How to Add Shipping Methods in Zibster ECommerce
Overview
Shipping methods determine what customers pay for delivery when they purchase physical products through your Zibster ECommerce store. You can offer options such as standard shipping, rush delivery, free shipping, or local pickup.
This guide explains how to create a shipping method, set its rate, and choose whether to include additional shipping costs assigned to individual products.
STEP ONE
Log in to your Zibster account and click ECOMMERCE in the left-side menu.
This opens your ECommerce Dashboard, where you can manage your products, payment settings, shipping methods, orders, and other ECommerce settings.
STEP TWO
At the top of the ECommerce Dashboard, click PAYMENT, then click SHIPPING from the dropdown menu.
The Shipping page displays any shipping methods you have already created.
STEP THREE
Click NEW SHIPPING METHOD.
Enter a name in SHIPPING METHOD. Customers will see this name at checkout, so choose one that clearly describes the option, such as Standard Shipping, Rush Delivery, or Free Local Pickup.
You can also enter a DESCRIPTION with details such as delivery expectations or pickup instructions.
STEP FOUR
Under PRICE, choose how to calculate the shipping charge:
- FLAT SHIPPING: Charge a fixed amount for the order.
- PERCENTAGE SHIPPING: Calculate shipping as a percentage of the order total. You can also enter a MINIMUM amount so the charge does not fall below the amount you specify.
To create a method with no base shipping charge, select FLAT SHIPPING and enter $0.00.
FINAL STEP
Choose a setting for EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS:
- NO: Include applicable additional shipping costs assigned to individual products.
- YES: Exclude additional shipping costs assigned to individual products.
Because this setting asks whether to exclude those costs, select NO when you want them included.
Review your settings and click ADD SHIPPING OPTION. Your new method will appear on the Shipping page.
How Additional Shipping Costs Work
You can assign an ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COST to a product that costs more to package, handle, or deliver. When the customer selects a shipping method that allows additional shipping costs, the product’s charge is added to that method.
For example, a $10.00 shipping method plus a product’s $5.00 additional shipping cost can result in a $15.00 shipping charge when EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS is set to NO.
If you have no base shipping charge but want to collect product-level additional costs, create a method with FLAT SHIPPING set to $0.00 and EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS set to NO.
See How To Add Additional Shipping To Individual Products for complete instructions.
Free Shipping and Local Pickup
To create a shipping method that charges $0.00, set FLAT SHIPPING to $0.00. If you also want to exclude additional shipping costs assigned to products, set EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS to YES.
You can use these settings for Free Local Pickup when customers collecting their orders should not pay product-level shipping costs. Give the method a clear name so customers know they are choosing pickup.
If the base shipping rate should be free but applicable product-level additional costs should still be charged, set EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS to NO instead.
To offer free shipping as a promotion, you can create a Free Shipping coupon instead of adding a permanent $0.00 method. You must have at least one shipping method set up before you can use the coupon. See How to Set Up a Free Shipping Coupon in Zibster for instructions.
Manage Existing Shipping Methods
Return to ECOMMERCE → PAYMENT → SHIPPING to manage your methods:
- To edit a method, click its name in the SHIPPING METHOD NAME column.
- To delete a method, click the checkbox to the left of its name, then click DELETE.
You can create multiple methods to give customers a choice of delivery or pickup options. You can also configure country fees when you need an additional charge based on the customer’s shipping country.
Check Your Checkout
After creating or changing a shipping method, test checkout with a physical product configured to require shipping. Confirm that the expected methods appear and that the shipping charge is correct.
If you use product-level additional shipping costs, test a product with one assigned. Test any free shipping or pickup methods to confirm whether those charges are included or excluded as intended.
Shipping methods apply to products configured to require shipping. Gift Cards and Services do not require shipping.
Example: Free Local Pickup
You can create a free pickup option for customers who will collect physical products from your business instead of having them shipped.
A Free Local Pickup method may use:
- Shipping Method: Free Local Pickup
- Description: Local Pick Up
- Flat Shipping: $0.00
- Exclude Additional Shipping Costs: Yes
Selecting YES for EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS prevents product-level shipping costs from being added when the customer chooses free pickup.
Example: Free Shipping
You can create a regular free shipping option by setting FLAT SHIPPING to $0.00.
If you want the entire shipping charge to remain $0.00, select YES for EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS.
If you want the base shipping method to be free but still want applicable product-level shipping costs added, select NO instead.
If free shipping should only be available as a promotion, you can use a Free Shipping coupon rather than offering a permanent $0.00 shipping option.
Additional Options or Helpful Notes
- You can create multiple shipping methods so customers can choose between options such as standard delivery, rush delivery, local delivery, or local pickup.
- Shipping method names and descriptions are created by you. Use wording that accurately explains the delivery option you provide.
- You can return to ECOMMERCE → PAYMENT → SHIPPING at any time to edit or delete existing shipping methods.
- Country fees can be added when you need to charge an additional amount based on the customer's shipping country.
- If you use additional shipping costs on individual products, review each shipping method to confirm whether EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS should be set to YES or NO.
- Zibster provides the tools used to configure shipping calculations. You are responsible for establishing the shipping rates appropriate for your business and for processing and fulfilling customer orders in accordance with the Zibster Terms of Use.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Why isn't my shipping method appearing at checkout?
Confirm that the shipping method has been created and that the product being purchased is configured to require shipping.
If the order does not contain a physical product that requires shipping, a shipping method may not be needed during checkout.
Why isn't the additional shipping cost on my product being added?
First, confirm that at least one shipping method is available for the order. Additional shipping costs are added to a shipping method rather than acting as a shipping method by themselves.
Next, review EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS on the shipping method. This setting should be NO if you want applicable additional shipping costs included.
If you do not charge a normal base shipping fee, you can create a Flat Shipping method for $0.00 and select NO for EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS.
Why does Free Local Pickup still have a shipping charge?
Confirm that FLAT SHIPPING is set to $0.00.
You should also select YES for EXCLUDE ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COSTS if you do not want additional shipping costs from individual products added to a pickup order.
Can I edit an existing shipping method?
Yes. Go to ECOMMERCE → PAYMENT → SHIPPING, then click the name of the shipping method you want to edit.
Can I delete an existing shipping method?
Yes. Go to ECOMMERCE → PAYMENT → SHIPPING, click the checkbox to the left of the shipping method you want to remove, then click DELETE.
Before deleting a shipping method, make sure it is no longer needed for your ECommerce checkout setup.
Can I charge extra for orders shipped to certain countries?
Yes. Country fees allow you to add an additional shipping charge based on the customer's shipping country.
Does Zibster determine how much I should charge for shipping?
No. Zibster provides the tools used to configure and calculate shipping during checkout. You are responsible for determining the shipping rates appropriate for your business and for accepting, processing, and fulfilling customer orders.
Need Help?
Zibster Support Hours: Monday–Friday, 9am–6pm EST
Phone: 844.353.3412
Channels: Phone, Live Chat, Support Ticket
