Before your first order, you must decide how to distribute your products. This article will help you to choose and set up shipping options that give your customers a great shopping experience through checkout.
If you sell products that do not require shipping, you may skip this step on checkout.
The three methods for distribution are in-store pickup, shipment via postal or delivery service, and third-party fulfillment services.
Plan a shipping strategy for your store, keeping in mind the strategy might change as your business grows. StoreFront offers flexible shipping setup, so you can find the strategy that works best for you and adjust it, as needed.
There are three basic strategies.
Tip
This is a good starting point for small businesses who have limited resources.
If you ship products using a delivery service, you can charge your customers the exact rates you pay to ship their order. This shipping rate is displayed on checkout when a customer places their order.
StoreFront integrates with UPS, USPS, FedEx, Royal Mail, Canada Post, and Brasil Correios to provide rates.
You may also set rates based on the weight or amount of an order, adjusting the shipping fee accordingly.
If you can calculate your average shipping cost to send a package, you can set a flat rate (for example, $5 per order) or a percentage (for example, 10% of the order subtotal) for every package. For more information about setting up flat rates, see Custom Rates Based on Subtotal or Weight.
Free shipping attracts customers. When offered above a certain threshold (for example, free shipping for all orders over $50), free shipping can encourage customers to buy more. One of the ways to offer free shipping at minimum expense is to include the shipping fee in your product's price. Calculate the average cost of shipping and add this to your product's price.
In case some of your items do not fall into the general shipping strategy you plan to fulfill in your store, you can define product-specific methods.
Once you have a strategy, make sure your rates are accurate. To show the most accurate rates, you should:
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add product weights
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add product sizes
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add package sizes
If you want to add extra cost for handling and packaging, set up handling fees.
To set up shipping rates:
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Go to the Store Menu, and click Shipping & Pickup.
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Type the origin address where you will be shipping from.
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Add shipping destination zones.
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Add shipping rates.
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If you offer in-store pickup, enter the address and specify days and times for pickup.
Shipping settings affect what customers see at checkout. After you set up shipping, we recommend placing a test order to check the customer experience and ensure your rates display correctly.
You may provide options, but your customers only see those applicable to their order.
You can arrange shipping options in the order you prefer. The first option shows as the default. We recommend inexpensive options first, so you do not scare customers away with high shipping rates.
When you receive an order and payment, it is time to ship!
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Pack the products well, so they are not damaged during the trip to the customer.
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Fill out or print the customer's address. If you write by hand, ensure it is legible. Depending on volume, we recommend special apps for printing shipping labels.
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Bring the package to your preferred shipping company.
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Be sure to send any tracking numbers to the customer.
Note
You can also use fulfillment services to fill your orders.