Free Shipping Strategies

Free shipping is one of the most effective ways to increase conversions. Here are proven strategies with step-by-step implementation.

Basic Free Shipping Threshold

Offer free shipping when cart value exceeds a threshold.

Goal

Orders $50+ get free shipping domestically.

Implementation

Step 1: Create the rule

Rule Name: Free Shipping - $50+
Status: Active

Step 2: Add conditions

┌─ AND Group ──────────────────────┐
│ Cart Total ≥ $50                 │
│ Country = "United States"        │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Step 3: Configure action

Action Type: Fixed Rate
Rate Name: "Free Shipping"
Price: $0.00
Description: "Orders $50+ ship free!"

Step 4: Test

Test Cart:
- Subtotal: $49.99 → No free shipping
- Subtotal: $50.00 → Free shipping ✓
- Subtotal: $75.00 → Free shipping ✓

Step 5: Publish Click Publish to make live.

Customer Segment Free Shipping

Reward loyal customers with free shipping.

Goal: VIP customers or those with 5+ orders get free shipping.

Implementation:

Rule: VIP/Loyalty Free Shipping

Conditions:
┌─ OR Group ───────────────────────┐
│ Customer Tag Has: "VIP"          │
│ OR Order Count ≥ 5               │
│ OR Customer LTV ≥ $1,000         │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Action:
Free Shipping - "Loyalty Reward"

Product-Specific Free Shipping

Certain products always ship free.

Goal: Digital products and promotional items ship free.

Implementation:

Rule: Special Product Free Shipping

Conditions:
┌─ OR Group ───────────────────────┐
│ Collection = "Digital Products"  │
│ OR Product Tag Has: "Free Ship" │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Action:
Free Shipping - "Complimentary Shipping"

Use Cases: Gift cards, digital downloads, flash sales, clearance items.

Time-Based Free Shipping

Promotional free shipping during specific periods.

Goal: Free shipping during holidays or special events.

Implementation:

Rule: Holiday Free Shipping

Conditions:
┌─ AND Group ──────────────────────┐
│ Date Range:                      │
│   2025-11-28 to 2025-12-01       │
│ Cart Total ≥ $25                 │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Action:
Free Shipping - "Holiday Special"

Tip: Create rule ahead of time, set start date, publish early. Works for Black Friday, weekends, or recurring promotions.

Location-Based Free Shipping

Free shipping for specific regions.

Goal: Free shipping for local area or specific states/zones.

Implementation:

Rule: Local/Regional Free Shipping

Conditions:
┌─ OR Group ───────────────────────┐
│ Distance from Origin ≤ 25 miles  │
│ OR State = "California"          │
│ OR Zone = "West Coast"           │
└──────────────────────────────────┘

Action:
Free Shipping - "Local/Regional Delivery"

Setup: Configure origin address in Settings → Shipping Origin. Create custom zones in Settings → Zones.

Testing Your Free Shipping Rules

Test Key Scenarios:

• Threshold boundaries ($49.99 vs $50.00)
• Customer segments (VIP vs regular)
• Date ranges (before, during, after promo)
• Locations (domestic vs international)

Using the Simulator:

1. Go to rule → Test Rule
2. Enter cart total, address, customer details
3. Click Run Test
4. Verify correct rule matches

Best Practices

Clear Priorities: Digital products (100) > VIP (95) > Promotions (85) > Standard threshold (80) > Fallback (50)

Reasonable Thresholds: Set 15-25% above your average order value

Always Have Fallback: Standard shipping rule with no conditions (placed lower in rule list)

Monitor Performance: Track conversion rate, average order value, and margin impact

Next Steps

• Create Location-Based Rules
• Set Up Customer Segmentation
• Learn About Rule Priority

Questions? Email support@ratetell.com