WooCommerce Shipping: How to Charge Shipping Costs *Later* (The Newbie-Friendly Guide)
So, you’ve got your WooCommerce store up and running, products listed, and customers are starting to buy! Awesome! But now you’re facing a common challenge: figuring out shipping costs. Sometimes, calculating them accurately at the time of purchase is tricky. Maybe you’re dealing with unique products, complex destinations, or fluctuating shipping rates. That’s where charging shipping *later* comes in handy.
This guide will walk you through different scenarios and methods to handle this situation, specifically tailored for WooCommerce newbies. Don’t worry; we’ll keep it simple and practical.
Why Charge Shipping Later? Real-Life Scenarios
Think about these common situations:
* Oversized or Bulky Items: Imagine you sell custom-made furniture. Shipping a small side table is vastly different from shipping a king-size bed. An upfront, generalized shipping fee simply won’t cut it. You need to get a custom quote *after* the order is placed and you know the exact delivery address and any special handling requirements.
* International Orders with Complex Customs: International shipping rates and import duties can be a nightmare to estimate in advance. Charging shipping later allows you to research the specific costs for each order and factor in customs fees accurately. Think about someone ordering from the US to Argentina – the final cost depends on weight, dimensions, *and* ever-changing import regulations.
* White-Glove Delivery Services: Offering specialized delivery services like assembly or placement requires customized pricing. You can’t offer a standard “shipping” price when the service involves extra labor and care.
* Drop Shipping with Variable Costs: When using drop shipping, shipping costs depend on the supplier and their current rates. By charging later, you can accurately reflect the actual cost you incur.
In all these cases, a fixed or calculated shipping rate at checkout would either overcharge some customers (leading to lost sales) or significantly undercharge others (eating into your profits).
The Core Principle: Communication & Transparency
Before we dive into *how* to do this, let’s emphasize the *most* important part: communication. Charging shipping later only works if you are completely transparent with your customers *before* they place their order. Make it crystal clear that shipping costs will be calculated and charged separately.
Here’s how:
* Product Page Notice: Add a prominent notice on the product page, near the price, stating that shipping costs will be calculated after the order is placed. Example: “Shipping costs will be invoiced separately after order confirmation.“
* Checkout Page Disclaimer: Include a clear disclaimer on the checkout page reiterating the shipping policy. This might say something like, ” Please note: The price displayed does not include shipping. We will contact you with a shipping invoice once your order is processed.“
* Terms and Conditions: Dedicate a section in your terms and conditions explaining your shipping policy in detail. Include your process for calculating and communicating shipping costs.
Method 1: Manual Calculation and Invoice (Simple & Low-Tech)
This is the easiest method, especially when starting out.
1. Disable Default Shipping Options: In WooCommerce Settings > Shipping, remove or disable all default shipping methods (Flat Rate, Free Shipping, etc.). This prevents customers from seeing misleading shipping costs at checkout. You can leave “Local Pickup” enabled if you offer that option.
2. Set a Placeholder Shipping Method: Create a custom shipping method with a description stating that shipping will be invoiced later. You can name it something like “Shipping Will Be Calculated Separately”. Set the cost to $0.
3. Process the Order: When a customer places an order, you’ll receive a notification.
4. Calculate Shipping: Research the best shipping options and costs based on the order details (weight, dimensions, destination, etc.).
5. Create and Send an Invoice: Use a tool like PayPal Invoice, Wave Accounting, or even a simple spreadsheet and PDF editor, to create an invoice for the shipping cost. Include a link for the customer to pay.
6. Fulfill the Order: Once the shipping invoice is paid, you can fulfill the order.
Example:
Let’s say you sell handcrafted wooden toys. A customer in Canada orders a large toy truck.
1. You receive the order.
2. You weigh and measure the packaged truck.
3. You get quotes from FedEx, UPS, and USPS for shipping to Canada.
4. You choose the most cost-effective option (let’s say it’s $35).
5. You create a PayPal invoice for $35 and send it to the customer.
6. Once the customer pays the invoice, you ship the toy truck.
Method 2: Using WooCommerce Plugins (More Automated)
Several WooCommerce plugins can help automate the process of charging shipping later. These plugins often allow you to add custom fields to the order or product, communicate with the customer, and send shipping invoices.
Example Plugins (Remember to research and choose one that suits your needs):
* WooCommerce Order Status Manager: Allows you to add a “Shipping Quote Requested” status and trigger email notifications.
* Custom Order Status for WooCommerce: Similar to the above, allowing for custom order workflow.
* WooCommerce PDF Invoices & Packing Slips: Can be used for sending the shipping invoice after manually updating the shipping costs.
How a Plugin Might Work:
1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Configure the plugin to add a custom order status (e.g., “Shipping Quote Needed”).
3. When an order requiring custom shipping is placed, change the order status to “Shipping Quote Needed”.
4. The plugin can then automatically send an email to the customer stating that you are calculating shipping costs.
5. After calculating shipping, you can update the order with the shipping cost and send another email with payment instructions or an updated invoice.
Method 3: Programmatic Solution (For Developers)
If you’re comfortable with PHP and WooCommerce’s code, you can create a custom solution. This is the most complex approach but provides the most flexibility.
// Add a notice to the product page add_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'custom_shipping_notice', 5 ); function custom_shipping_notice() { echo 'Shipping costs will be calculated and invoiced separately.'; }
//Remove all shipping methods.
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_shipping_methods’, ‘remove_shipping_methods’, 9999 );
function remove_shipping_methods( $methods ) {
unset( $methods[‘flat_rate’] ); //example for removing flat rate
unset( $methods[‘free_shipping’] ); //example for removing free shipping
unset( $methods[‘local_pickup’] ); //example for removing local pickup
//Add a placeholder shipping method
$methods[‘placeholder_shipping’] = new Placeholder_Shipping_Method();
return $methods;
}
/
* Adding Custom Shipping Methods
*
* @since 1.0.0
*/
add_action( ‘woocommerce_shipping_init’, ‘placeholder_shipping_method’ );
function placeholder_shipping_method() {
if ( ! class_exists( ‘Placeholder_Shipping_Method’ ) ) {
class Placeholder_Shipping_Method extends WC_Shipping_Method {
/
* Constructor for your shipping class
*
* @access public
* @return void
*/
public function __construct() {
$this->id = ‘placeholder_shipping’; // Id for your shipping method. Should be unique.
$this->method_title = __( ‘Shipping Will Be Calculated Later’, ‘woocommerce’ ); // Title shown in admin.
$this->method_description = __( ‘Custom Shipping Method’, ‘woocommerce’ ); // Description shown in admin.
$this->enabled = “yes”; // This can be added as an setting but for this example its forced enabled
$this->title = __( ‘Shipping Will Be Calculated Later’, ‘woocommerce’ ); // This can be added as an setting but for this example its forced.
$this->init();
}
/
* Init settings.
*
* @access public
* @return void
*/
function init() {
// Load the settings API
$this->init_form_fields(); // This is part of the settings API. Override the method to add your own settings
$this->init_settings(); // This is part of the settings API. Loads settings you previously init.
// Save settings in admin if Check out this post: How To Backup Data Woocommerce you have any defined
add_action( Check out this post: How To Add Custom Page In Woocommerce My Account Page ‘woocommerce_update_options_shipping_’ . $this->id, array( $this, ‘process_admin_options’ ) );
}
/
* calculate_shipping function.
*
* @access public
* @param mixed $package
* @return void
*/
public function calculate_shipping( $package = array() ) {
$rate = array(
‘id’ => $this->id,
‘label’ => $this->title,
‘cost’ => ‘0’, //placeholder since the shipping cost will be calculated later
‘calc_tax’ => false
);
// Register the rate
$this->add_rate( $rate );
}
}
}
}
Explanation:
* The code snippet demonstrates how to add a notice on the product page regarding shipping costs.
* It also demonstrates how to remove all other shipping methods and add a placeholder method.
* You’d then need to write additional code to handle order processing, shipping calculation, and invoice generation.
This is just a basic example; a complete solution would require significant development effort.
Key Takeaways for Newbies
* Transparency is Paramount: Always be upfront about charging shipping later.
* Start Simple: Begin with the manual calculation and invoicing method.
* Choose the Right Method: As your business grows, evaluate whether a plugin or custom solution is more efficient.
* Test Thoroughly: Always test your shipping process to ensure a smooth customer experience.
* Document Your Process: Keep detailed records of shipping costs and calculations for your own reference and in case of customer inquiries.
By understanding these principles and methods, you can effectively handle complex shipping scenarios in your WooCommerce store, ensuring both customer satisfaction and profitability! Good luck!
