Information checked: 21 July 2026.
Shipping is a promise involving stock, packing, carrier performance, geography and customer communication. A list of courier names is not a shipping strategy; the website must offer only methods the operation can fulfil reliably.
In brief: Design delivery rules from real parcels, cut-offs and exception handling.
Create shipping classes
Example shipping-class record
- Dimensions and weight
- Packed values, not product-only values
- Destination limits
- UK mainland, islands, Northern Ireland or international
- Service level
- Tracked standard, express, collection or specialist
- Cut-off and handling time
- What staff can consistently meet
- Restricted goods
- Carrier and regulatory limitations
- Damage/loss process
- Evidence, replacement and claim owner
State dates carefully
Distinguish dispatch time from delivery time and working days from calendar days. Avoid presenting a carrier estimate as a guarantee unless the business has committed to it and has a remedy when it fails.
Test exceptions
- Remote or unsupported postcode.
- Order containing products from different shipping classes.
- Missed cut-off or public holiday.
- Lost, damaged or returned parcel.
- Address correction after payment.
- Partial dispatch and refund.
Readiness check
Place representative orders to several postcode types and confirm the displayed price, promised timeframe, staff workflow and customer messages all agree.
Typical failure to avoid
Shipping tables often calculate from product weight rather than packed weight, ignore postcode exceptions or offer an express method after the daily cut-off. Staff then manually absorb costs or disappoint customers. Carrier labels and customer promises may also use different service names.
Information to keep outside the platform
- Packed dimensions and weights
- Carrier services and surcharge areas
- Cut-off and holiday calendar
- Loss/damage claims procedure
- Delivery-promise wording and owner
First implementation step
Create test baskets that include the lightest, heaviest, longest and mixed-class products, then quote several UK postcode types. Compare website charges with actual carrier eligibility and cost.
Sources and date checked
This practical guidance was checked against the following primary sources. It is general information, not legal advice; obligations depend on the business, customer, product and jurisdiction. Date checked: 21 July 2026.
Keep the decision under your control
Retain the relevant accounts, source material, supplier terms and recovery information. Recheck changing prices, interfaces and rules before acting.