A flat rate is simple for the customer and comfortable for you — until you see what distant orders actually cost.
Three pricing models
- Flat rate: simplest, and it works if most orders come from regions of similar cost.
- By zone: more accurate and fairer, but needs setup and monitoring.
- By weight or order value: suitable when your product sizes vary widely.
Start from your data, not a guess
Export the last two months of orders and group them by city. You will find a large share comes from a handful of cities — price for those, and treat the rest as exceptions.
Free shipping: set it above your average basket
An effective free-shipping threshold sits slightly above your average order value, so the customer adds one more item to reach it. Set it below the average and you are giving away shipping you would have collected.
Show the cost early
Stating shipping cost or the free threshold on the product page cuts abandonment more than any recovery email. The surprise at the last step costs more than the shipping itself.
Review rates quarterly
Carrier tariffs change. The rate you set a year ago may now be below your actual cost without you noticing.