Another case is when we have different carriers which provide different quality of shipping, merchant needs to use different pricing because cost for merchant is different and it’s up to customer which method is better - cheaper but with some kind of lower quality or more expensive but with better quality. I think shipping time is on of example of quality indicator but not the only one.
Topic summary
Core issue: For subscription checkouts, Shopify only shows the cheapest “subscription shipping” rate, preventing customers from choosing faster methods, specific carriers, pickup points, or operationally different options (even at the same price).
Impact and examples:
- Perishables (e.g., wine) need expedited shipping to avoid heat exposure.
- Markets relying on pickup lockers need to choose among nearby pickup points; only one shows for subscriptions.
- Different carrier quality/speed can’t be offered; thresholds (e.g., free shipping over £17) aren’t respected for subscriptions.
- Merchants report manual workarounds and customer loss (one cited 10–15%).
Workarounds (imperfect):
- Add a one-off/free item to trigger full shipping options; can create two shipping sections and double-charge.
- Apps like Checkout Buddy selling “express shipping” as a product; CSS hiding of free rate; brittle UX.
Recent update: Customers can now choose a rate for the initial order only; renewals still default to the cheapest. Shopify suggests apps update the subscription contract post-purchase via API to set preferred shipping for renewals.
Requested outcomes:
- Multiple shipping options at checkout for subscriptions.
- Persist chosen method for all renewals.
- Full support for pickup-point selection and shipping apps/Functions.
- Respect admin pricing thresholds.
Status: No ETA; “on radar.” Screenshots illustrate the limitations. Discussion ongoing.
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