Hi Shopify Team and Fellow Merchants,
I’d like to request a feature that allows merchants to display estimated delivery dates at checkout for custom shipping options. Currently, Shopify only supports estimated delivery dates for built-in shipping options like Standard or Express. However, for merchants with custom shipping methods or made-to-order products, there’s no way to provide accurate delivery estimates at checkout.
Use Case:
Many merchants, including myself, sell a mix of in-stock and made-to-order products. For example:
- In-stock items: These can ship immediately, and Shopify’s current system works well for displaying estimated delivery dates.
- Made-to-order items: These require additional production time (e.g., 10-15 business days) before shipping, but Shopify doesn’t allow us to display accurate delivery dates for these products.
Currently, the only workaround is to add a custom message like "Ships in 7-10 business days." However:
- This message is static and doesn’t dynamically calculate or display delivery dates.
- It can’t account for production time + shipping time.
- It can’t be translated, which is a major issue for stores serving multilingual customers.
Proposed Solution:
Custom Shipping Delay Settings:
- Allow merchants to set custom shipping delays for specific products or shipping methods (e.g., "10-15 business days for production").
- Combine this delay with the shipping time to calculate and display an accurate estimated delivery date at checkout.
Dynamic Delivery Date Display:
- Show the estimated delivery date (e.g., "Arrives between Dec 20 and Dec 25") for all shipping options, including custom ones.
- Automatically adjust based on the customer’s location, selected shipping method, and product-specific delays.
Multilingual Support:
- Ensure that delivery date messages can be translated into multiple languages for stores serving international customers.
Business Impact:
This feature would:
- Improve Customer Experience: Customers want clear and accurate delivery dates, especially for made-to-order or custom products. This builds trust and reduces confusion.
- Streamline Operations: Merchants wouldn’t need to rely on static messages or third-party apps to communicate delivery timelines.
- Increase Conversions: Accurate delivery dates at checkout can reduce cart abandonment, especially for high-ticket or custom products.
- Support Multilingual Stores: Translating delivery date messages ensures a seamless experience for international customers.
Why This Matters:
- Custom Products Are Common: Many merchants sell made-to-order or custom products that require additional production time. Shopify’s current system doesn’t accommodate these workflows.
- Static Messages Are Limiting: Static messages like "Ships in 7-10 business days" are not dynamic, can’t calculate delivery dates, and don’t support translations.
- Competitive Edge: Other platforms offer more robust delivery date features, making Shopify less appealing for merchants with complex shipping needs.
Additional Arguments:
- Universal Appeal: This feature benefits all merchants, from small businesses to enterprise-level stores, especially those selling custom or made-to-order products.
- Scalability: As Shopify grows, supporting more complex shipping workflows will attract a wider range of merchants.
- Customer Satisfaction: Accurate delivery dates reduce customer inquiries and complaints, improving the overall shopping experience.
If anyone else has faced similar challenges or would benefit from this feature, please share your thoughts or upvote this request! Let’s make Shopify even better for merchants with custom shipping needs.
Thank you for considering this enhancement!
