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Multiple shipping profiles (Carrier Service API rates)
Multiple shipping profiles (Carrier Service API rates)
Clemency Farmer avatar
Written by Clemency Farmer
Updated over a week ago

Our latest rates feature allows merchants to use Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery rates without needing access to Shopify Carrier Service API. Take a look at our Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery rates article for more details.

Multiple shipping profiles work differently in Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery rates. You can read more about this in our Multiple shipping profiles (Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery rates) guide.

Only proceed with this article if, because of the limitations of our newest rates feature, you are using our rates with the Carrier Service API.


Even though Shopify offers the ability to have multiple shipping profiles, we don't recommend having more than one shipping profile.

Zapiet rates work by attaching the ZapietID to an item in the cart, which is used to generate rates in the checkout. For more information, please check out our ZapietID guide.

If the items in the cart are from different shipping profiles, Shopify will send a request for rates to both profiles and combine the rates into one. The ZapietID is only attached to one item in the cart. As a result, one profile will show the correct rate and the other profile will not, resulting in no rates being displayed in the checkout.

You can read more about this in the combining shipping rates from different shipping profiles Shopify guide.

If you have more complex rates, we recommend using a shipping rates app—for a full list of the apps we are compatible with, please check out our Compatible carriers.

If you cannot disable the shipping profiles or use another app, Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery has some workarounds, but each method has advantages and disadvantages.


Requirements

  • You need to have the Carrier Service API enabled on your Shopify plan.

  • All physical products need to be marked as This product requires shipping in Shopify.

  • Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery must be added as a carrier to all Shopify shipping profiles.

    • If you're not sure how to add Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery as a carrier, please follow our Rates setup guide.


Enable fallback rates

By enabling fallback rates, Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery will return the correct rate for one rate request, and the fallback rate to the other rate request(s). These rates will then be combined into one rate, and renamed "Shipping".

Pros

  • Enabling fallback rates will provide backup rates in case the widget is bypassed.

  • If you have a free fallback rate, you can Keep the rate value the same.

Cons

  • If the fallback rate and checkout method rate have different names, the rate will be renamed "Shipping" even if it is a pickup or delivery rate.

  • For every shipping profile, the rate will increase. For example, if you have 3 shipping profiles and an item from each profile is added to the cart, then the rate will be tripled.

Please check out our fallback rates article to set them up.


Example

In this example, we will have two shipping profiles—the general shipping profile and a custom shipping profile.

In the general shipping profile, we will test with Wild flowers pink & gold bouquet, and Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery is added as a carrier.

In the second shipping profile is the product Artisan chocolate truffles, and Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery is added as a carrier.

In this example, we will check out using local delivery, which is £5.

The fallback checkout method is Shipping, which is £9.99.

If we add an item from one profile, the local delivery rate will show:

When we add items from both shipping profiles, the local delivery rate combines with the fallback rate. As the rates have different names, the combined rate is renamed “Shipping”.


Keep the rate the same

If you have a free local delivery or shipping rate, then you can use that rate to prevent the rate from multiplying or combining with your other rates.

You don't have to offer local delivery or shipping to use that checkout method for fallback rates.

Pros

  • Enabling fallback rates will provide backup rates in case the widget is bypassed.

  • The rate will not double or increase.

Cons

  • The rate will be renamed to “Shipping”, even if it is a pickup or delivery rate.

  • You need to either have free delivery or a free shipping rate.

Please follow our fallback rates article to set up your free fallback rate, and ensure your free rate matches the fallback checkout method.

When the customer checks out with items from more than one shipping profile, one profile will return the correct rate, and the other will return the free shipping rate. These will combine and be renamed to "Shipping", but the rate will be the original rate.


Example

In this example, we will have two shipping profiles—the general shipping profile and a custom shipping profile.

In the general shipping profile, we will test with Wild flowers pink & gold bouquet, and Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery is added as a carrier.

In the second shipping profile is the product Artisan chocolate truffles, and Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery is added as a carrier.

In this example, we will check out using local delivery, which is £5.

The fallback checkout method is shipping, which is free.

If we add an item from one profile, the local delivery rate will show:

When we add items from both shipping profiles, the local delivery rate combines with the fallback rate and is renamed to "Shipping".

As the fallback rate is free, the rate value stays the same.


Enable "Add _ZapietId to all items in the cart"

Only proceed with this section if, because of the limitations of our newest rates feature, you are using our rates with the Carrier Service API.

By adding the ZapietID to all items in the cart, Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery will return the correct rate every time Shopify sends a rates request to each shipping profile. These rates will then be combined into one rate.

Pros

  • The rate name will stay the same.

  • The correct rate will be generated for the selected checkout method.

Cons

  • For every shipping profile, the rate will increase.

    • For example, if you have 3 shipping profiles and an item from each profile is added to the cart, then the rate will be tripled.

  • If the customer has a large cart, they will experience a slower checkout.

  1. Within Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery, click Settings.

  2. Click Developers.

  3. In the Advanced section, tick Add _ZapietId to all items in the cart.

  4. Click Save.

The ZapietID will now be applied to all items in the cart, so each item will return the rate.

The rate will multiply for every shipping profile - e.g. for two shipping profiles the rate will double, or for three shipping profiles, the rate will triple.


Example

In this example, we will have two shipping profiles—the general shipping profile and a custom shipping profile.

In the general shipping profile, we will test with Wild flowers pink & gold bouquet, and Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery is added as a carrier.

In the second shipping profile is the product Artisan chocolate truffles, and Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery is added as a carrier.

In this example, we will check out using local delivery, which is £5.

If we add an item from one profile, the local delivery rate will show:

When we add items from both shipping profiles, the local delivery rate is added twice.

As the rate names are the same, it is still called Local Delivery with Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery, but the rate is doubled.


Notes

  • Zapiet - Pickup + Delivery cannot prevent the rates from combining, as this is the way shipping profiles in Shopify work.

  • We recommend enabling fallback rates even if you are adding the ZapietID to all items.

    • This will ensure any customers that bypass the widget will still be able to checkout.

  • If you have weight or price-based rates, then the rate will only apply to all the items in one shipping profile.

    • For example, you offer free shipping for orders of £100 and over.
      A customer checks out with £90 worth of items in shipping profile 1, and £10 worth of items in shipping profile 2.
      Profile 1 gets a rate request for £90, and profile 2 gets a rate request for £10, so neither will qualify for free shipping, and the customer will still be charged a shipping rate.

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