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You can use Intuitive Shipping to create a blended rate that combines shipping costs from multiple Scenarios and shipping methods into a single rate at checkout. This is useful when you have product-based shipping rules and rates.
When you use flat rates, rate tables, or even carrier rates with a single service option – maybe you only ship some products via UPS Ground – you can typically achieve this with simple blending, which means the various rates are simply added together when a customer order triggers multiple shipping costs from different Scenarios.
However, if you’re offering multiple carrier service options, such as Ground, 2 Day and Priority Overnight, simple blending won’t work because it’s going to add all of the service level costs together, then add that total to other costs in the blended rate.
How It Works
Let’s say you have two Scenarios. The first has a UPS shipping method that offers Ground, 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air options. The second has a FedEx shipping method that offers Ground, 2 Day and Standard Overnight options. You’ve enabled rate blending on both shipping methods and your rate blending is set to simple blending. When a customer order activates both UPS and FedEx shipping methods, simple blending will add all of the services from both carriers together into a single cost:
UPS Ground plus UPS 2nd Day Air plus UPS Next Day Air plus FedEx Ground plus FedEx 2 Day plus FedEx Standard Overnight.
The cost displayed to the customer will be massive and you’ll likely lose the order. This is not the outcome you want.
Instead, you need to set rate blending to advanced which lets you create multiple blended rates, and lets you customize how those rates are displayed at checkout.
This guide explains how to create two of the more common types of advanced blending options for carriers with multiple service options.
First, we’ll show you how to blend multiple rate options from one carrier with similar rate options from another carrier.
Using the same example as above, you could offer 3 service options when a customer activates both UPS and FedEx rates:
- Ground (UPS Ground plus FedEx Ground)
- 2 Day (UPS 2nd Day Air plus FedEx 2 Day)
- Next Day (UPS Next Day Air plus FedEx Standard Overnight)
Then, we’ll show you how to blend multiple rate options from a carrier with flat rates. For example, if you offer USP Ground, 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air for some products, and have a flat rate for other products, you can also offer 3 service options for customers who order both types of products:
- Ground (UPS Ground plus flat rate)
- 2 Day (UPS 2nd Day Air plus flat rate)
- Next Day (UPS Next Day Air plus flat rate)
Regardless of which of those setups you require, Intuitive Shipping needs to be configured to advanced blending. By default, Intuitive Shipping is set to simple blending.
Set Up Advanced Blending
1) Click Settings on the sidebar menu, then select General settings from the drop-down list.
2) Scroll down to Rate blending, then select Advanced blending.
3) Click the Save button to save changes to your general settings.
Blend Similar Service Level Options For Multiple Carriers
This setup is useful if you need two different carriers, such as FedEx and USPS, and you’re offering similar service levels for each carrier, such as Ground and Overnight/ First-Class Package.
If you need to blend multiple carrier service level options with a flat rate, skip ahead to Blend Service Level Options From A Carrier With A Flat Rate. Otherwise, continue to Step 1.
To complete this setup, you will need to create one (1) Scenario per carrier. Each Scenario will need to be assigned one (1) shipping method per service option.
For this example, we’re going to use two Scenarios.
Let’s say you have a Scenario called ‘Band Tees’. For shipping methods, you want ‘Ground’ and ‘Priority Overnight’ FedEx delivery services.
Additionally, you have a Scenario called ‘Drum Sticks’. For shipping methods, you want ‘Retail Ground’ and ‘First-Class Package’ USPS delivery services.
When a customer orders a band tee and a set of sticks, you want FedEx Ground and USPS Retail Ground to be blended together, and you want FedEx Priority Overnight and USPS First-Class Package to be blended together, giving the customer two service level options at checkout. Don’t worry about the different service titles from each carrier. With advanced blending, you can use more generic titles like ‘Ground Shipping’ and ‘Expedited Shipping’ whenever blending occurs. We’ll explain how later in the guide.
Create A Scenario For the First Carrier
1) Click Shipping on the sidebar menu, then select Scenarios from the drop-down list.
2) Click the Create scenario button.
General Settings
1) Enter a Scenario title, such as ‘Band Tees’.
Scenario titles are not visible to customers.
2) If you want the Scenario to be available right away, leave the Scenario status set to ‘On’. If you want to test it first before making it public, set it to ‘Test’.
While in Sandbox, ‘On’ will function the same as ‘Test’ until you have activated a billing plan to begin your free trial.
Learn more about testing your Intuitive Shipping setup.
Conditions
1) Select Set restrictions.
2) Leave Condition match set to ‘All conditions’.
3) Select a condition type. For this example, we’re using ‘Product tag’, but you can use any condition type to separate products that ship with one carrier from products that ship with another carrier.
4) Select a condition logic. For this example, we’re leaving it set to ‘equals’ since we want the Product tag to equal the value entered in Step 5.
5) Enter a condition value. For this example, we’re using ‘band tee’ to identify any product with this tag.
Product tags are assigned in your Shopify product information settings and synced with Intuitive Shipping.
6) Leave the setting below the condition value set to ‘Any product’.
This must be set to ‘Any product’ in order for the rate blending to function correctly.
Product Filters
1) Leave Product filters set to Match product conditions.
That means, only products that meet the product conditions above will be included in the shipping method assigned to this Scenario. In the vast majority of cases, this is the desired result.
Learn more about applying product filters to Scenarios.
Save Your Settings
1) Click the Save button to save your first carrier Scenario.
You must save the Scenario before you can add a shipping method.
Add A Shipping Method For the First Service Option
In this example, we’re going to first set up a parcel service shipping method just for FedEx Ground, which will eventually be blended with USPS Retail Ground.
1) Click the Create shipping method button to add a parcel service shipping method.
Select A Parcel Service Shipping Method
1) Click the downward arrow beside ‘Parcel services’ to display a list of options.
2) Select your first carrier from the list. For this example, we’re using FedEx for band tees.
3) Click the Next button.
4) Select a Zone.
Learn more about Zones
5) Click the Configure shipping button.
General
1) Enter a shipping method title. This title may be displayed to customers, depending on which setting you choose in Step 2. For this example, we’ll use ‘FedEx Ground’ to clearly identify what it is.
2) Select a Title type setting. For this example, we’re leaving it set to ‘Service title provided by the carrier’. That means, the actual service title provided by FedEx will be displayed to the customer, regardless of what we entered in Step 1.
Alternatively, if you set it to ‘Use the shipping method title’, the title entered in Step 1 would be displayed at checkout.
Regardless of what setting you choose, the title will be displayed only when this shipping method is activated, for example when a customer only orders a band tee. Later in this guide, if desired, we’ll show you how to set a custom shipping method title when this shipping rate is being blended with other rates.
3) If you want the shipping method to be available right away, leave the status set to ‘On’. If you want to test it first before making it public, set it to ‘Test’.
While in Sandbox, ‘On’ will function the same as ‘Test’ until you have activated a billing plan to begin your free trial.
Learn more about testing your Intuitive Shipping setup.
4) If desired, enter a description for your shipping method. We recommend limiting your description to 90 characters or less to ensure it displays properly on the checkout page.
For this example, the description entered here will only be displayed when a customer orders band tees. Later in this guide, if desired, we’ll show you how to set a custom description when this shipping rate is being blended with other rates.
Descriptions are displayed below the shipping method title at checkout.
Additional display settings are available for delivery times, order processing times and service codes. If you do not need to adjust these settings, skip ahead to Packages. Otherwise, continue to Step 5.
Learn more about additional display settings.
Packages
You can determine how the customer’s order will be packaged by selecting the appropriate packing algorithm and assigning the packages you want to be used by the shipping method.
1) Select a packing algorithm.
You have six (6) options to choose from:
SmartBoxing™ – Intuitive Shipping will select the best package combination based on the weight and the volume of the order.
Weight-based – Intuitive Shipping will select the best package combination based only on the weight of order.
Quantity-based – Intuitive Shipping will select the best package combination based only on the number of items on the order.
Volume-based – Intuitive Shipping will select the best package combination based only on the volume of order.
Points-based – Intuitive Shipping will select the best package combination based on a point system.
Total-based – Intuitive Shipping will select the best package combination based only on the total value of order.
Products must have dimensions in Intuitive Shipping and weights in either Intuitive Shipping or Shopify in order to use SmartBoxing™.
Products must have weights in either Intuitive Shipping or Shopify to use weight-based.
Products must have dimensions in Intuitive Shipping to use volume-based.
Learn more about product settings.
Additional packing settings are available for packing methods and multiple package blending. If you do not need to adjust these settings, skip ahead to Step 3. Otherwise, continue to Step 2.
2) Click Show additional packing settings, then configure packing method and multiple package blending settings as needed.
Learn more about additional package settings.
3) Select each of the packages you want to be included in the parcel service shipping method.
Packages not selected will be ignored by the shipping method.
Packages that have been turned off are muted. They cannot be selected or deselected, and will also be ignored by the shipping method.
To change the On/Off status of a package, go to your main package settings after saving your shipping method.
Packages that were previously selected and have since been turned off (muted) will still be ignored. They cannot be selected or deselected when they are turned off.
Learn more about package status.
Shipping Origin
Real-time carrier rates can be calculated using the primary shipping location set up in Shopify, or a custom shipping origin location.
1) Select the ship from location.
You have two (2) settings to choose from:
Dynamic origin location – live carrier rates will be calculated based on the distance between the customer’s address and your primary Shopify location address. This is the default setting.
Specify origin location – live carrier rates will be calculated based on the address specified in Step 2.
If you selected dynamic, skip ahead to Account. Otherwise, continue to Step 2.
If you have already set up custom ship-from locations, they will appear as selectable options.
2) Select a location. This location will be used as the starting point for live carrier rate calculations in this shipping method. You can also add a new shipping origin location by clicking Add location.
Learn more about shipping origins.
Account
If you have an account with the carrier you selected earlier in this guide, you can use that account to access your discounted or negotiated rates. If you previously connected your preferred carrier account with Intuitive Shipping, it will be listed in the Carrier accounts area as a selectable option.
Most carriers offer retail rates which can be used if you don’t have an account with the carrier. If the carrier you selected earlier in this guide offers retail rates, a ‘Standard retail rates’ option will be displayed below Carrier accounts and selected as the default option. If the carrier does not offer retail rates, nothing will be displayed.
If the carrier requires an account, the shipping method cannot be saved unless the account is available and selected below.
1) Select a carrier account or use standard retail rates, if available.
Services
1) Select only one service type. For this example, we’re using ‘FedEx Ground’
If this shipping method was assigned to a domestic zone, be sure to select domestic services. If this shipping method was assigned to an international zone, be sure to select international services.
Be sure to select only one service. Selecting more than one for this setup will mean all of the service costs will be added together when blending is activated.
Additional service settings are available, but are only applicable if you select more than one service. Since you’re only selecting one service, these additional settings are not required.
Optional Settings
Additional settings are available for cost adjustments, free shipping, custom shipping blending and rate blending, giving you further control of how shipping is calculated at checkout. These settings are typically optional.
For this setup, you will need to adjust Rate blending settings.
1) Click Show optional settings
Carrier Settings (Optional)
Some carriers have optional carrier settings, such as whether or not you want to charge package insurance. If available, they will appear first in the Optional Settings list.
This section will not be displayed if the carrier does not have additional settings.
1) If available, and if desired, adjust the carrier settings.
Carrier Service Fallback Rate (Optional)
For this setup, a fallback rate is optional.
1) Choose if you want a fallback rate to appear at checkout in situations when the carrier service times out. This is useful when the carrier’s servers are down or when they’re overwhelmed during peak periods like Black Friday.
You have two (2) settings to choose from:
Do not use a fallback rate – when carrier service calls time out, no shipping rates from this shipping method are displayed at checkout. This is the default setting.
Define a fallback rate – when carrier service calls time out, the fallback rate entered in Step 3 is displayed at checkout.
Fallback rates do not trigger when there is an error with the rate calculation.
That means the fallback rate won’t be displayed if an error, such as an over-sized shipment, results in the carrier not returning a rate to Intuitive Shipping. It only activates when the system times out waiting for a response.
If you choose to define a fallback rate, it will be used in the rate blending when blending is activated and the carrier service times out.
2) If you selected Define a fallback rate in Step 1, enter a fallback shipping cost.
The fallback shipping cost is multiplied by the number of packages required for the customer order.
Let’s say you’ve set up a fallback rate of $15.00, and a customer orders 10 band tees, resulting in two (2) packages being required. If the carrier rates time out and the fallback rate is activated, the customer will be charged $30.00 for shipping at checkout ($15.00 x 2 packages).
And, if the customer ordered drum sticks, which activates blending, $30.00 will be used as part of the blended rate.
Additional settings are available for fallback rate titles, descriptions, delivery times and service codes. In the event the fallback rate is activated, these settings will override the main settings.
3) Click Show optional display settings, then configure the fallback rate title, description, delivery time and service code as needed.
Learn more about fallback rates.
Cost Adjustments (Optional)
1) If desired, set cost limits, shipping credits, mark ups, handling fees, insurance, discounts or rounding.
Cost adjustments are applied in the order they are listed in the app: cost limits first, then shipping credits, then mark ups, then handling, then insurance, then rounding.
Learn more about cost adjustments.
Free Shipping (Optional)
1) If desired, configure free shipping.
If you select ‘Set a free shipping threshold’, free shipping will be activated based on the threshold applied in this section. Free shipping will override the carrier rate – in this example, FedEx Ground. If blending is activated, free shipping will be used for blending instead of the carrier rate.
That means, if free shipping is activated for ‘Band Tees’ and there is a $15.75 USPS shipping cost for drum sticks, the customer will be charged a ‘blended’ rate of $15.75 at checkout (free shipping + $15.75).
Learn more about free shipping
Custom Shipping Blending (Optional)
1) If desired, configure custom shipping blending.
If you don’t have products with custom shipping costs, these settings are ignored regardless of how they’re set. Skip ahead to Rate Blending.
If you have products with custom shipping costs, those special costs can be blended with your carrier rate, whether rate blending is activated or not.
Let’s say you have a custom shipping cost of $45.00 for drum stools – meaning it always costs $45.00 to ship a stool, regardless of what else is in the order. If a customer orders 5 band tees, resulting in a FedEx Ground rate of $19.25, and a drum stool, the customer will be charged $64.25 for shipping at checkout ($45.00 + $19.25). If a customer also orders a set of drum sticks, activating rate blending, $64.25 will be added to the other shipping costs in the advanced blending rate.
Learn more about custom shipping blending.
Rate Blending (Required)
Rate blending must be enabled in the shipping method for the rate returned by the carrier selected above – in this example, FedEx Ground – to be blended with other similar rates.
1) Set Rate blending to ‘Blend with other rates’.
Be sure that your account is currently set to advanced rate blending.
If advanced rate blending is not referenced in this area, this setup cannot be completed. Go to Set Up Advanced Blending near the top of this guide, then return here when finished.
2) Leave Blending mode set to ‘Best value’. Since we only selected one service option (FedEx Ground), this setting is not applicable.
3) Enter a Blending group tag. For this example, we’re using ‘GROUND’ since we want to blend the Ground options from FedEx and USPS.
Blending group tags can be any letter, number or word of your choosing.
We recommend using something simple, like the service type, to help you stay organized. Tags are not visible to customers.
Save Your Settings
1) Click the Save button to save your first parcel service shipping method.
Create A Duplicate Shipping Method For the Second Service Option
Next, we’re going to set up another parcel service shipping method just for FedEx Priority Overnight, which will eventually be blended with USPS First-Class Package.
To save time, you can simply duplicate the first parcel service shipping method, then edit the carrier service option, so you don’t have create a new shipping method from scratch.
1) After saving your first shipping method, scroll to the top of the page, then click Duplicate below the shipping method heading.
2) Select the same zone the original shipping method is assigned to.
3) Change the shipping method title from ‘Copy of [original title]’ to something else. For this example, we’re using ‘FedEx Overnight’ to again clearly identify what it is.
4) Leave the remaining General settings, along with all the settings for Packages, Shipping origin and Account as-is.
5) In the Services section, deselect the original service – in this example, FedEx Ground – then select a difference service. For this example, we’ll select ‘FedEx Priority Overnight’.
Be sure to select only one service. Selecting more than one for this setup will mean all of the service costs will be added together when blending is activated.
6) Click Show optional settings.
7) Scroll down to Rate blending, then change the Blending group tag. For this example, we’re using ‘EXPEDITED’ since we want to blend the Priority Overnight option from FedEx and the First-Class Package option from USPS.
Blending group tags can be any letter, number or word of your choosing.
We recommend using something simple, like the service type, to help you stay organized. Tags are not visible to customers.
8) Click the Save button to save your second parcel service shipping method.
9) Scroll to the top of the page. If you want to add more shipping methods for additional service levels, repeat Steps 1 to 8 for each additional service option.
Be sure that you only have one service type selected in each shipping method. Also be sure that each shipping method is in the same Zone, and has a different Blending group tag.
10) When you are finished adding shipping methods, scroll to the top of the page, then click the back button above the shipping method heading.
11) Scroll down to Shipping rates and services. You should now see one shipping method per service level. Each shipping method should have a different Blending group tag. Each shipping method should be in the same Zone.
For this example, we added one shipping method for FedEx Ground, tagged ‘GROUND’ and one shipping method for FedEx Overnight, tagged ‘EXPEDITED’. Both are in the ‘US’ Zone.
