On your web store, there's an option that allows customers to estimate their shipping charges directly from the basket page. For users who haven't logged in, an icon with a link is displayed next to the shipping amount. Clicking on this link enables non-logged-in shoppers to calculate their shipping costs before proceeding to the checkout page.
For users who are already logged in, the icon with the link is not present. Instead, the shipping cost field is automatically populated with the lowest available cost for that particular shopper.
Upon clicking the Estimate Shipping link, a form will appear, allowing users to input the necessary details for shipping cost calculation.
Because the store doesn’t have any information on the shopper, it pops up a little window asking the shopper for a shipping address. This is then used by the store to calculate the cheapest available shipping cost to the shopper.
Setting a shipping method
By default, the store will go through all the store shipping methods and pick the cheapest shipping method for that shopper. Instead of having the store look for the cheapest available shipping cost, you can ask the store to only estimate with a shipping method that you choose. The checkout will still show all the available shipping methods so the shopper will be able to pick a different shipping method if they so choose.
To do this, set the option Set default shipping method in the shipping settings in the shipping menu of the WSM.
If you use this option, we strongly recommend that you pick a shipping method that is broadly applicable. If you are using a shipping integration and set this option to a shipping method that is particular in where it will post or what time it will post the basket will display a No shipping estimation possible message if the shipping integration returns an error message of any sort.
Integrated shipping methods
If you have an integrated shipping method such as FedEx, USPS, or UPS these will also be asked for shipping rates. This request will slow down the process of getting a shipping estimation down.
Shipping coupons and loyalty
If your customer wants to avail of shipping discount coupons or loyalty benefits that reduce shipping, they will have to go to the checkout page. The shipping estimator doesn’t take these into account.