Ecwid allows having real-time and user-defined shipping rates.
Real-time rates
Some carrier companies provide real-time shipping rates that allow users to estimate the cost of shipping by methods provided by these companies.
Ecwid supports getting such rates from the following carriers:
Please note that Ecwid doesn't calcualte rates and doesn't use its destination zones if you use real-time shipping. It just sends information on products to the carrier and shows the returned rates.
User-defined rates
It is also possible to create custom shipping rules. In Ecwid user-defined shipping rates may depend on:
Some information about zone setup: http://www.ecwid.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2177
Troubleshooting
I've set my shipping methods up, but Ecwid doesn't ask for shipping address and doesn't show the necessary shipping rates.
Most likely you have not defined weight for your products, so Ecwid treats them as intangible ones. All intangible products don't require shipping address and shipping method selection at checkout.
In order to fix this issue, you need to define weight for all your tangible products.
My setup for shipping is correct, yet the PayPal Express Checkout and Google Checkout don't display any shipping at all
The exact shipping cost is only calculated after Ecwid knows the shipping address of the customer placing an order.
PayPal Express Checkout and Google Checkout are not just the payment methods - they substantially change the checkout process by taking a few first checkout steps on their sites. Hence when a customer goes from your site to Google Checkout or PayPal Express Checkout, Ecwid is not yet able calculate the shipping cost because no shipping address was given yet - it will be known only after the first steps at Google / PayPal Express Checkout.
After a few steps at Google / PayPal Express Checkout site the customer will be returned into your shop to confirm details and finally place the order. The money will change hands only after that. So, the customer that returns from Google / PayPal Express Checkout will see the shipping cost calculation and will be able to select the shipping method on your site and then will place the order.
Examples
How to create three shipping methods, a free one for picking up from our store, a cheap one for small items and the third one for big items.
You should perform the following steps:
- Create two destination zones, one for the local pickup, the other for the usual delivery.
- Add a new "Local pick-up" shipping method. Then add a new rate to it, tied to the Local pickup zone.
- Then add two more shipping methods with the same names, for example: "Shipping".
- Set the weight limit for each method. For example, the first method will be for small items and will have 0 - 2 kg weight limit. The second one will have 2,01 -10kg limit (you will of course have your own limits).
- Add a rate for each method with the necessary costs.
- Make sure that all your products have the correct weight.
How to charge £2.75 for 250grams (1 packet) , and £3.25 for 500grams (2 packets) , and so on for 750grams £4.00.
Perform the following steps:
- First create the necessary destination zone. For example if you ship to the UK only, create a new zone and add the United Kingdom to it.
- Then go to the "Shipping → User defined methods" page.
- Create three new shipping methods.
- Set the following weight limits for them. 1st method: 0g - 250g, 2nd: 250,01 - 500, 3d: 500,01 - 750
- Add a shipping rate for each method. This rate should have "per order" cost and be assigned to your destination zone. For example for the first method your per order cost is 2.75
