Shopify shipping costs: Based on distance, shipping company, and shopping cart contents

Configuring shipping costs is a simple task in Shopify, but it can occasionally take on unexpected proportions. This is especially true for B2B Shopify stores, where shipping surcharges are to be levied based on the supplier, the distance to the customer, or the contents of the shopping cart, i.e., the products.

Contrary to popular belief, this is easily possible, but it requires two things:

First, you need the Shopify “Advanced” or ‘Plus’ plan, as only these plans include the “Shipping rates calculated by third parties” feature.

Second, you need a Shopify app that allows you to implement the corresponding shipping surcharges. Shipeasy from LogBase is particularly suitable for this purpose.

Shipping costs based on distance/shipping company

The Shopify app Shipeasy offers a wide range of configuration options. If you work with shipping costs from the shipping company, which can be calculated based on distance and, if applicable, quantity (e.g., partial pallets or product weight), this can be adjusted.

Shipping can also be configured with hierarchies. This means that if products from two manufacturers with different surcharges are in the shopping cart, values can be used to determine which rule takes precedence.

Shipping costs based on shopping cart contents

We have been able to implement all shipping requirements with the Shipeasy app so far, but it is rather difficult to keep track of the large number of rules. However, the app offers a test function that allows you to fill your shopping cart as a customer and then see in the app why no shipping method was displayed or why a specific shipping method was displayed.

If you work with rules based on the products in the shopping cart, this function is absolutely indispensable. You should also regularly check whether customers have visited the shop who were unable to select a shipping method. With complicated shipping rules, it is quite possible that the shipping cost configuration will need to be optimized a few times until everything works flawlessly.