Why is disabling shipping notifications on Shopify so challenging?

[Sharon_B]

I don't know why Shopify makes shipping so difficult. I'm using Pirate Ship now (in large part because Shopify insists on plastering their logo all over the labels) but nonetheless CANNOT disable Shopify's shipping confirmation and shipping update emails to the customer. VERY frustrating. It would be so simple for them to let us disable those notifications. I'm sure that they are partly doing it to encourage (coerce) us to use their shipping services (because then you can disable them on individual orders), but all it does for me is to make me wonder sometimes why I am using them for a host. (If I want to be bossed around, may as well be on the marketplace sites.)

[Andrew]

Hi @Sharon_B,

Hyde here from Shopify.

I completely understand why you would want to remove Shopify branding from your shipping labels, which is why I am escalating this feedback to our developers on your behalf.

In relation to shipping notifications, it is possible to disable notifications as outlined here.

Here's how to disable the shipping confirmation notification:

How to disable the shipping update notification:

How to disable the shipment out for delivery or shipment delivered notification:

 Of course, if you have any questions about this, please do let me know. However, rest assured that in relation to your comment about wanting to remove any Shopify logos from your labels I have passed this on.

All the best, Hyde.

[Sharon_B]

Thank you Hyde for your response. I appreciate it.

However, it actually backs up my statement that it is a real hassle to disable all of these notifications. Shopify is sending at minimum 4 and possibly more emails (if the shipping is updated by the delivery service, which in the case of USPS can be many, many times) concerning one shipment!! The customer is getting completely inundated with emails.

Why, why, why can't all of these notifications be disabled the way the last one is (i.e., with a check box under notification settings).

And actually, you can't disable the shipping confirmations and updates as described here. The reason being that as soon as I do a label at Pirate Ship, Shopify is apparently sent the info because the order will immediately show "Fullfilled" with the tracking number. So no chance to get in there and disable them before at least the shipping confirm is sent. I will contact Pirate Ship and see if they can disconnect that process. But then I still would have to go into the order and twice input info so that I can disable the other notifications. Hassle is a nice word to use for this process!

Of course, Shopify makes it easy to disable at least the shipping confirmation IF YOU USE SHOPIFY SHIPPING. You just uncheck the box when you do the label. This is why I say there is a bit of coercion here. It does seem like possibly a deliberate attempt to discourage us from using other shipping services.

I will contact PirateShip and see if it is possible to disconnect communication between them and Shopify at the point the labels are purchased. (Would not want it to happen before then or the order info wouldn't transfer.)

[Andrew]

Ah! I understand what you mean, and I totally understand why that would be beneficial for you. 

The reason that Shipping Confirmation emails cannot be disabled unless you are using Shopify Shipping is that Shopify was created as an out-of-the-box solution for entrepreneurs. The idea is that Shopify provides a fully automated starting point upon which you can build, innovate, and develop. The platform, therefore, provides the full cycle of order fulfillment requirements, up to (and including) notifications for the customer, so that you do not have to trouble yourself with that and can focus on making sales. 

Of course, if you opt to use a third-party app or tool instead, that can create conflicting or overlapping steps in the cycle of order fulfillment. This is because there is an ecosystem of apps and themes around Shopify, and so many moving parts created by third parties will not always align completely with what Shopify offers as a base product. It's definitely a very good idea to consult with Pirate Ship too, to see if they can turn their own automatic triggers off at the point the labels are purchased.

As we are always grateful for feedback like this in order to improve our product to meet your needs, I'll be sure to pass this on to our developers. -Hyde