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Shipping buffers

Add shipping buffers

Learn how to adjust shipping costs using buffers.

Shipping buffers allow you to adjust the totals shown to your customers at checkout by adding a positive or negative buffer to cushion or subsidize shipping or landed costs.

Types of buffers

In Dashboard, you can set up carrier buffers or service level buffers—each with the option to increase or decrease shipping costs.

  • Carrier buffer - Adjusts shipping costs for all service levels of a chosen carrier, using a percentage or fixed amount.

  • Service level buffer - Adjusts shipping costs for a specific service level by a percentage or fixed amount.

Positive shipping buffers

Add a positive buffer to collect extra funds and offset costs—like international shipping risks, warehousing expenses, or foreign exchange fluctuations.

Here are a couple of examples:

  • $3 buffer - If a carrier quotes $15 for shipping, a $3 buffer bumps it to $18. This covers added costs like packaging or labor without cutting into your margins.
  • 10% buffer - For a $50 shipping rate, a 10% buffer adds $5, making it $55. It’s a simple way to cushion against losses from theft or customs adjustments.
  • 50% buffer - A $20 rate jumps to $30 with a 50% buffer—great for offsetting dimensional weight costs on bulky items.

Negative shipping buffers

Apply a negative buffer to lower shipping costs for customers—perfect for offering competitive rates or rewarding loyal shoppers.

Here are a couple of examples:

  • 50% buffer - A $10 shipping rate drops to $5 with a 50% buffer, drawing in price-sensitive buyers with lower costs.
  • $10 buffer - If shipping is $20, a $10 buffer lowers it to $10. This discount can thank repeat customers with a better rate.

Add a Carrier buffer

To add a carrier buffer:

  1. Log in to Dashboard and go to Settings -> Rates -> Select a Carrier.

  2. Under Carrier buffers, click New buffer

  3. Enter a buffer name and description

  4. Select whether you will increase or decrease shipping by a percent or amount.

  5. Enter the start date. By default, 12:00am of the current day is selected so the buffer will be applied instantly. An end date is optional. Buffers scheduled for a future date will appear in the Scheduled tab.

Note Buffers are a type of rule and will also display under Rules in Dashboard.

Add a Service level buffer

To add a Service level buffer:

  1. Log in to Dashboard and go to Settings -> Rates -> Select a carrier > Select a specific service level

  2. Under Service level buffers, click New buffer

  3. Enter a buffer name and description

  4. Select whether you will increase or decrease shipping by a percent or amount.

  5. Enter the start date. By default, 12:00am of the current date is selected so the buffer takes place immediately. An end date is optional. Buffers scheduled for a future date, will show in the Scheduled tab.

Note Buffers are a type of rule and will also display under Rules in Dashboard.

Archive buffers

To archive an active buffer:

  1. Under Carrier buffers or Service level buffers, click into an existing buffer

  2. A slide over with the buffer details will display. At the bottom, click Archive

Note Buffers are achived immediately

Recreate buffers

To recreate a buffer from an archived buffer:

  1. Under Carrier buffers or Service level buffers, click on the Archived tab.

  2. Click into an archived buffer you would like to recreate.

  3. Edit the buffer details as needed.

  4. Click Recreate buffer

Common questions

If there any specific quesitons you would like answered in this doc, please contact support@zonos.com.

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