Update Product Settings

Product settings let you control how your products work with Intuitive Shipping. Adding physical details such as dimensions and weight helps ensure accurate packing during carrier rate calculations. You can also use product shipping settings to control where and how each product ships, and even assign custom shipping charges at the product level.

 

 

How It Works

All of your products are synced with Intuitive Shipping when you install the app. As you update your products in your eCommerce platform, whether you’re adding new items, removing existing ones, assigning tags, or creating collections or categories, those changes are synced automatically.

 

When Physical Attributes Are Neccesary

Product physical attributes, such as dimensions and weight, may be required depending on your eCommerce platform and how your setup is configured.

If you’re using custom service shipping methods with fixed shipping costs, weights and dimensions are only needed in certain cases:

• Your Scenarios use weight-based, dimension-based or volume-based conditions
• Your shipping methods use weight-based, dimension-based or volume-based rate types

If you’re using parcel service, freight service, or integrated service shipping methods that calculate real-time carrier rates, product weight is required for accurate results. Product dimensions are also required if you’re using volume-based or SmartBoxing packing algorithms, or if you want to restrict how products are packed based on size when using other methods such as weight-based or quantity-based packing.

 

Product Dimensions

Intuitive Shipping requires specific values for length, width, and height to calculate dimensional volume. These values should reflect the shipping dimensions - either the packed size of the product or the size of its individual package if it ships on its own.

You can enter dimensions directly in your Intuitive Shipping product settings, even if your eCommerce platform has its own dimension fields. If the values in Intuitive Shipping differ from those in your platform, Intuitive Shipping will use its own values.

Shopify does not currently support dedicated fields for product length, width, or height. However, you can customize product metafields to store dimensions that can be synced Intuitive Shipping. If you're on Shopify and plan to use conditions, rate types, or packing algorithms that rely on dimensions or volume, you’ll need to enter product dimensions in Intuitive Shipping or set up metafields in Shopify.

BigCommerce includes product fields for length, width, and height. If you’re using BigCommerce with dimension or volume-based settings, the values in Intuitive Shipping will override those in BigCommerce.

We check product dimension values at checkout before calculating rates. If dimensions are required, we first check the products in the cart. If dimensions are stored in Intuitive Shipping, those will be used. If not, we’ll use the dimensions from your BigCommerce product settings.

 

Product Weights

Both Shopify and BigCommerce allow you to store product weights in their systems. However, if you enter product weights in Intuitive Shipping, those values will override the weights from your eCommerce platform. If there is a difference between the two, Intuitive Shipping will use the weight stored in our system instead of the one in your platform.

We check product weight values at checkout before calculating rates. If weights are required, we first check the products in the cart. If weights are stored in Intuitive Shipping, those will be used. If not, we’ll use the weights from your eCommerce platform product settings.

 

Additional Pieces

If you sell products in separate pieces and each piece has its own package or shipping dimensions, you can add those pieces to the main product and assign dimensions and weight to each one.

For example, if you sell a table set under a single SKU but the tabletop and legs are packaged separately, you can treat the tabletop as the parent product and add one or more additional pieces to represent the packages for the table legs.

 

Product Variants

If your products have variants, you can apply the same settings to all variants or assign unique settings to each one.

For example, if you sell glassware with different tint options but all other attributes are the same, you can use the primary variant settings for all variants.

If your products include size variants, such as clothing or storage bins, you can assign different settings to each size as needed.

 

Default Product Settings

If you’re regularly adding new products, keeping physical attributes up to date can be challenging. Missing details may cause issues if your Scenarios or shipping methods rely on that information, potentially leading to rate calculation failures and preventing customers from checking out.

To help avoid this, Intuitive Shipping includes default product settings. If a product is missing key attributes, default values are applied automatically so customers can still complete their checkout. We’ll cover how to set up default values later in this guide.

 

 

Update Product Settings

This section will show you how to update settings for individual products. If you have a lot of products, you can update product settings in bulk using a CSV file.

1. Click Products on the sidebar menu.

 

2. Search for a product by scrolling through the list or by filtering the list, then clicking the filter button.

You have three filtering options to choose from:

• Filter by product title - Type the full or partial name of the product, then hit Enter.
• Filter by type - Select a product type from the drop-down list.
• Filter by vendor - Select the product vendor name from the drop-down list.

 

3. Click Edit beside a product you wish to update.

 

 

Physical Attributes

Product dimensions are required if you’re using:

• Volume-based or dimensional-based conditions in Scenarios.
• Volume-based packing algorithms, including SmartBoxing.
• Simple packing algorithms, such as weight-based, where dimensions are used to prevent certain products from being packed into specific boxes due to size.

Without dimensions, shipping methods that rely on these features won’t be able to calculate rates, and customers won’t be able to complete checkout unless default settings are enabled.

If you’re using Shopify and any of these apply to your setup, you’ll need to either configure metafields for dimensions in Shopify or add product dimensions directly in Intuitive Shipping.

If you’re using BigCommerce and already have dimensions entered in your product settings, adding them to Intuitive Shipping is optional. However, if you choose to manage dimensions in Intuitive Shipping, those values will override the ones in BigCommerce if they differ.

 

Product weight is required if you’re using:

• Weight-based conditions in Scenarios.
• Weight-based rate types or packing algorithms, including SmartBoxing.
• Any shipping method that calculates real-time carrier rates.

If you don’t enter weights in Intuitive Shipping, the system will use the weight stored in Shopify or BigCommerce, if available. This means a weight must exist in either your eCommerce platform or Intuitive Shipping.

If no weight is available and no default settings are applied, shipping methods that rely on weight-based calculations will not return rates, and customers will not be able to complete checkout.

 

1. Enter the shipping dimensions (length, width, and height) of the product. For example, if a t-shirt is folded to 12 x 8 x 1 inches, those are its shipping dimensions. If a coffee mug ships in a retail gift box measuring 5 x 5 x 5 inches, the box dimensions are considered the shipping dimensions. 

If you’re using BigCommerce or you're using Shopify's product metafields for dimensions, the dimensions entered in Intuitive Shipping will override those in your platform’s product settings.

 

2. Enter the shipping weight of the product. The product weight in Intuitive Shipping will override the weight in your eCommerce platform product settings. 

 

3. Choose whether or not the product can be used as a container for other products. This feature is currently in beta and works with Nesting settings (also in beta).

You have two settings to choose from:

• Cannot contain other products - Products set to 'nest inside container products' cannot be packed inside this product.
• Can contain other products - Products set to 'nest inside container products' can be packed inside this product.

This setting is useful if the product has negative space suitable for packing other, smaller products. For example, a handbag that can include a belt or a storage bin that can be packed with a set of dust covers.

If you selected 'Cannot contain other products, skip ahead to Additional Pieces.

 

4. Enter the internal dimensions (length, width and height) of the product when used as a container. Products set to 'nest inside container products' will be packed inside this product if they fit.

 

5. Enter the maximum weight of the product. This is the weight limit the product can hold when used as a container for products set to 'nest inside container products'. The combined weight of the nested items will be added to the container product’s shipping weight.

 

 

Additional Pieces

If your product ships in multiple pieces, you can add each piece in Intuitive Shipping.

For example, if you sell a bed frame under a single SKU but it ships in three separate boxes, you can add each additional piece by entering its shipping dimensions and applying any other required settings.

You only need to add the extra pieces. If a product includes more than one piece, Intuitive Shipping treats the main product settings as the first piece by default.

1. Click Add additional piece.

 

2. Enter the product piece title for the additional piece, such as ‘Head Board’ or ‘Piece 2’.

 

3. Enter the outer dimensions (length, width, and height) for the additional product piece. For example, if ‘Piece 2’ ships in a box measuring 8 x 40 x 2, those are its shipping dimensions.

 

You have two settings to choose from:

• Pack with other products - The additional product piece will be packed with other items in the order based on the selected packing algorithm and package settings. This is the default setting.
• Pack separately - The additional product piece will be packed on its own using a custom package with the outer dimensions entered in Step 3.

For example, if you sell a table with removable legs, you can choose whether the legs, as a separate product piece, can be packed with other items or must be packed on their own. If packed separately, the outer dimensions of the piece will be used to create a custom package.

If you are using custom service or local delivery shipping methods that don’t require packages, the packing method settings will be ignored, no matter how they are configured.

 

Additional Physical Settings 

Additional settings are available for nestable products and packing points.

• Nestable lets you configure the additional piece to be packed inside products that are set to 'Can contain other products'. 
• Packing points are a custom, arbitrary value you assign when other values like weight, quantity, or volume aren’t suitable for determining how a product should be packed with others. When setting up a shipping method that requires packages - such as parcel service, freight service, or integration service - you’ll need to choose the points-based packing algorithm.

If the product isn't nestable or you're not using a points-based packing algorithm in your shipping method, skip ahead to save your additional piece.

1. Click Show additional physical settings

 

2. Choose whether or not the additional piece is nestable.

You have two settings to choose from:

• Nest inside container products - The additional product piece can be packed inside products set to 'Can contain other products' if its physical attributes are within the limits of the 'container' product's inner dimensions.
• Do not nest inside container products - The additional product piece cannot be packed inside products set to 'Can contain other products'.

 

3. Assign packing points to the additional piece. Packing points are custom values used with Intuitive Shipping’s points-based packing algorithm, available in shipping methods that calculate carrier rates in real time. This method is useful when packing cannot be accurately defined using standard approaches like weight, quantity, or volume. Packing points let you control how many and which products can be grouped into a single package.

If you’re using other packing algorithms or shipping methods that don’t require packages, packing point settings will be ignored. 

 

4. Click the Save button to save your additional product piece settings.

The additional product piece will appear under Product pieces. You can edit or delete it at any time. If you remove an additional piece, you may need to update the physical attributes of the main product, especially its weight.

 

5. Repeat the steps above for each additional piece you want added to the main product.

 

Packing Method

1. Select a packing method.

You have two settings to choose from:

• Pack with other products - The product will be packed with other items in the order based on the selected packing algorithm and package settings. This is the default setting.
• Pack separately - The product will be packed in its own custom package using the shipping dimensions entered earlier.

When a product is set to Pack separately, Intuitive Shipping creates a separate package for each unit ordered. For example, if a product has shipping dimensions of 5 x 5 x 10 inches and a customer orders 3 units, three separate packages will be created, each measuring 5 x 5 x 10 inches.

If you choose Pack separately, we strongly recommend verifying that the shipping dimensions match the actual package size. For example, if a product measures 4.5 x 4.5 x 9 inches but is shipped in a box that measures 5 x 5 x 10 inches, the shipping dimensions should be entered as 5 x 5 x 10.

If you are using custom service or local delivery shipping methods that don’t require packages, the packing method settings will be ignored, no matter how they are configured.

 

Additional Physical Settings 

Additional settings are available for nestable products and packing points.

• Nestable lets you configure the product to be packed inside other products that are set to 'Can contain other products'. 
• Packing points are a custom, arbitrary value you assign when other values like weight, quantity, or volume aren’t suitable for determining how a product should be packed with others. When setting up a shipping method that requires packages - such as parcel service, freight service, or integration service - you’ll need to choose the points-based packing algorithm.

If the product isn't nestable or you're not using a points-based packing algorithm in your shipping method, skip ahead to Shipping Settings.

1. Click Show additional physical settings.

 

2. Choose whether or not the product is nestable.

You have two settings to choose from:

• Nest inside container products - The product can be packed inside other products set to 'Can contain other products' if its physical attributes are within the limits of the 'container' product's inner dimensions. This is the default setting.
• Do not nest inside container products - The product cannot be packed inside other products set to 'Can contain other products'.

 

3. Assign packing points to the products. Packing points are custom values used with Intuitive Shipping’s points-based packing algorithm, available in shipping methods that calculate carrier rates in real time. This method is useful when packing cannot be accurately defined using standard approaches like weight, quantity, or volume. Packing points let you control how many and which products can be grouped into a single package.

If you’re using other packing algorithms or shipping methods that don’t require packages, packing point settings will be ignored. 

 

 

Shipping Settings

1. If you're using Zonos with Intuitive Shipping, enter a Harmonized System (HS) code. HS codes are standardized numerical codes used worldwide to classify traded products and are required for international exports. HS codes in Intuitive Shipping are used exclusively with the Zonos integration. Skip to Step 2 if you're not using Zonos with Intuitive Shipping.

 

2. Select a free shipping eligibility setting.

You have three settings to choose from:

• Qualifies for free shipping - When a free shipping threshold is enabled in a shipping method and satisfied at checkout, this product is included in the calculation and will ship for free. This is the default setting.
• Exclude from free shipping - When a free shipping threshold is satisfied at checkout, this product will still have a shipping cost applied, while the rest of the order may qualify for free shipping.
• Always ship for free - No shipping cost will ever be applied to this product, regardless of shipping method or free shipping threshold settings.

For example, let's say a custom service shipping method has this rate table:

• $10.00 for up to 5 items
• $20.00 for 6 to 10 items
• $50.00 for more than 10 items

A free shipping threshold is also enabled for orders with a cart total over $100.00 before tax.

Products set to Qualifies for free shipping count toward both the rate table and the free shipping threshold. If the order exceeds $100.00, the entire order ships for free.

If Exclude from free shipping is selected and a customer orders 7 of that product, they will still be charged $20.00 based on the rate table, even if the order total exceeds $100.00.

If Always ship for free is selected, those products are ignored in shipping calculations. For example, if a customer orders 15 items and 10 of them always ship for free, only the remaining 5 items are used for the rate calculation. In that case, the customer would be charged $10.00 for shipping.

 

 

Free Shipping vs. Zero-Cost Shipping

A product’s free shipping eligibility setting determines whether it qualifies for free shipping. This setting works with the optional free shipping threshold available in every paid shipping method, which can be found in the Optional Settings section on the shipping method’s Edit page.

 

Free shipping eligibility also works when you create a dedicated free shipping method.

 

However, if you offer free shipping using a zero-cost rate row in a rate table, the product’s free shipping eligibility setting will be ignored. This is because the system treats a zero-cost rate row as a defined cost, not a threshold. As a result, products set to ‘Exclude from free shipping’ will still be included in the zero-cost calculation.

Here's an example of a custom service shipping method rate table with a zero-cost rate row:

Using this example, any product set to ‘Exclude from free shipping’ will still count toward the total item quantity. This means that if a customer orders 25 or fewer items, including those set to be excluded from free shipping, they will still be charged $15.00 or $30.00 for shipping. To qualify for free shipping, the customer would need to order more than 25 items.

 

Additional Shipping Settings

Additional shipping settings are available for zone exclusion and custom shipping charges. These settings are optional.

• Do not ship to regions (zone exclusion) ensures that a product cannot be shipped to specific zones. This is useful if you need to block checkout for certain destinations without managing it through Scenario conditions.

• Custom shipping lets you assign fixed shipping costs to products that always cost the same to ship, regardless of cart contents, destination, or shipping method. Using custom shipping blending settings in your shipping methods, you can control how these costs interact with calculated rates.

If you do not need to exclude products from certain zones or assign custom shipping costs, skip ahead to Variants.

1. Click Show additional shipping settings.

 

Do Not Ship To Regions

You can exclude individual products from specific zones if they are restricted items, controlled goods, or if shipping to those areas is too costly. While this can be managed with Scenario conditions and shipping method settings, excluding zones at the product level is often more efficient, especially if only certain products have regional limitations.

For example, if you’re a Canadian business shipping within Canada and to the US, but some products cannot be shipped across the border, you can exclude the ‘USA’ zone for those items. This prevents US customers from purchasing restricted products.

If a zone is not assigned to any shipping methods, such as the default ‘Rest of World’ zone, there is no need to exclude products from it unless you plan to use it later. Since it is not linked to any shipping methods, no rates will be calculated and customers in that zone will not be able to check out.

1. Select one or more zones to exclude the product from. If a customer’s shipping address is within a selected zone, they won’t be able to complete checkout unless the product is removed from their cart. Each product should be able to ship to at least one zone.

Each product should be able to ship to at least one zone.

 

If you have rates from other sources, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, or another third-party rate calculator, that appear alongside Intuitive Shipping rates, products restricted from certain zones will not be blocked from those other rates.

For example, if you apply a $2.00 markup in your Shopify Shipping & delivery settings to all rates returned by Intuitive Shipping, and a customer from a restricted zone attempts to purchase a product set to ‘Do not ship’, they will still be able to check out and will be charged the $2.00 markup.

To prevent this, remove the markup cost from Shopify and use the cost adjustment settings within your Intuitive Shipping methods instead. This ensures that products restricted from certain zones cannot be purchased by customers in those regions.

 

Custom Shipping

Each product can have its own custom shipping charge. You can apply the same charge to every zone or set different costs for each zone as needed. These custom charges only apply when the product is purchased by customers in the selected zones. If a zone is left blank, no custom shipping charge will be applied, and shipping will be calculated using the rates from the shipping methods assigned to that zone.

Custom shipping charges can be blended with or override shipping method rates when those products are included in an order. You can control how these charges interact using the Custom Shipping Blending settings, located in the optional settings section of any shipping method.

 

1. Enter the product’s custom shipping cost for one or more zones. 

Each zone has two fields for custom shipping charges:

• Cost of first quantity - The amount entered here is added to the final shipping cost when a customer has at least one of the product in their cart.
• Cost of each additional quantity - The amount entered here is added for each additional item beyond the first. Leave this field blank if you want to charge a flat rate regardless of quantity.

For example, if a customer orders 5 of this product and you enter ‘75’ ($75.00) in the first quantity field and leave the additional quantity field blank:

Result: $75.00 will be added to the shipping cost at checkout. The charge applies only to the first item, and the remaining 4 items will not incur any additional shipping cost.

 

Now, let's say you have '75' in both the 'first quantity' field and 'additional quantity' field:

Result: The customer will have $375.00 added onto their shipping cost at checkout because they are being charged $75.00 for the first item, plus an additional $75.00 per item for the other 4 items.

• $75.00 + ($75.00 + $75.00 + $75.00 + $75.00) = $375.00 

 

Finally, let's say you enter '75' in the 'first quantity' field and '15' in the 'additional quantity' field

Result: The customer will have $135.00 added onto their shipping cost at checkout because they are being charged $75.00 for the first item, plus an additional $15.00 per item for the other 4 items.

• $75.00 + ($15.00 + $15.00 + $15.00 + $15.00) = $135.00 

 

Let's say you've left the ‘first quantity’ blank and entered '15' ($15.00) in the 'additional quantity' field.

You will be unable to save your product settings until you do one of the following:

1. Add a cost to 'first quantity'.
2. Remove the cost from 'additional quantity'.

 

If a product doesn't have custom shipping charges, leave all custom shipping fields blank. If you enter ‘0’ (zero) in the Cost of first quantity field, the product will always have a zero (free) custom shipping charge when ordered by customers in that zone, which may not be the intended result.

 

Variants

If your product has variants, such as clothing in sizes XS, S, M, L, and XL, or glassware in different tints, you can apply unique physical attributes and shipping settings to each variant or use the primary product settings for all.

By default, Intuitive Shipping applies the primary variant’s settings to all other variants.

If you choose to use unique settings for specific variants, make sure to complete all applicable fields. For settings that require a value and do not have a default or selectable option, you must enter a value for each variant. If left blank, the primary value will not carry over.

For example, if a product requires a custom shipping charge and you add it to the primary variant, you must also add it to each variant using unique settings. Otherwise, customers will not be charged the custom shipping cost for those variants.

If your products do not have variants, or if all variants share the same attributes and settings, you can skip ahead to Save Your Settings.

 

1. Click Variants below the product name heading or scroll to the bottom of the product settings page.

 

2. In the 'Variants' section at the bottom of the page, click Edit next to one of the variants.

 

3. Select Define settings for this variant. When enabled, the settings for this variant will override the primary product settings. For example, if the primary product has a weight of 4 lbs and you set the variant’s weight to 3 lbs, Intuitive Shipping will use 3 lbs for rate calculations when that variant is ordered.

 

4. Enter values for the variant’s physical attributes and adjust settings for additional pieces, packing, and shipping as needed.

 

5. Repeat Steps 2 to 4 for each additional variant that requires its own unique settings.

 

Save Your Settings

1. Click the Save button to save your product settings.

 

 

Update Product Settings In Bulk

It may not be practical to add physical attributes and shipping settings to every product individually, especially if you have a large catalog. Intuitive Shipping lets you import settings for multiple products at once using a CSV file. This can be done whether or not products have already been updated manually. Importing requires a specific file format, which you can generate by exporting a CSV file from Intuitive Shipping.

If you haven’t updated any product settings yet, it’s a good idea to manually configure at least one product first using the steps above. Be sure to complete all fields, even if you use temporary values that can be changed later. This helps you understand the required format and reduces the chance of errors when working with the CSV file.

 

1. Click Products on the sidebar menu. 

 

2. Filter the product list. 

You have three filtering options to choose from:

• Filter by product title - type the full or partial name of the product, then hit Enter.
• Filter by type - select a product type from the drop-down list.
• Filter by vendor - select the product vendor name from the drop-down list.

 

3. Click the filter icon button.

 

4. Click Export.

 

5. Choose an Export setting.

You have three settings to choose from:

• All products - The CSV file will include every product currently synced with Intuitive Shipping.
• Currently filtered products - The CSV file will include only the products filtered in Steps 2 and 3.
• Products without dimensions - The CSV file will include only products that do not have dimensions stored in Intuitive Shipping. This is useful when using SmartBoxing or volume-based packing, which require length, width, and height values.

 

6. Click the Export button.

After exporting the CSV file, a notification will appear in the top right corner of the app. If it doesn’t appear right away, try refreshing the Products page or navigating to another page. An email notification will also be sent to the primary contact and, if added, the secondary contact.

 

7. Click the Notifications icon on any page to move to the Notifications page.

 

8. Click the downward arrow next to the most recent 'Product export complete' notification. When expanded, the notification confirms the success of the export and provides access to download the CSV file.

 

9. Click download. The file will be sent to your default 'Downloads' folder. Depending on your computer's browser and operating system, confirmation may be required to complete the download.

 

10. Navigate to your computer’s downloads folder, then open the CSV file. Settings for any previously updated products will be included. If no products were previously updated, all fields will be blank except for the product ID, variant ID if applicable, title, and any default settings.

 

Physical Attributes

You only need to add physical attributes like dimensions and weight to products that require them for rate calculations:

Add product dimensions if you’re using:

• Shipping methods that use volume-based or SmartBoxing packing algorithms for carrier rates, or the dimensional volume rate type for custom rates
• Shipping methods that use simple packing algorithms but restrict packing based on product size
• Scenarios with dimension-based conditions or restrictions

Add product weight if you’re using:

• Parcel service, freight service, or integration service shipping methods that calculate real-time carrier rates, regardless of the packing algorithm
• Custom service shipping methods that use the weight rate type
• Scenarios with weight-based conditions or restrictions

When entering dimensions, always use the product’s shipping dimensions. For example, if a mug ships in a gift box measuring 5 x 5 x 5 inches, enter the length, width, and height as ‘5’, ‘5’, and ‘5’.

 

1. In the first product row, enter a value using only numbers in each applicable column.

 

Shipping Settings

You can update shipping settings in bulk if needed. To help avoid formatting errors, we recommend completing all settings for at least one product, even if some fields aren’t required. This gives you a reliable reference and helps ensure values are entered in the correct format.

^{1) Package separately - Products are set to 'pack with other products' by default when the cell is blank. Learn more about how the packing method feature works here.}

^{2) Packing Points - Products do not have packing points assigned by default. Learn more about how the packing points feature works here.}

^{3) HS Code - Products do not have an HS code assigned by default. HS codes are only required if you are using Zonos with Intuitive Shipping. Zonos is currently in beta. Please contact us to request access.}

^{4) Free shipping - Products are set to 'include' by default. This means the product will be included in free shipping if your paid shipping methods have a free shipping threshold enabled and free shipping is activated at checkout. Learn more about how the free shipping feature works here.}

^{5) Restrict Shipping - Products are set to 'unrestricted' by default when the cell is blank. We strongly recommend updating these settings manually in each individual product. If you choose to update these settings in bulk using the CSV, we suggest applying the setting to a sample product and re-exporting the CSV file, then copy the same values to each applicable product. Learn more about how the restrict shipping feature works here.}

^{6) Custom Shipping - Products do not have custom shipping costs by default when the cell is blank. We strongly recommend updating these settings manually in each individual product. However, if you choose to update these settings in bulk using the CSV, we suggest applying the setting to a sample product and re-exporting the CSV file, then copy the same values to each applicable product. Learn more about how the custom shipping feature works here.}

^{7) Additional Piece - Products do not have additional pieces by default when the cell is blank. We strongly recommend updating these settings manually in each individual product, then re-exporting. When products have additional pieces, the value in this column is set to 'Yes'. However, to enter shipping dimensions and weights for each additional piece, additional product rows need to be added, which we recommend adding individually through the app interface. Learn more about adding additional pieces here.}

^{8) Container Status - Products are set to ‘Cannot contain other products’ by default when the cell is blank. If you enter ‘Yes’, other products set to ‘Nestable’ can be packed inside this product. You’ll also need to enter the inner length, width, and height to define what can fit inside, along with the maximum weight the product can support when used as a container. Learn more about how the container feature works here.}

^{9) Nestable - Products are set to 'Nest inside container products' by default when the cell is 'Yes'. If you do not want the product to be packed inside products set to 'Can contain other products' (see 8) ), remove 'Yes' and leave the cell blank. This will set it to 'Do not nest inside container products'. Learn more about how the nestable feature works here.}

^{10) Inner Length, Width, Height - These are the inner dimensions that define what can fit inside a product when it used as a container. If 'Container status' is set to 'Yes' on the CSV file or if the individual product setting is 'Can contain other products', inner .dimensions are required. Learn more about how the container feature works here.}

^{11) Max Wight - This is the maximum weight that a product can support when used as as a container. If 'Container status' is set to 'Yes' on the CSV file or if the individual product setting is 'Can contain other products', max weight is required. Learn more about how the container feature works here.}

 

2. Repeat the 'Physical Attributes' and 'Shipping Settings' steps for each additional product listed. 

 

Please note: Deleting product rows will not remove products from Intuitive Shipping. Products can only be removed through your eCommerce platform and are removed from Intuitive Shipping when changes are imported.

 

3. Save the CSV file to any folder on your computer. If you choose a location other than 'Downloads,' note it so it can be easily found. You can leave the file name as-is or change it to something else, if needed. The file name doesn't affect importing. However, it must be in a CSV file format, such as 'IS product settings import.csv'.

 

4. Return to the Products list page in Intuitive Shipping.

 

5. Click Import.

 

6. Click Choose file, then navigate to the folder containing the saved CSV file.

 

7. Select the file to be uploaded.

 

8. Click the Import button to upload the file.

A notification will appear in the top right of any page, though it may not show until you refresh the Products page or navigate to a different page. An email notification will also be sent to the primary and, if applicable, secondary email contact.

The notification will indicate if the import was successful or unsuccessful.

 

9. If the import was unsuccessful, repeat the steps above or contact us for assistance.

 

10. If the import was successful, return to the Products list page to verify that your product settings have been imported correctly.

 

11. Click Edit beside a product that was included in the CSV import.

 

12. Review all of the product settings for accuracy.

 

13. If desired, repeat the verification steps for other products.

 

 

Default Settings

If your shipping methods require product dimensions, Intuitive Shipping allows you to set default dimensions for any products missing this information. This helps ensure dimension-based or volume-based rates are calculated correctly and reduces the risk of checkout errors, customer frustration, and lost sales.

Default settings are especially useful if you regularly add new products and cannot assign dimensions right away, or if existing data is accidentally removed.

You can also set a default weight. This is helpful if you don't typically enter product weights in your eCommerce platform and prefer to manage them in Intuitive Shipping. Like default dimensions, a default weight ensures accurate rate calculations when product weights are missing or have been cleared.

As long as you have an active billing plan, including during your free trial, products will sync automatically with Intuitive Shipping when changes are made in your eCommerce platform. If many updates occur in a short time, syncing may be delayed. In these cases, Intuitive Shipping will use your default settings to calculate rates at checkout for any products that have not yet finished syncing.

1. Click Products on the sidebar menu.

 

2. Click Default settings.

 

3. Select Active.

 

4. Enter default shipping dimensions (length, width, and height). When enabled, these values will be used automatically for any product that does not have its own dimensions or has not yet synced with Intuitive Shipping. For best results, choose values that reflect the average dimensions of your typical or frequently added products.

 

5. Enter a default shipping weight. When enabled, this value will be used automatically for any product that does not have its own weight set in your eCommerce platform or Intuitive Shipping. For best results, choose a value that reflects the average weight of your typical or frequently added products.

Let’s say you enter a default weight of 4 lbs. If a product does not have a weight set in Intuitive Shipping but has a weight of 8 lbs in Shopify or BigCommerce, Intuitive Shipping will use the 8 lbs from your eCommerce platform instead of the default weight.

If a product is missing both dimensions and weight in Intuitive Shipping but has a weight in your eCommerce platform, Intuitive Shipping will apply the default dimensions but use the platform weight instead of the default weight.

For example, if you set default dimensions of 2.5 x 4 x 10 and a default weight of 4 lbs:

• The product has no dimensions or weight in Intuitive Shipping
• The product has a weight of 8 lbs in your eCommerce platform

Intuitive Shipping will use the default dimensions and the 8 lb weight from your eCommerce platform, ignoring the default weight.

 

Additional Settings

Additional default product settings are available for packing method and packing points.

• Packing method lets you choose whether products that rely on default physical attributes are packed with other items or on their own. If a product is set to ‘Pack separately’, Intuitive Shipping will create a custom package for each unit using the default dimensions.

• Packing points are custom values used when weight, quantity, or volume are not suitable for determining how products should be packed. When using shipping methods that require packages, such as parcel service, freight service, or integration service methods, you will need to select the points-based packing algorithm.

1. Click Show additional settings.

 

2. Select a default packing method. This setting applies only to products that have not yet been synced with Intuitive Shipping. By default, all synced products are set to ‘Pack with other products’.

You have two settings to choose from:

• Pack with other products - The product will be packed with other items in the order based on the selected packing algorithm and package settings. This is the default setting for products that are already synced with Intuitive Shipping and is recommended if you typically use it.
• Pack separately - The product will be packed in its own custom package using the default shipping dimensions entered above. This is recommended if you usually set synced products to be packed separately.

If you select Pack separately, we recommend confirming that the default dimensions accurately reflect your typical package size.

If you are using custom service or local delivery shipping methods that don't use packages, the packing method settings will be ignored, regardless of how they're set.

 

3. Assign a default packing points value. If you are using the packing points algorithm in any shipping methods, this value will be applied to products that are missing dimensions or weight. This setting is ignored if the packing points algorithm is not used in any shipping method.

 

4. Click the Save button to save your default settings.

 

 

What's Next:

• Test your setup

Optional:

• Create a blended rate
• Create a condition group
• Add a location 
• Update general settings

Can we lend a hand? Let us help you get up and running faster and with greater confidence. Book a complimentary Onboarding session!