How to Disable Shipping on Shopify

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Disabling Shipping for Digital Products
3. Disabling the Shipping Option for Pick-Up-Only Products
4. Disabling International Shipping for Specific Products
5. Disabling Shipping for Specific Products
6. Using Shopify Apps to Customize Shipping
7. Conclusion
8. FAQs

Introduction

Imagine you're running a local restaurant that just started an organic wine club, offering local pick-up only for the wine. The last thing you want is to confuse your customers with unnecessary shipping options during checkout. Whether you want to enhance customer experience by simplifying your order process or restrict shipping to certain regions, Shopify provides flexible options to meet your needs. This blog will guide you step-by-step on how to disable shipping on Shopify, whether entirely or for specific products, ensuring a seamless experience for your customers.

Disabling Shipping for Digital Products

Digital products like music, ebooks, and software do not require physical shipping. It's perplexing for customers to fill out shipping details for items that don't need to be shipped. Here's how you can disable the shipping option for digital products:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Navigate to the Product:

   • Go to the admin dashboard and select the digital product you want to modify.

2. Access Shipping Settings:

   • Scroll down to find the 'Shipping' section.

3. Uncheck the Physical Product Option:

   • Uncheck the "This is a physical product" checkbox.

4. Save Changes:

   • Click “Save” to confirm your changes.

By doing this, Shopify will recognize that the product is digital and won’t prompt for shipping details, streamlining the checkout process.

Disabling the Shipping Option for Pick-Up-Only Products

When offering a product that is only available for local pickup, having a shipping option can be confusing for customers. Here's how you can set up your store to disable shipping for pick-up-only products:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Create a Local Pickup Shipping Zone:

   • Navigate to Settings > Shipping > Shipping Zones.
   • Create a new zone called "Local Pickup."

2. Exclude Shipping Zones:

   • For states where local pickup is available, exclude them from any other shipping zones to avoid conflicts.

3. Set Up Price-Based Rates:

   • Under 'Price-based rates,' add a rate named “Pickup in store” and leave it as free shipping.

4. Add a Product Description Note:

   • Clearly state in the product description that it’s available for local pickup. For example, “This product can be picked up locally if you live in [name of town]. Please select the free local pickup option at checkout.”

By following these steps, you ensure the shipping method is disabled at checkout when the cart contains a pick-up-only product.

Disabling International Shipping for Specific Products

International shipping can be complex and costly. If your business is not equipped to handle it, disabling international shipping for certain products is the best course of action.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Access Shipping Settings:

   • Go to Settings > Shipping and Delivery > Manage Rates.

2. Edit Shipping Zones:

   • Under the "Shipping to" section, click the three dots and select "Edit zone."

3. Remove Countries Not Eligible for Shipping:

   • Remove countries that you don’t want to ship to from the shipping zone.

4. Add a Product Description Note:

   • Include a message in the product description like, “This product cannot be shipped to your selected destination. Please remove it from your cart to proceed with checkout.”

By removing specific countries from your shipping zones, those products will no longer be available for international shipping.

Disabling Shipping for Specific Products

Sometimes, you might need to disable shipping for certain physical products. Here's how you can do this effectively:

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Bulk Product Editor:

   • Go to your Shopify admin and select Products.

2. Edit Selected Products:

   • Select all products for which you want to disable shipping and click 'Edit Products'.

3. Modify Shipping Settings:

   • Add the 'Requires shipping' field and uncheck it.

4. Save All Changes:

   • Click “Save all changes” at the top right.

After making these changes, customers will be prompted only for billing and payment information, removing any unnecessary shipping steps

Using Shopify Apps to Customize Shipping

Several apps can help you customize your shipping needs more intricately. Here are a few recommended ones:

Advanced Shipping Rules

• Rating: ⭐ 4.8
• Pricing: From $9/month with a 7-day free trial.
• Features: Unique rates for different product groups, restrict zones, etc.

Better Shipping

• Rating: ⭐ 4.5
• Pricing: Starts at $29.99/month with a 14-day free trial.
• Features: Set flat rates for each product, restrict based on zip codes.

Bespoke Shipping

• Rating: ⭐ 4.7
• Pricing: $15/month with a 7-day free trial.
• Features: Dynamic rate customization, separate rates by customer groups and locations.

Conclusion

Streamlining your Shopify store's shipping options can significantly enhance the customer experience, build trust, and improve conversion rates. Whether you’re dealing with digital products, pickup-only items, or restricting international shipping, Shopify’s flexible options can be tailored to suit your specific needs. Utilize the steps and tools provided in this guide to ensure your store operates efficiently and meets your customer’s expectations.

FAQs

1. How do I disable shipping for digital products on Shopify?

• Navigate to the product settings, find the shipping section, and uncheck "This is a physical product."

2. Can I disable shipping for pickup-only products?

• Yes, create a local pickup shipping zone and add clear instructions in the product description.

3. How can I stop international shipping for certain items?

• Remove countries from your shipping zone settings and notify customers via product descriptions.

4. Is there an app to help customize shipping options on Shopify?

• Yes, apps like Advanced Shipping Rules, Better Shipping, and Bespoke Shipping offer robust customization features.

By following these steps and utilizing recommended tools, you can easily disable or customize shipping on Shopify to align with your business needs.