Shopify: set backup rates so checkout never dead-ends
Shopify lets you set backup rates: simple rates Shopify shows when your rate app can't answer. Set them so that, if ASM ever can't return rates in time, shoppers still see a way to ship instead of no options at all.
Before you begin
When Shopify uses backup rates
ASM's answer to Shopify is one of three:
- Rates. Shopify shows them. Backup rates aren't used.
- An error or a timeout. ASM couldn't finish in time, for example because a carrier was slow or down. ASM tells Shopify it failed, and Shopify shows your backup rates.
- No rates. ASM worked, but no rule matched this cart and address. ASM tells Shopify there are no options. Backup rates are not used, because this is a real answer.
So backup rates protect you from outages and slow carriers. They don't hide a rule that doesn't cover a destination. For that, see No shipping methods at checkout.
Steps
- In your Shopify admin, open your shipping settings.
- Find the backup rates option for carrier-calculated rates, and set one or more backup rates for the places you ship to.
- Save.
Shopify's own help center has the current steps and screens. Search it for "backup rates".
Choose backup rates you're comfortable charging on any order, since they apply to whatever cart is in checkout at that moment.
Check that it works
You can't easily make ASM fail on purpose, so check the setup in Shopify: your backup rates should be listed for every zone where ASM calculates rates.
If shoppers report seeing your backup rates often, ASM or a carrier is timing out. Quote the same cart in the Shipping Estimator and look at the time next to each method. See Why the estimator and checkout can differ.