Fallback rates let you return a rate at checkout when a customer's zip code doesn't match any of the delivery zones you've set up in Zapiet - Rates by Zip Code. Without them, a customer entering an unmatched zip code sees no rate and can't complete their order. Turn fallback rates on when you'd rather quote a standard rate than block the checkout.
Fallback rates only apply when none of your delivery zones match. A configured zone always wins, so turning this on won't change the rates your existing zones already return.
Enabling fallback rates
Click Settings.
In the Fallback rate section, tick the Enable a fallback delivery rate box.
Enter the rate name and the rate price for the fallback rate.
Click Save.
Your fallback rate is live straight away. We recommend testing your rates with a zip code you know isn't in any of your zones, to confirm the fallback rate appears.
When the fallback rate applies
The app checks your delivery zones first, every time. It only falls back once every matching method has been tried and none of them found a zone for the customer's zip code, including:
Exact zip code matches
Partial matches and prefixes
Wildcards
Ranges
Normalised formats and country-specific zip code formatting
If a zone matches, the app returns the rates for that zone and the fallback rate is not shown. If no zone matches and fallback rates are turned off, the customer sees no rate, which is how the app behaves today.
The fallback rate is not used when a zone matches but none of its rates cover the order.
For example, if the matching zone only has rates for orders over $10, a customer placing a $9 order sees no rate at checkout, even with fallback rates turned on. Make sure the rates in each zone cover every order value you want to accept, from your lowest minimum to your highest maximum.
Fallback rates work whether you're using Zapiet - Rates by Zip Code on its own or integrated with Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery, and they apply to both shipping and local delivery orders.
Disabling fallback rates
Click Settings.
In the Fallback rate section, untick the Enable a fallback delivery rate box.
Click Save.
Customers entering a zip code that isn't in one of your zones will no longer see a fallback rate and won't be able to check out. Make sure your delivery zones cover everywhere you want to deliver to before you turn fallback rates off.
Troubleshooting
If your fallback rate isn't appearing at checkout, check the following:
Confirm Zapiet - Rates by Zip Code is enabled in your settings.
Check that the zip code you're testing with really isn't covered by one of your zones. Zip code matching covers the formats we match against.
If the zip code does match a zone, check the order value against that zone's minimum and maximum order conditions. A matched zone with no rate for the order value returns no rate, and the fallback rate won't be used.
All products that require shipping must be marked as a physical product in Shopify.
If you've integrated with Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery, check that the checkout method you're testing is one you've allowed the app to return rates for.
If you're still not seeing your fallback rate, let us know the details on chat and we'll be happy to help.