Return windows and payment methods of 326 shops in OpenShopGraph

Key findings

1. Among 201 of 326 indexed shops (as of 2026-10-23) whose return window OSG read from the shop's own policy page, the median return window is 30 days.
2. 59% (118 of 201) state exactly 30 days and 17% (34 of 201) exactly 14 days; 64% (129 of 201) state at least 30 days (as of 2026-10-23).
3. Of 315 shops with payment methods recorded by OSG, "credit card" is recorded for 95% (298 of 315) — recorded by OSG, not confirmed at checkout (as of 2026-10-23).

Estimated values (shown separately)

120 shops carry a return window estimated by a language model (median 20.5 days); they feed into none of the key findings. For 0 shops the origin is not recorded; they are excluded as well.

Methodology

• Population: all 326 shops indexed in the OpenShopGraph dataset on the reference date (the same set as the shop sitemap) — a full count, not a sample. The findings describe the OSG dataset, not online shops in general.
• Collection: OSG reads the shops’ public returns and payment pages. Where a page states no value, a language model may fill the gap from public page excerpts ("estimated"). The key figures use only values read from the shop page.
• Every figure states n (shops with a value) and the population. Analyses with n below 30 are not published. Percentages are rounded to whole percent; the median is exact.
• Payment methods count only when read from the policy or shop page or from structured data (the same allow-list as the return window); estimated values or other origins (e.g. the navigation tree) are excluded. They are "recorded by OSG", not verified at checkout.
• A return window of 0 days is excluded (no returns, no window).

Limits

• The dataset is strongly US-heavy; only for the US is n large enough for a separate statement. No statement about the German or European market.
• Statutory withdrawal periods and voluntary return windows are not separated in the field; the cluster at 14 days may be law or policy.
• Not published because the data cannot support it: breakdown by category, by country other than the US, free return label, share offering tracking.
• To report an error, use the contact page; the figures are recomputed with every build.