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TL;DR: Setting up your store for Mexican customers involves five key areas: currency (show MXN), payments (accept OXXO and local methods), shipping (use duty-inclusive messaging), language (Spanish helps but isn't mandatory), and trust signals (address Mexico-specific concerns). You don't need a separate store — most platforms support multi-currency and market-specific settings. Start with basics: enable Mexico shipping, show prices in pesos, and communicate "no surprise fees." Advanced optimization (full Spanish site, Mexican payment methods) can come after you validate demand.

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Making Your Store Mexico-Ready

You've decided to sell to Mexico. Smart move.

Now you need to configure your store so Mexican customers can actually buy from you — and have a good experience doing it.

This guide covers the practical steps for Shopify and WooCommerce stores.

1. Currency — Show prices in Mexican Pesos (MXN)
2. Payments — Accept how Mexicans prefer to pay
3. Shipping — Clear messaging, no surprises
4. Language — Spanish helps, but English works
5. Trust — Address Mexico-specific concerns

Let's go through each.

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Mexican shoppers think in pesos. Showing USD creates:

• Mental math friction
• Uncertainty about final cost
• Higher bounce rates

Shopify Setup

Enable Markets:

1. Go to Settings → Markets
2. Add Mexico as a market
3. Set currency to MXN
4. Enable automatic currency conversion

Shopify Payments Multi-Currency:

• Automatically converts prices
• Shows local currency based on visitor location
• Handles exchange rates

WooCommerce Setup

Currency Switcher Plugins:

• WOOCS – Currency Switcher
• WooCommerce Multi-Currency
• Aelia Currency Switcher

Configuration:

1. Install currency plugin
2. Add MXN as currency option
3. Set exchange rate (auto or manual)
4. Enable geo-detection for automatic switching

Price Display Tips

• Round to clean numbers (299 MXN, not 298.47 MXN)
• Include "MXN" or "$" with country indicator
• Show converted price prominently, not as an afterthought

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Credit cards are common in Mexico, but not universal. Accepting local payment methods increases conversion significantly.

Payment Methods in Mexico

| Method | Usage | What It Is | |--------|-------|------------| | Credit/Debit Cards | 50-60% | Standard Visa/MC/Amex | | OXXO | 20-30% | Cash payment at convenience stores | | Mercado Pago | 15-20% | Latin America's PayPal equivalent | | Bank Transfer (SPEI) | 5-10% | Direct bank transfer |

Shopify Payment Setup

Shopify Payments:

• Cards work automatically
• No additional setup for international cards

OXXO via Shopify:

1. Go to Settings → Payments
2. Enable Shopify Payments for Mexico
3. OXXO appears as checkout option

Mercado Pago:

1. Install Mercado Pago app from Shopify App Store
2. Connect your Mercado Pago account
3. Enable as payment method

WooCommerce Payment Setup

Cards via Stripe:

• Standard Stripe supports Mexican cards
• No special configuration needed

OXXO via Stripe:

1. In Stripe Dashboard, enable OXXO
2. Configure WooCommerce Stripe plugin
3. OXXO appears at checkout for Mexican customers

Mercado Pago:

1. Install WooCommerce Mercado Pago plugin
2. Connect account
3. Configure settings

Payment Tips

• Don't require every method at launch — cards + one local method is fine
• Test the checkout flow for each payment method
• OXXO has a voucher step (customer pays at store within 3 days)

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Shipping messaging makes or breaks Mexico sales. Mexican consumers have been burned by surprise fees. Your job is to communicate clarity.

Key Messages to Include

On Product Pages:

✓ Ships to Mexico
✓ 7-12 day delivery
✓ All duties included — no surprise fees

At Checkout:

Shipping to Mexico: FREE
(Includes all customs and duties — nothing more to pay)

In Confirmation Emails:

Your order is on its way to Mexico!
Estimated delivery: [date range]
Remember: All fees are included. You won't pay anything additional on delivery.

Shopify Shipping Setup

Create Mexico Shipping Zone:

1. Settings → Shipping and Delivery
2. Create new shipping zone for Mexico
3. Add shipping rates (or free shipping)

Shipping Rate Options:

• Free shipping (build into product price)
• Flat rate (e.g., $X for all Mexico orders)
• Calculated rates (from fulfillment app)

Fulfillment App Integration: If using duty-inclusive fulfillment partner:

1. Install their Shopify app
2. Connect store
3. App calculates shipping automatically

WooCommerce Shipping Setup

Add Mexico Shipping Zone:

1. WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping
2. Add shipping zone for Mexico
3. Add shipping methods to zone

Shipping Classes: Create Mexico-specific shipping class if rates differ from other countries.

Messaging Placement

Put shipping info where customers look:

• Product page (near price)
• Cart page (before checkout button)
• Checkout (shipping selection step)
• Header banner ("Free shipping to Mexico!")

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Full Spanish localization is ideal but not required to start.

Minimum Viable Approach

Many Mexican online shoppers read English, especially for international purchases. Start with:

English site with Spanish essentials:

• Shipping policy in Spanish
• FAQ in Spanish (or bilingual)
• Customer service can respond in Spanish

Spanish Translation Priority

If you're going to translate, prioritize:

1. Checkout flow — Shipping options, payment buttons, confirmation
2. Trust elements — Return policy, shipping FAQ, contact info
3. Product descriptions — Title, key features
4. Marketing copy — Homepage, category pages

Shopify Language Setup

Shopify Markets:

1. Settings → Markets → Mexico
2. Add Spanish language
3. Use Shopify Translate app or manual translation

Translation Apps:

• Langify
• Weglot
• Shopify Translate & Adapt

WooCommerce Language Setup

Multilingual Plugins:

• WPML (most comprehensive)
• Polylang (free option)
• TranslatePress

Setup:

1. Install multilingual plugin
2. Add Spanish as language
3. Translate priority content
4. Set up language switcher

Translation Quality

| Approach | Quality | Cost | Speed | |----------|---------|------|-------| | Google Translate | Basic | Free | Instant | | DeepL | Good | Free/Paid | Instant | | Freelance translator | Professional | $0.05-0.15/word | Days | | Native speaker review | Best | $50-200 | Days |

Recommendation: Start with DeepL for key pages, get native speaker review for checkout and policies.

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Mexican consumers have specific concerns when buying from international stores. Address them proactively.

Common Concerns

"Will I really receive my package?"

• Show delivery success rate
• Display tracking capabilities
• Include customer testimonials from Mexico

"Will I have to pay extra at customs?"

• Emphasize "duty-inclusive" or "all fees included"
• Explain what this means
• Be explicit: "No additional payment required"

"What if something goes wrong?"

• Clear return policy
• Contact information
• Response time commitment

Trust Elements to Add

Mexico-Specific FAQ Section:

## Shipping to Mexico FAQ

**Do I have to pay customs fees?**
No. All duties and taxes are included in your order.
The price you pay is the final price.

**How long does shipping take?**
7-12 business days to most of Mexico.
Major cities (CDMX, Guadalajara, Monterrey) often faster.

**How do I track my order?**
You'll receive tracking information by email once shipped.
Track your package from our warehouse to your door.

**What if my package doesn't arrive?**
Contact us at [email]. We'll investigate and either
reship or refund — your choice.

Social Proof:

• Reviews from Mexican customers (if available)
• "X orders delivered to Mexico" counter
• Testimonials mentioning Mexico experience

Contact Options:

• WhatsApp (popular in Mexico for business communication)
• Email with Spanish response capability
• Clear response time ("We respond within 24 hours")

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Day 1: Basics

• [ ] Enable Mexico in shipping zones
• [ ] Add MXN currency display
• [ ] Write "duty-inclusive" shipping messaging
• [ ] Test checkout flow for Mexico address

Week 1: Payments

• [ ] Verify credit cards work for Mexico
• [ ] Add OXXO (if Shopify Payments supports your region)
• [ ] Consider Mercado Pago integration

Week 2: Trust & Language

• [ ] Create Mexico shipping FAQ
• [ ] Translate checkout essentials to Spanish
• [ ] Add Mexico-specific trust badges

Month 1: Optimization

• [ ] Review Mexico conversion rate
• [ ] Get feedback from Mexican customers
• [ ] Expand Spanish content if warranted

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Shopify Advantages

• Native multi-currency via Markets
• OXXO integration in some regions
• Easy shipping zone configuration

WooCommerce Advantages

• More plugin flexibility
• Full control over checkout
• Lower payment processing costs possible

Both Platforms

• Integrate with duty-inclusive fulfillment apps
• Support currency conversion
• Allow shipping zone customization

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Mistake 1: Hiding shipping cost until checkout Mexican customers bail on surprise costs. Show shipping early.

Mistake 2: Not mentioning duty-inclusive If you offer it, say it loudly. This is a major differentiator.

Mistake 3: MXN without indicator "$299" is ambiguous. "$299 MXN" is clear.

Mistake 4: Ignoring mobile Most Mexican e-commerce is mobile. Test everything on phone.

Mistake 5: Over-complicating before validating Full Spanish site, all payment methods, complete localization — after you prove demand. Start simple, expand with success.

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Do I need a separate store for Mexico?

No. Most platforms support multi-market from one store. Use currency/language settings and shipping zones to customize the Mexico experience.

Should I price products differently for Mexico?

You can, but start with currency conversion of your existing prices. Adjust based on demand and competition once you have data.

How important is Spanish really?

Important but not blocking. Many Mexican buyers purchase from English sites. Checkout and trust elements in Spanish help most. Full translation is optimization, not requirement.

What if I don't have duty-inclusive shipping?

You can still sell to Mexico, but communicate clearly what customers might pay at delivery. Duty-inclusive is strongly recommended for conversion and customer experience.

How do I handle returns from Mexico?

Simplest approach: refund without requiring return for items under a certain value. International returns are expensive and complex. Clear policy is better than complicated process.