Those who work with WordPress works, the plugin WooCommerce comes not past. This is probably the - yes, you can say - most powerful plugin in the field of ECommerce functionalities that can be embedded in WordPress. WooCommerce's great strength lies in its strong ties to the WordPress framework. The main focus is on the use of Custom Post Types, Custom Taxonomies, of meta data, filters and of hooks. Also, the overwritability of the templates by themes is one of the features of this plugin. Developed by WooThemes, this plugin is always being updated. WooCommerce can definitely keep up with other established shop systems. Because of the strong distribution of WordPress, WooCommerce also enjoys great popularity. With the operation of WooCommerce via WordPress, however, questions about legal security arise for the German market. Have you decided to use WooCommerce in Germany, there is a certain problem that you will soon encounter. This is because the WooCommerce plugin is maintained by an international team of developers. For this reason, the plugin is not exactly optimally adapted to the requirements of the German market, in particular, the special legal conditions of ECommerce in Germany are not taken into account here. This already starts with the fact that a price display is not possible in concrete terms. And also the cancellation policy can not be inserted with WooCommerce. In other respects, WooCommerce is of course compatible with the German framework for e-commerce. But you can work here with some tricks to also work with WooCommerce legally compliant in the field of ECommerce in Germany.
Price labelling solution for Germany in WooCommerce
In terms of pricing, problems do not only occur when using WooCommerce on WordPress. The problem with the pricing of online shop software systems is sufficiently known and is accordingly strictly observed. With WooCommerce, however, it is not possible to implement the regulations applicable to German online shops exactly. B2C and B2B sales offers are particularly susceptible to warnings. But the Price Indication Ordinance (PAngV) must be observed at all costs. Even if it is somewhat cumbersome to display with WooCommerce. In any case, the final price and also the net price must be indicated. It must also be clearly indicated whether it is an offer for commercial or private customers. It is sufficient that a corresponding note is attached directly to the individual product. This also works with asterisk references, which contain the reference at the lower end of the Shopdarstellung then clarifying, like "inclusive VAT plus forwarding expenses". When selling abroad, the following applies: The shipping costs must be stated in detail here. Here, too, the asterisk hint can help. Because with WooCommerce in WordPress, this is difficult to display according to the Price Indication Ordinance that applies in Germany. Because the representation of the price required there is fundamentally different from the standard representation in WooCommerce. So that you nevertheless with the plugin WooCommerce and WordPress a legally compliant online shop you can also use links in addition to the asterisk with an explanation of the VAT included below. This is especially useful for the shipping costs incurred in Germany and abroad in terms of clarity and is still legally compliant. Because the reference to the forwarding expenses is contained by linking.
Other possible solutions due to missing functions
With WooCommerce it is not possible to place a reference to the delivery time in addition to the value added tax or the reference to the shipping costs. But even this detail belongs to the standards of an online shop operated in Germany. You can, however, cleverly incorporate the reference to the delivery time into the product description text. With the revocation instruction, which may not be missing and which only makes an online shop legally safe, you can use the link, as with the shipping costs. The same applies to the privacy policy. In addition, under WooCommerce also the purchase completion button does not correspond to the legal requirements. Because this must be clearly marked in a legally compliant German online shop. And that is with "Buy now" or "Order subject to payment". Here you have to help yourself again by marking the button that you can use separately. An automatic order confirmation is sent automatically by WooCommerce. In this point you don't have to worry, because this point corresponds completely to the guidelines for a legally secure online shop in Germany. Unfortunately the details in this order confirmation are not sufficiently detailed. This means that you have to send the terms and conditions in a separate email afterwards for shipping costs and the note on VAT as well as the cancellation policy.
WooCommerce Germanized
As you can see, the WordPress plugin WooCommerce in its basic form is not sufficient to operate an online shop in Germany. If you don't want to bother with the customizations, you can of course also use the plugin WooCommerce Germanized. With this additional plugin you can adapt the WooCommerce installation to the German market in a few steps. During the development of this plugin, great importance was attached to theme compatibility. This plugin only overwrites delicate templates so that the adjustments can be made. It is thus possible to enter delivery times, legally compliant price labels according to German e-commerce law and to create reference pages.
