How to setup shipping for your store?

Shipping methods can be categorized into two groups based on how the rates are calculated:

1. Manual methods (by rate areas): These methods calculate rates using rules that you manually define in the seller panel. You have control over setting up the rates based on your specified criteria.
2. Real-time shipping methods (automatic): These methods involve sending the order data to third-party services when a customer proceeds to checkout. If the service supports shipping to the specified destination, the shipping method will be made available to the customer in real-time. The rates are automatically calculated based on the relevant order data.

To set up shipping, we suggest utilizing a real-time method that automatically calculates shipping rates based on customer-provided information, including:

• Shipping address
• Order total
• Weight of items in the order
• Number of items in the order
• Specific product settings 

Login into your vendor store, under the Settings tab, select shipping methods and click the plus sign on the top right to add new method.

To start you need to select the rate calculation which refers to how the shipping cost is determined. There are two methods of rate calculation:

1. Manual (by rate areas): This method relies on predefined tables that contain charges and rates. You can set up these rates in the "Shipping Time and Rates" tab on the editing page of the shipping method (available for already created shipping methods).

1.1  By customer's address: Shipping time and rates are calculated based on the rate area associated with the customer's shipping address.

1.2  Pickup from store: Shipping time and rates are calculated based on the rate area of the selected pickup point.

1. Real-time (automatic): This method relies on rates obtained from a third-party service. The rates are received in real-time when the customer places an order. Your store retrieves the current rates from the third-party service to calculate the shipping cost accurately.

NB: Make sure to set the Status to Disabled until your shipping method if configured and tested.

MANUAL SHIPPING METHOD 

For manual shipping method select “By customer’s address” or “Pickup from store”

On the General tab:

1. Name: Enter the name of the shipping method that customers will see on the checkout page. For example, you can use "Fast Shipping" as the name.
2. Delivery time: you can setup your delivery time in days such as “1-2 days”
3. Description: provide a short description for your shipping service.

By specifying these properties, you can configure the shipping method according to your requirements.

Navigate to the "Shipping Time and Rates" tab.

To specify the availability of your shipping method, select the desired rate areas from the dropdown list. If there are rate areas in your store that are not included in the shipping method, orders will not be delivered to those areas.

Provide the Shipping time value for each rate area. If a rate area has its own specified shipping time, it will be shown to customers from that area instead of the general delivery time.

Specify the Rate for each rate area. If you leave the Rate field empty (defaulting to zero), the delivery will be offered for free.

Rate calculation test:

To determine the shipping cost, please click on the "Recalculate Rates" button. The calculation takes into account the weight provided in the form, along with the company address and the default customer address.

In the additional settings tab, you can setup taxes: VAT, and enable free shipping.

Make sure to check “Customer must specify his/her address” if you are using manual method using customer address.

AUTOMATIC SHIPPING METHOD

To set up a shipping method utilizing DHL delivery services, follow these steps:

From the rate calculation select DHL

On the General tab:

1. Name: Enter the name of the shipping method that customers will see on the checkout page. For example, you can use "DHL" as the name.
2. Rate calculation: Set the rate calculation option to "Realtime".
3. Carrier: Choose "DHL" as the carrier for the shipping method.
4. Shipping service: Select the desired shipping service from the options available. For example, you can choose "DHL Express Worldwide" as the shipping service.

By specifying these properties, you can configure the shipping method according to your requirements. 

On the Configure tab, configure the following settings for the DHL shipping method:

1. Site ID: Enter your DHL ID in the designated field.
2. Password: Provide the password associated with your DHL account.
3. Account number: Enter your DHL account number.
4. Account country: Specify the country associated with your DHL account.
5. Test mode: You have the option to enable this checkbox if you wish to test the shipping method without actually shipping any products.
6. System of measurement: Choose between Imperial (in, lb) or Metric (cm, kg) as the preferred system of measurement for the DHL shipping method.
7. Max box weight: Define the maximum weight limit for each box.
8. Package length/width/height: Specify the dimensions (length, width, and height) of the box used for shipping.

To obtain your Site ID and Password, please follow these steps:

1. Register through the XML portal using your DHL Express account number.
2. Within 1-2 business days after registration, you will receive a production Site ID and Password.

DHL XML Portal: https://xmlportal.dhl.com/register

Navigate to the Shipping Time and Rates tab. Indicate the rate areas in which you wish to provide the shipping method.

Proceed to the Test Rate Calculation tab. Click on the Recalculate Rates button to determine the shipping cost. The calculation takes into consideration the weight value specified on the General tab, as well as the default customer and company addresses.

In the additional settings tab, you can setup taxes: VAT, and enable free shipping.

Make sure to check “Customer must specify his/her address” for automatic methods

Hide shipping method

If you have recently created a new shipping method and wish to hide it until you have configured it properly, follow these steps:

1. Go to the General tab of the shipping method settings.
2. Set the Status of the method to Disabled.
3. Click on the Save button to save the changes. By disabling the method, it will be hidden from customers until you have finished configuring it to your satisfaction.