A pillar of e-commerce success is efficient shipping. Using a strong delivery plan not only improves customer satisfaction but also greatly affects your financial line for Canadian Shopify stores. This tutorial looks at the shipping choices Canadian Shopify stores have access to and offers practical advice to streamline your fulfillment procedures.
Available Shipping Carriers for Canadian Shopify Stores
Canada Post: The Primary Nation-wide Option
Canada Post serves as the cornerstone for Canadian e-commerce shipping, providing broad domestic and international choices via Shopify’s platform. Using Shopify Shipping gives you access to discounted rates of up to 58% off usual pricing, which are based on Shopify’s negotiated arrangements with Canada Post.
Canada Post’s service levels are:
Domestic Shipping:
- Expedited Parcel (1-7 business days): Economical shipping within Canada
- Xpresspost (1-2 business days): Faster shipping for documents and parcels
- Priority (Next business day): Canada Post’s premium service for time-sensitive items
USA Shipping:
- Small Packet USA – Air (5-8 business days): Cost-effective for lightweight packages under 2 kg
- Tracked Packet – USA (4-7 business days): Faster option for small items with tracking
- Expedited Parcel – USA (4-7 business days): Suitable for larger and heavier shipments
UPS: Additional Domestic Options
UPS integration is available for Canadian Shopify merchants – for shipping label purchases directly through your Shopify admin. Worth noting that currently for now, UPS through Shopify Shipping only supports domestic shipping within Canada.
Purolator: Expanded Carrier Choice
Purolator is also available as a carrier option for fulfillment locations in Canada, providing you with additional flexibility for your shipping strategy.
Setting Up Shipping for Your Canadian Store
Basic Config
- Access shipping settings: Navigate to your Shopify admin, then Settings > Shipping and delivery
- Configure shipping zones: Set up appropriate shipping zones for domestic and international deliveries
- Choose shipping options: Add your preferred shipping methods to each zone, selecting from flat-rate, calculated, or free shipping options
- Connect carrier accounts: For carrier-calculated shipping, connect your shipping carrier accounts to provide real-time rates at checkout
Activating Canada Post Integration
To set up calculated shipping with Canada Post:
- Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery in your Shopify admin
- In the Carrier accounts section, add Canada Post as a shipping carrier
- Connect your existing Canada Post account (if applicable)
- Test your carrier-calculated shipping rates
- Set up carrier-calculated shipping rates in your shipping zones
Configuring UPS for Canadian Shipping
To leverage UPS through Shopify Shipping:
- Ensure you have a fulfillment location based in Canada
- Purchase UPS labels through your Shopify admin
- Remember that UPS integration currently only supports domestic shipping within Canada
Critical Considerations for Canadian Merchants
Plan Requirements for Carrier-Calculated Shipping
To offer exact carrier rates at checkout through third-party carriers:
- You must be on the Advanced Shopify or Shopify Plus plan
- Subscribers of the Grow plan can add this function by switching to yearly billing or paying a monthly cost.
- This functionality is not accessible on the Basic Shopify or Shopify Starter subscriptions.
Carrier-Specific Limitations
For Canada Post:
- Shopify Shipping only supports box and soft package types (not envelope package types)
- Regular Parcel rates aren’t offered through Shopify Shipping
- Expedited Parcel rates through Shopify Shipping cost less and deliver faster than Regular Parcel
For UPS:
- Doesn’t support PO box addresses as shipping origin or destination
- Package pickups aren’t available through Shopify Shipping in Canada
- Cannot ship regulated products (tobacco, alcohol, dangerous goods, lithium batteries)
- Only supports label purchases; carrier-calculated rates aren’t available for checkout
Preparation Steps for Effective Shipping
Essential Configuration Tasks
- Add accurate product weights: Ensure all your products have correct weights in their details, as these are critical for accurate shipping calculations
- Set default package dimensions: Configure your default package dimensions and weight in Shopify admin to calculate accurate shipping costs during checkout
- Verify fulfillment location address: Make sure your fulfillment location’s address is accurate and complete
- Set up shipping label printing: Configure a desktop printer or Shopify-supported label printer to print your shipping labels and documents
Optimizing Your Shipping Strategy
- Create strategic shipping zones: Organize your shipping rates by geographic regions to offer the most competitive rates to your customers
- Consider multiple package types: While only the default package dimensions are used at checkout, you can adjust package dimensions when purchasing shipping labels
- Test your shipping rates: Before launching, test your shipping setup to ensure rates calculate correctly
Conclusion
To implement effective shipping for your Canadian Shopify store, you must first understand the available carriers, plan requirements, and suitable store preparation. Shopify Shipping’s integration with Canada Post, UPS, and Purolator allows you to get cheaper shipping costs while also streamlining your order fulfillment operations.
Taking the time to properly establish your shipping settings can present your consumers with clear delivery options and rates, while also increasing your operational efficiency. This investment in your shipping infrastructure will eventually lead to higher customer satisfaction and business success.
Remember that shipping is more than just a logistical need; it’s an opportunity to improve your customer experience and distinguish your brand in Canada’s competitive e-commerce landscape.
Ready to Optimize Your Shopify Shipping Strategy?
At Alstra Solutions, we understand that efficient shipping is just one component of a successful e-commerce business. As a federally registered IT firm based in Toronto and an official Shopify Partner, we specialize in creating comprehensive e-commerce solutions that drive results. Our team can help you implement the shipping strategies outlined in this guide while optimizing your entire Shopify store experience. From custom e-commerce website design to ongoing SEO and maintenance, we offer the expertise Canadian businesses need to thrive online. Ready to elevate your shipping operations and overall e-commerce presence? Contact us today to discuss how we can help your business grow.