All shipping methods can be split into 2 groups, depending on how the rates are calculated:
Rate calculation—the way how the shipping cost will be calculated:
Note
Carrier-specific settings are defined in the Configure tab.
Shipping service—shipping services provided by the carrier. Carrier—the online service or a carrier API that will be used for rate calculation. The Shipping service setting is available only if Rate calculation is set to any variant of Real-time (automatic).
Name—the name of the shipping method as it appears on the storefront.
Status—the status of the shipping method: Active or Disabled.
Icon—an image to represent the shipping method.
You can upload an icon from your computer, find it on the server, or provide a URL to the image. Make sure to enter the alternative text that’ll appear when the icon is missing or can’t be displayed. Specifying alternative texts is good for SEO.
Images must be of one of the following formats only: JPEG, GIF, PNG. The maximum size of an uploaded image depends on your server configuration. As a rule, it should not exceed 2 MB.
Note
Shipping method icons appear on the storefront in a special Shipping methods block. You can create this block on the Design → Layouts page.
Delivery time—the time it takes to deliver an order. This info is displayed on the storefront, so that customers can decide if the delivery time meets their requirements.
Description—detailed description of the shipping method.
User groups—the user groups, the members of which will be able choose this shipping method at checkout.
Weight limit—the minimum and maximum weight of the order that can be delivered via this method. If an order doesn’t meet the weight requirements, then this shipping method won’t be offered to the customer.
Note
The following settings are available only in CS-Cart Multi-Vendor.
This tab appears only if you have set Rate calculation to any variant of Real-time (automatic) on the General tab. It means that the rates will be requested from a third-party service depending on the order data when a customer proceeds to checkout.
Here you should specify the settings of the selected shipping service. Such settings vary depending on the shipping service provider. So, if you do not know how to configure it, please refer to the carrier’s help pages and our documentation.
Hint
Once you have configured the settings, click Save. Then you’ll be able to go back to the General tab and test the rate calculation as described above.
You need to decide where your shipping method will be offered. To do this, choose the rate areas from the dropdown list. If there is a rate area in the store which you did not include in the shipping method, orders will not be delivered in this area.
Important
If a certain rate area does not exist in your store, you can add it. This is only necessary if you need to add different conditions and availability/unavailability of delivery to this area.
If you receive rates from a shipping service provider in real time, the charges from this section will be simply added to the received rates. You can use this to compensate for your actual expenses if they exceed the values returned by the carrier (e.g., packing, insurance, etc.)
You can specify price, weight or items conditions for each rate area. Once you’re done specifying them, click Save.
Important
If you do not specify the Rate value or any price/weight/items conditions for the rate areas you have added, delivery to those rate areas will be free.
Click the Recalculate rates button to find out the shipping cost. The calculation considers the weight that you specify in the form, as well as the company address and default customer address.
Questions & Feedback
Have any questions that weren't answered here? Need help with solving a problem in your online store? Want to report a bug in our software? Find out how to contact us.