDFs as actual attachment
- send e-invoices in ZUGFeRD and XRechnung
Regards, Jörg
Shopify doesn’t support the attachment of PDFs to order confirmation emails out of the box. The workaround is to host your withdrawal PDF on your store ( e.g. by uploading it via Settings → Files) and then insert a styled download link in the confirmation template, as you are already using OrderlyEmails. This is in accordance with German law.