Customs descriptions for international orders

Shopify Discussion
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1

I am looking for a way to enter a customs description (different from the product title) at the product level. A Shopify customer service rep told me it was not possible, and that I would have to manually edit the description on the customs form for each international order, but that I could then save that description to the product. Sounds backwards to me. Has anyone who ships internationally found a better way to edit the customs description?

2

I don’t believe Shopify currently provides a dedicated customs description field at the product level.

One workaround I’ve seen merchants use is storing the customs description in a product metafield and then using a shipping app or custom workflow that references that metafield when generating customs documentation.

Out of curiosity, which shipping solution are you using (Shopify Shipping, Easyship, ShipStation, etc.)? The available options can vary quite a bit depending on the platform.

3

I am using Shopify Shipping. Would the metafield method work with Shoipify Shipping?

Thanks,
Jason

4

Hello @LononTools
You’re right, manual editing per order doesn’t scale. If you want to get down to brass tacks, you can add a customs description at the product level using a metafield, and then pull that into your shipping labels or customs forms with your shipping app or label workflow. A lot of merchants also run this alongside the correct HS codes, as carriers often give those precedence for customs clarity. If you’re using an app for label generation, you can map that metafield to have it auto-populate instead of the product title, so you can be consistent and have everything automated.

5

Hi @LononTools .

You are right, that sounds completely backwards, and there is a better way.

Go to your product page in Shopify Admin, scroll down to the Shipping section, and look for a Customs information field. You can enter a customs description there for each product, and it will pull through automatically on international orders.

If you do not see that field, try using a shipping app like Shippo or ShipStation. Both let you set a custom customs description at the product level so you never have to edit it manually per order.

Hope that helps!