7 Shipping Options for a Better Checkout

Providing shipping options at checkout is critical for increasing conversion. In this article, we cover the options merchants should consider to grow their revenue.
7 Shipping Options for a Better Checkout
3 Min Read
February 11, 2021
Jules
3 min read
Feb 11, 2021

eCommerce is all about choice and convenience. Potential customers will not hesitate to take their business elsewhere if they can't find their preferred shipping method or multi-courier shipping solutions among your options.

As buyer delivery expectations continue to change, online retailers need to play catch up and offer their customers the choice and convenience they need during the checkout process to reduce cart abandonment.

Experts estimate that implementing the right checkout optimization can increase conversions by a whopping 35.62%! Part of this entails including multiple shipping methods at checkout to give your customer the freedom of choice on how they want their orders delivered.

The good news is that different eCommerce platforms have plenty of add-ons and extensions that can help you install and configure different types of shipping methods at checkout and prevent buyers from dropping off due to mere shipping settings.

Easyship integrates with all the major eCommerce platforms, including WooCommerce and Shopify, to help you delight your customers with multi-courier shipping solutions, and offer the most accurate rates at checkout with our Rates at Checkout feature.

In this article, we discuss the different types of shipping methods that you should consider having in your eCommerce store to make your customers happier and win more conversions at checkout.

7 Types Of Shipping Options Examples at Checkout

From location-based fees and order size/weight-based rates to local pickup and per product shipping, there is no shortage of shipping options that you can include in the checkout process. Here, we discuss some shipping methods you can implement to delight your customers with more choices.

1.Table Rate Shipping

It seems unfair to ask customers located closer to your store to pay the same shipping rate as the ones in the furthest shipping zone. It makes more sense to provide more affordable rates for buyers located near you, and still offer fair rates to those located far away. Right? This is exactly what the table shipping method helps you to do.

It allows you to set different shipping rates based on the location of your customers, as well as the size and weight of packages. It is an excellent eCommerce shipping method for your store when serving customers in multiple shipping zones.

It gives you the power and flexibility to set up shipping zones and configure specific shipping options by ZIP or postal code, state, region, or country.

The table rate shipping is excellent for you if your store ships to many shipping zones and destinations, hence requiring high flexibility in defining shipping rates and options for each zone.

2. Flat Rate Box Shipping

Easyship Flat Export Rate

This shipping method gives you the flexibility to accurately charge your customers based on the number of boxes/master cartons shipped. It is a good option for you if your shipments vary in size and weight, and you want to find a way to charge your customers based on the size of their orders.

The thinking behind flat rate box shipping is that it costs more to pack and ship a large, heavy box full of products than it costs to mail a small package. In that case, it makes more sense to base your shipping fees on the height and weight of your boxes.

As you would expect, basing your fees on the height and weight of your boxes will normally require complicated math and product setup, and you will be required to find out and enter the exact dimensions of your products and shipping boxes.

Once you are done with the setup, you will be able to determine exactly how much you want to charge for different shipping box sizes, as well as charge different rates for various zones.

3. Per Product Shipping

If your store deals with some large items that come in very bulky boxes or awkwardly shaped items that don't fit into boxes, you need to find a way to charge and ship them without losing money on your transactions.

Allowing per product shipping fees as one of the eCommerce shipping options in the checkout process will make this easier for you. With this shipping method, you set up extra fees for some or all of your products and product variations.

A good example of this is when you sell a desk or a bike to your customer alongside an extra component that will require a separate box. With this method, you can accurately, and separately charge for each item.

Invest in per-product shipping if you have a few items that require additional shipping and/or handling fees, you occasionally need to override your normal shipping rates on specific items, or sell heavy and large product variation requiring special shipping.

4. Ship to multiple addresses

During holidays, customers would want to send gifts to their loved ones, and they love doing so by sending parts of their orders to different addresses. With this shipping method, you can allow your customers to ship to multiple addresses in the same order.

It is one of the eCommerce shipping options that you should consider having in the checkout process, especially during holidays. Instead of having to place multiple orders for their holiday shopping, your customers can just place one large order and then split it into multiple pieces at checkout to be shipped to their respective addresses.

It is a powerful and convenient shipping method that will enable you to accommodate your customer's multiple destination needs, and have an edge over a competitor. So, if you have customers who have requested this feature in your store, go ahead and invest in multi-address shipping, and you will have an easier time growing your sales during the holidays.

4. Local pickup

Local pickup is a great option to have in your store's checkout process. Instead of having their orders shipped, this option allows your customers to drop by your store and pick up their items in person.

Including this method as an option in the checkout process is excellent for merchants with one or more physical locations where customers can pick up their orders or retailers who are already selling locally and want to establish an online presence.

Related: A Seller's Guide to eCommerce Domestic Shipping

It is also a good option for retailers who want to offer discounts to those who pick up their items locally, or those who want to give their customers more choice by splitting orders between local pickups and shipments.

It not only allows the retailer to save money and time on shipping but also allows customers to seamlessly experience the digital and real-world shopping experience and get their items faster.

5. Conditional Shipping

Let's say you sell licensed items that aren't available in some parts of the world, or you just want to avoid the hassles of shipping some of your products internationally to certain countries.

In that case, you will need to limit your shipping options by letting your buyers know upfront where you can and can't ship before they slide through the checkout process.

Conditional shipping enables you to restrict products based on a customer's location. You set multiple conditions for your store's products to prevent customers from making purchases that would be too costly to ship or placing orders for items that aren't available in their region.

6. Print and Include Invoices or Packing Slips

eCommerce is all about digital purchases and payments, but printed invoices and packing slips continue to linger along despite advanced digital solutions. Companies, organizations, and businesses still rely on these printouts in their accounting processes!

But creating invoices and packing slips manually can be time-consuming. It makes more sense to have a way to generate them automatically. So if you are in a B2B business setting, or have customers who specifically request printouts, including them in the checkout process is crucial so that you can print them right away when needed.

Printouts also come in handy when you want to include a printout of your return policy or other vital purchase instructions within your orders.

Streamline Your Shipping at Checkout

As online shoppers continue to demand more choice at checkout, eCommerce retailers need to move in with speed to implement the right shipping methods and win more conversions. Now that you are aware of some of the shipping options you can have in your store, why not go ahead and take advantage of them to drive more sales?

Here at Easyship, we are dedicated to helping you delight your customers with the most streamlined checkout process that an eCommerce store can ever have with our multi-courier shipping solutions and dynamic Rates at Checkout feature.

Sign up for a free Easyship account and let us help you supercharge your eCommerce shipping with the kind of checkout process you need.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Get Your Ship Together.

By submitting the form, you agree to receive marketing emails from Easyship.

Save up to 91% on Shipping. Try for free.

Effortlessly compare 550+ courier services with one global account. Instant discounts. Start in minutes.

Shipping Internationally? Unsure What Tariffs or Duties Apply?
Try our FREE Tax & Duty Calculator

Trying to stay up to date on the latest cross-border shipping and import requirements? Get an instant estimate of all applicable taxes and duties for every country across 220+ global destinations or sign up and take advantage of our in-built HS Code lookup tool.

Calculate Tax & Duties Instantly (Free Tool)
Ready to Stop Overpaying for Shipping?
Try our FREE Shipping Rate Calculator

Looking for the cheapest way to ship a package? Get an instant shipping quote and compare rates from 550+ courier services across the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and more. Simply add your package size and delivery location, and you'll find the best deal in seconds.

Calculate Rates Instantly (Free Tool)
Planning Your Campaign?

Get in touch with us now and our shipping consultants can give you a detailed quote and additional info to help with your campaign.

Get in touch
The Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ couriers at a glance.

GET RATE QUOTES FREE
The Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ couriers at a glance.

GET RATE QUOTES FREE
Get in touch with our fulfillment experts!

We believe simple pricing is the best pricing. Get a quote with a simplified pricing structure and no hidden fees.

Contact us
Need help fulfilling your crowdfunding campaign?

We provide the necessary tools needed to keep you on budget for shipping and to safely deliver your product to backers around the world.

Learn more
Try our duty & tax calculator!

Need to estimate your shipping duties & taxes? Our calculator can give you an idea of what to expect.

TRY IT NOW
Save up to 91% on Shipping. Try for free.

Compare 550+ courier services with one global account. Start in minutes.

GET STARTED FOR FREE
Get a Free Quote for Your Campaign

Receive a personal cost estimate for your crowdfunding campaign from our trusted global fulfillment partners. Easyship is a certified Indiegogo partner.

GET FREE QUOTE
Looking for great rates from a top courier?

Save up to 74% on UPS shipping rates by shipping with Easyship. You can run a quote and generate your first shipments in literally minutes!

SHIP WITH UPS TODAY
The cheapest way to ship for eCommerce

Get instant access with volume-discounted shipping rates. Save up to 89% off on USPS, UPS, FedEx, and more. Easyship is free for 50 shipments each month.

SIGN UP FREE TO SAVE
Find your perfect fulfillment partner with expert help

Let Easyship connect you to the largest shipping and fulfillment network on Earth. You’ll find trusted partners for all things logistics. Guidance is free from our global shipping experts.

ASK AN EXPERT
Don’t miss our money and time-saving features!

Explore the powerful features that 100K+ merchants use to ship smarter, not harder. Shipping automation, live rates at checkout, live duty and tax – all free to try with Easyship.

EXPLORE ALL FEATURES
Start saving on shipping in seconds

Create your free Easyship account to streamline shipping and save with discounted rates. No hidden fees. No minimums. Just savings.

CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Create Your Shipping Policy Free

Use our guided walk-through to build the perfect shipping policy for your eCommerce business.

CREATE YOUR POLICY FREE
Looking to intergrate your Shopify store?

With 550+ pre-negotiated shipping services available with discounts of up to 91%, you can save time & money today when you integrate your Shopify store with Easyship

REGISTER FOR FREE
Use Easyship Free Every Month

Easyship is free to use for 50 shipments every month. You’ll save big on our discounted shipping rates up to 91% off, and save time with smart automation. Signup is fast and free.

CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Don’t miss the key steps to fulfillment success

Follow the easy path to fulfillment success. Easyship’s free fulfillment checklist provides a proven step-by-step so you can ship at scale without the guesswork.

VIEW THE CHECKLIST
Ship for less with any courier, guaranteed

Save up to 89% off all shipping rates. Easyship offers the guaranteed cheapest volume-discounted rates on the market from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ global couriers.

SIGN UP TO SAVE
Don’t miss all our money and time-saving features!

Explore the innovative features that 100K+ merchants use to ship smarter, not harder. Shipping automation, live rates at checkout, live duty and tax – all free to try with Easyship.

EXPLORE FEATURES
Want the cheapest rates?

Register for an Easyship account today and you will gain access to the cheapest rates, instantly.

REGISTER FOR FREE
Watch out for international duty and tax!

What exactly does it cost to ship cross-border? Use the free duty and tax calculator from Easyship to view accurate import costs for any shipment to anywhere.

USE FREE
Protect Your Crowdfunding Budget from Cost Creep

Prices are rising, deliveries are slowing. Get up to speed on the state of crowdfunding shipping with expert Easyship analysis and keep your campaign on budget.

LEARN MORE
Discover the Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 550+ courier services at a glance.

GET A FREE QUOTE
Discover Your Cheapest Way to Ship

Find the guaranteed cheapest shipping in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discounted rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ global couriers at a glance.

COMPARE RATES FREE
Compare the best rates in seconds

Get an instant estimate of the cheapest shipping rates with our free calculator tool.

GET FREE RATE QUOTES
Save money on every shipment

Save up to 91% off shipping with Easyship’s discount courier rates. Create your free account to save instantly on 550+ courier services, including USPS.

CREATE YOUR FREE ACCOUNT
Ready to ship internationally?

Get help from our global shipping experts on warehousing, global shipping and to connect with our network of trusted 3PLs.

GET FREE SHIPPING TIPS
How’s Your Covid Shipping Policy?

Use our free shipping policy generator to formulate your safest, most customer-friendly shipping policy in seconds.

GET YOUR SHIPPING POLICY
Try Pre-generated Return Labels For Free

Register for an Easyship account today and get 30-days access to a Premier plan with access to Pre-generated Return Labels.

Generate Return Labels Today
Discover the Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS® & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 250+ couriers at a glance.

GET RATE QUOTES FREE
Get Up to Speed On Covid Shipping

Explore our Covid shipping resources to make sure your shipment arrives on time and in good condition.

LEARN MORE
Free Shipping for the Holidays 101

Learn how the leading brands offer free shipping, calculate costs, and ship on a budget for the holidays in our free shipping guidebook.

LEARN MORE
Your Perfect Shipping Policy, Ready in Minutes

Use Easyship’s free shipping policy generator to formulate your perfect holiday shipping policy for returns, tracking, and more. Just follow the prompts and you’re done!

GET YOUR SHIPPING POLICY
Scale Your Growth Internationally With Pro Tips

Learn how to ship internationally without missing a step. Our case studies show you proven tactics for shipping worldwide from Easyship users who did it right.

READ CASE STUDIES
No items found.
Share on:

Related Articles

No items found.