Configure shipping profiles
The shipping profile is one of the key configurations before launching your store. If your store applies the same shipping rules for all products, you only need to set up the General shipping profile. If you need to configure specific shipping rules for certain products, you can create a Custom shipping profile.
Things to consider before configuration
Before configuring your shipping profile, keep the following in mind:
- Be familiar with the zones your store supports for delivery and set up appropriate shipping cost rules accordingly.
- The General shipping profile must be configured and cannot be disabled or deleted.
- A product (including product variants) can only be assigned to one shipping profile. If a product is added to a Custom shipping profile, it will no longer be available in the General shipping profile.
- If multiple products from different shipping profiles are included in the same order, the system will consolidate the shipping costs, which could result in higher fees at checkout.
Configure shipping profile
This guide provides detailed instructions on configuring both general shipping profile and custom shipping profile. The only difference lies in the applicable products section—other configuration steps remain the same.
When configuring shipping for the first time, the system will automatically generate an initial shipping profile. Please review and adjust it as needed. If you need to set different rules for specific products, you can add a custom shipping plan after completing the basic configuration.
Quick setup steps
- Log in to the Genstore admin and go to Settings → Shipping and delivery.
- Click Set shipping to open the configuration popup.
- Complete the following modules:
- Shipping zones
- Shipping origin
- Shipping calculation method
- Shipping fee amount & name
- (Optional) Shipping description
- Click Save to complete the basic configuration.
Differences between general and custom shipping profile
| Configuration item | General shipping | Custom shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable products | Automatically applies to all products | Must manually select at least one product |
| Priority | Can be overridden by custom shipping | Takes priority over general shipping |
Add custom shipping profile and assign products
To configure special shipping rules for specific products, you must first add a custom shipping profile, then assign applicable products to it.
- In the Genstore admin, go to Settings → Shipping and delivery → Shipping.
- Switch to the Custom shipping tab.
- Click Create now to add a custom profile.
- In the setup window, click Configure products to select the products this profile applies to.
- If a product is already linked to another custom profile, the system will notify you and block duplicate assignments.
TIP
Each product can only be linked to one custom shipping profile at a time.
To reassign a product, remove it from its existing profile first.
Configure shipping location
You can configure the shipping locations for the General shipping profile by selecting warehouses or store addresses. Click Manage shipping location to select or unselect the shipping addresses. If the desired location is not on the list, you must first add it in Settings -> Locations.
Note:
- The General shipping profile will automatically include the store’s default address as the shipping origin.
- If a configured shipping location is disabled in the Locations management, it will no longer be available for product shipping. You’ll see a disabled label next to the address.
- If a shipping location is deleted in the Locations management, it will automatically be removed from the shipping profile.
Shipping location priority
You can adjust the priority by dragging the shipping location up or down, with the default priority set to the top.
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The shipping location priority affects how the system determines where the product will ship from. If a product can ship from multiple locations, the system will prioritize the highest-ranked location. For more on product shipping routing, refer to Order routing.
Configure shipping zones and rates
In the General shipping profile, you can set up one or more shipping zones and define their corresponding rates. A shipping zone usually includes countries or regions that share the same rate. For example, if your warehouse in France charges the same rate to all European countries, you can group them into a single shipping zone and apply one rate for all customers in Europe.
Add shipping zones and rates
In the General shipping profile, click the edit icon. Click Add zone & rate under the target shipping location, and configure as follows:
- Ship to: Select at least one country or region. You can select multiple zones by checking the boxes.
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- The General shipping profile will automatically set the store’s primary market country as the default shipping region.
- If the country you need is not listed, you can add it in Settings -> Markets.
- Each shipping profile allows only one set of shipping rules per country (including states/provinces).
- Shipping methods: You can configure one or more shipping rates for the region. Genstore offers five different rate calculation options. Select the one that fits your needs. The default rate currency is set to the store’s primary currency.
- Flat rate: Charge a specific amount for shipping, such as $10 per order. Note: The number of items does not affect the fixed shipping amount.
- Rate by price: Calculate shipping based on the total order value (excluding discounts, taxes, and fees).
- Rate by weight: Calculate shipping based on the total weight of the items in the order. If an item does not have a weight attribute, it defaults to 0.
- Rate by quantity: Calculate shipping based on the number of items in the order.
- Rate name: Name the rate. This name will be displayed to customers at checkout.
WARNING
If the order contains products from different shipping profiles, the shipping rates with the same name will be added together. For more on rate merging, see Rate consolidation.
- Description: Provide additional information about the shipping option. For example, if you offer two fixed shipping rates of $12 and $24, you can：
- write in the $12 rate description:
Standard shipping: 3–4 business days - write in the $24 rate description:
Express shipping: 1–2 business days
- write in the $12 rate description:
Delete zones and rates
To permanently delete a shipping zone and rate, locate the target shopping zone or rate, under Action, click ... -> Delete.
Note: Deleting a region and its rates may prevent customers in that region from placing orders.