How to Setup WooCommerce Shipping to Say “Don’t Ship” (And Why You’d Want To!)
So, you’re running a WooCommerce store, and you’ve come across a situation where… well, you *don’t* want to ship anything. Maybe you’re offering digital products, services, or perhaps your customers are picking up their orders in person. Whatever the reason, you need to tell WooCommerce “Hey, let’s skip the shipping part.” This guide will show you exactly how to do that, even if you’re completely new to WooCommerce.
Why “Don’t Ship”? Real-Life Examples
Before we dive into the technical how-to, let’s consider some common scenarios where disabling shipping in WooCommerce makes perfect sense:
* Selling Digital Products: Think ebooks, online courses, software downloads, or graphic design templates. There’s nothing physical to ship!
* Local Pick-Up Only: You might have a physical store where customers can collect their online purchases. Eliminating shipping options streamlines the checkout process. For example, imagine you sell pastries online, and customers select a pick-up time at your bakery.
* Services: Hairdressing appointments, consulting sessions, or cleaning services don’t involve sending anything through the mail.
* Events & Experiences: Selling tickets to a concert, workshop, or tour doesn’t require shipping physical goods.
* Pre-Orders for Future Pick-Up: You might be taking pre-orders for a product that will be available for pick-up at a later date.
In these situations, offering shipping options can confuse customers and potentially lead to errors in order processing.
The Easiest Way: Virtual & Downloadable Products
WooCommerce has built-in functionality for *virtual* and *downloadable* products, which automatically bypasses the shipping calculations.
1. Create or Edit a Product: Go to Products > Add New or select an existing product from Products > All Products.
2. Product Data Section: Locate the “Product Explore this article on How To Convert Variable Products To Simple Products Woocommerce data” meta box (usually below the main product description).
3. Simple Product: Ensure that “Simple product” is selected in the “Product type” dropdown.
4. Check the Boxes: Check the “Virtual” and/or “Downloadable” boxes.
* Virtual: This option removes the shipping tab from the product page.
* Downloadable: This is for digital products that can be downloaded after purchase. You’ll need to upload the file(s).
Example: You’re selling an ebook. Mark the product as both “Virtual” and “Downloadable” and upload the ebook file. WooCommerce will now skip the shipping address and shipping methods during checkout.
Manual Option: Using a Free Shipping Coupon (Or Similar)
If you’re not selling virtual/downloadable products and still want to avoid charging for shipping, you can use a Free Shipping coupon combined with a specific shipping zone setup.
1. Create a Free Shipping Coupon:
* Go to WooCommerce > Coupons > Add Coupon.
* Enter a Coupon Code (e.g., “NOSHIPPING”).
* Set “Discount type” to “Free shipping”.
* Under “Usage restriction”, you can limit its usage to only apply to products where shipping is not required. If ALL your products are not shipped, skip this restriction.
2. Shipping Zone Configuration:
* Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping.
* Add or Edit a Shipping Zone: Create a zone that covers your target area (e.g., “Local Area” or even the entire world if you don’t ship anywhere).
* Add a Shipping Method: Within that zone, add the “Free Shipping” method. You can configure this to require a valid “Free Shipping” coupon (the one you just created).
Reasoning: This approach allows customers to proceed through checkout without shipping costs, as long as they use the coupon. It also allows for more flexibility, you might only want this available to certain users or on a certain order.
Advanced Control: Custom Code (For Developers)
If you need even more control, you can use custom code (PHP) to remove shipping methods based on specific conditions. This requires some familiarity with PHP and WooCommerce hooks.
add_filter( 'woocommerce_package_rates', 'hide_shipping_when_virtual', 10, 2 );
function hide_shipping_when_virtual( $rates, $package ) {
$virtual_only = true;
foreach ( $package[‘contents’] as $item ) {
if ( ! $item[‘data’]->is_virtual() ) {
$virtual_only = false;
break;
}
}
if ( $virtual_only ) {
unset( $rates ); // Remove all shipping methods.
}
return $rates;
}
Explanation:
* This code snippet hooks into the `woocommerce_package_rates` filter, which allows you to modify the available shipping rates.
* It iterates through the items in the cart (`$package[‘contents’]`).
* It checks if all items are virtual using `$item[‘data’]->is_virtual()`.
* If all items are virtual, it removes all shipping methods by unsetting the `$rates` variable.
How to Use:
1. Add the Code: You can add this code to your theme’s `functions.php` file (not recommended for long-term maintenance) or, better, to a custom plugin.
2. Test Thoroughly: Make sure to test the code with different product combinations to ensure it works as expected.
Important Note: Editing your theme’s `functions.php` file directly can break your website if you make a mistake. It’s strongly recommended to use a child theme or a custom plugin.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Method
The best method for setting up “Don’t Ship” functionality in WooCommerce depends on your specific needs:
* For purely virtual/downloadable products: Use the built-in “Virtual” and “Downloadable” options. This is the easiest and most straightforward approach.
* For local pick-up or service businesses: Use the “Free Shipping” coupon method with a specific shipping zone.
* For more complex scenarios or when you need fine-grained control: Use custom code (PHP) but be sure you (or a developer) know what you’re doing!
By implementing the appropriate method, you can ensure a smooth and user-friendly shopping experience for your customers while avoiding unnecessary shipping charges. Remember to always test your changes to confirm they are working as expected.
