How can I offer free standard shipping but charge for expedited on my platform?

[midwestinkjet]

Why is there no way to give a specific customer free UPS Ground shipping on every order, while still charging for expedited shipping? I've had my Shopify for 4 years now and have been trying to find a proper solution for this the entire time. I have seen countless discussions in the forums with Shopify store owners asking how to do this for those 4 years, and still no REAL solution for it. With so many store owners wanting to provide free Ground/Standard shipping, while still charging for Expedited, why doesn't Shopify include this in their themes moving forward?

Has anyone used another platform that allows you to do this? The ideal situation would be a simple check box that we can check under the customer's profile - "Free Standard Shipping" that automatically does not charge that customer for standard shipping.

If you know of something, please let me know.

Thank you!

[Skye]

Hi, @midwestinkjet.

Thanks for posting to the forums. I hope your day is going well!

I can absolutely understand the need to provide free UPS shipping. I actually recommend it! While this can't be added using Shopify Shipping Calculated Rates, it can be added via a free flat rate. The only difference is it will not show the UPS logo. However, you can add UPS to the title of the rate for clarity. 

To set this up, head to Settings > Shipping in your Shopify Admin. Next, select Manage Rates for the profile in question. Scroll down to the applicable zone and select Add Rate > Setup Your Own Rates. Name the rate 'UPS Ground Shipping' and provide a price of $0.

Assuming you already have your Expedited rate with UPS enabled, your customer will now see the free rate, as well as the UPS Expedited. Again, the only difference is the UPS logo will be missing. Additionally, if this rate is chosen you can still purchase a label from UPS with no issues in your admin. 

I hope that helps! I will be passing along the feedback that it would be appreciated by many to be able to include the UPS/FedEx logo for free rates at checkout on your behalf. I can see how this would allow the customer additional clarity!

In the meantime, I love that you are providing your customers with free shipping by default. This is a great marketing strategy! I would love to learn what other marketing strategies you are using to convert sessions into sales. If you have time, we have a great blog post on how to optimize your conversion rates with loads of tips and tricks. If you're up for it, feel free to send your domain and I can take a look and provide specific ideas!

[midwestinkjet]

How do I make it so it is customer specific?

[Skye]

Hi again, @midwestinkjet.

While there is no way for it to be automatic for specific customers, you can set up a free shipping discount code and provide that to a specific group of customers based on your customer segments.

If you are using Shopify Mail, you can use this guide to send the created free shipping code to the specific customers only. 

[midwestinkjet]

But that's the problem, discount codes for free shipping give free shipping across the board - both standard an expedited. I'm fine with them needing to use a code, but only for free standard or Ground shipping. I want them to pay expedited rates if they order expedited shipping.

[Skye]

Not necessarily. If you don't want to provide UPS Ground to all your customers across the board, and only a select few, you will set it up slightly different.

Instead of creating a flat rate, you will add UPS ground as a calculated rate. This would ensure those who you want to pay would have to pay the ground fee. 

Then, you will create the coupon code and send it to customer segments as explained above. However, when creating the discount you will use the option of excluding certain shipping options above a certain cost. Generally expedited rates are above $20-25, so based on your average expedited rates you can add this exclusion.

[midwestinkjet]

Ya, that's close. But for my industry, that doesn't entirely solve the issue. I could sell 5-10 individual items to someone that could total $60-70 in UPS Ground shipping, or more. I could also get someone ordering a $10 item, and if I set my limit to $60, they could select 2nd day, maybe even next day air, and I lose a lot of money on what should have otherwise only been UPS Ground for free - $7-9.

I really need to be able to give a specific customer the ability to get free UPS Ground shipping with no limits.

[Skye]

Hi, again.

Glad to hear we're getting closer. Can you provide me more context into why you are only wanting to provide the option to some customers, but not others? This will help me think of additional options.

Additionally, can you let me know what Shopify plan you are on and if it's monthly or annually? Reason being, if you need to use an app as a last resort, changing plans and using the app could save you money in the long run if your sales are high enough for lower processing fees to be a benefit. That being said, we will cross that bridge when we get to it. 

[midwestinkjet]

I don't want to give everyone free shipping because I don't need to, and why lose that revenue if I don't have to? I only want to give free shipping when it's a smart decision; either because they do a lot of business with me and it's a tool to keep them loyal, or they are a large opportunity and it's a tool to get that business.

I'm on a custom plan that is no longer available, and I pay monthly.

[Skye]

Hi, @midwestinkjet.

I understand this isn't the news you are wanting to hear, but taking a look at potential apps, this doesn't seem to be a feature that can even be done via an app. Additionally, you can always hire a developer to build a feature out for you via the Experts Marketplace, however I'm not sure that could even be done.

The reason why, is your request is extremely specific. Technically speaking, It requires the customer profiles to automatically connect to the shipping settings, which would also need to automatically connect to the checkout. There are a lot of moving parts that would need to coincide to create this feature, and for it to be custom developed for you by an Expert would be extremely expensive. 

You could definitely speak to our live advisors to contact the third party shipping apps on your behalf to verify if this can be done, however it could potentially require you to change your plan to access these apps. If you change your current plan you would lose that plan forever as it's a grandfathered plan. 

Your best option in my opinion, would be to provide your customers with the coupon code, however without a price limit. You would need to email this to the specific customers and explain clearly that the shipping code can only be used for UPS ground and if the customer uses it for Expedited Shipping their order will be cancelled. 

Another option is to change your loyalty strategy. As you mentioned above, this is a strategy you want to implement to give back to your loyal customers and increase their purchases. You could instead offer them discount codes, or loyalty points on their purchases, instead of shipping. There are tons of loyalty apps available that would allow you to provide this feature to your customers. 

Lastly, you can reconsider your shipping strategy. (Please note, this strategy is only relevant if you are an online only business, if you have a brick and mortar the following will not work.) If you are online only, pivoting to free ground shipping is a fantastic marketing strategy. The trick is you would include the price of shipping into your product prices. This way you aren't losing any revenue on your shipping as its already covered in the product price, and you can use the free shipping across the board as a great conversion strategy. It's proven that customers are more inclined to pay a bit more money for the product and get free shipping then vice versa. However, this only works if you are online only, as you don't want to increase your product prices in store.

[midwestinkjet]

okay, after some thought, I'm going to try giving free UPS Ground shipping with orders that are $249 or more in sales. Could you tell me how to set that up with them still paying UPS rates on expedited shipping? Thank you

[midwestinkjet]

...and I mean on all orders to everyone.

[Skye · Accepted solution]

That's a great idea!

To set this up follow the below instructions:

1. Open Settings > Shipping and Delivery > Manage
2. Scroll down to the applicable zone (USA) and select Add Rates
3. From here, select Set up your own rates
4. For title write UPS Ground Shipping for price put $0
5. Select Add conditions > based on order price
6. For minimum price set $249 for maximum set no limit

To make sure you maximize the conversion strategy this allows, make sure to add a popup or announcement bar letting customers know of this new campaign!

An announcement bar can generally be added natively via your theme, however if you require an app there are a few free options available. If you prefer a popup, I recommend the free Privy pop up app!

[RMedia]

Hi,

Yes, this is a common issue, and is why our team have recently built Advanced Free Shipping.
Our app will allow you to create custom Free Shipping Rules, such as offering free shipping to particular customers (via their email, or even by customer tag).  Our app even lets you choose which Shipping Method is Free, whilst leaving other methods at their regular price.

Thanks!

[RMedia]

Hey all,

Just following up with a demo video of how you can target shipping methods for shipping discounts promotions.