Offering free shipping can be an effective way to drive sales and customer satisfaction, but it’s important to approach this strategy with careful planning. This article will explore the key considerations when setting up free shipping, helping you weigh the pros and cons, define appropriate thresholds, and understand the impact on your bottom line.
Using rules in your Shipping Zones, you can set up free shipping if an order meets specific criteria.
Free Shipping Offers
When using Swap Global, shipping discounts apply to the whole shipping line. Offering free shipping discount codes also applies to taxes and duties. Learn more about handling shipping discounts here.
Setting Free Shipping Thresholds
One of the best ways to offer free shipping without cutting too deeply into your profits is to set a minimum order value. For instance, you might offer free shipping on orders over £50. Calculating this threshold can be based on your average order value and product margins. Setting the threshold too low could cost you more than you gain from the promotion, but setting it too high might deter customers from completing their purchases. A well-balanced threshold can encourage customers to spend more without significantly impacting profitability.
How to add a free shipping threshold
1. Open the Global drop-down menu
2. Go to "Shipping"
3. Click on the Shipping Zone you wish to add a free shipping option to
4. Scroll down to "Rules"
5. Click "Add New Rule"
6. Name your rule
7. Click "Add Condition"
8. Choose a parameter
In this case, we will choose "subtotal".
9. Select the preferred condition type
10. Fill in your desired value
e.g., £50.
11. If necassary, add another condition
12. If using the "subtotal" and "weight" conditions, they both need to pass for a rule to apply
13. Click "Add Shipping Option"
14. Give the shipping option a name
E.g., "Free Shipping".
15. Add a value of "0"
16. Click "Save"
17. Use this to reorder the rules: free shipping should be above standard shipping
