Uploading Custom Shipping Rates per Backer (beta)

What is it?

BackerKit has a new beta feature called "shipping override" that replaces the current stackable and whole-order shipping methods. This feature allows you to apply a flat dollar amount to be charged to the backer. In other words, you do not need to set up pledge-level shipping or shipping profiles. Instead, you can send a file with the individual backer shipping rates, this will replace the entire process.

Note:

You can only use Shipping Override if you’ve used the Charge Shipping Later feature and 90% of complete survey backers are in the ‘ready to fulfill’ status. The reason for this is we upload shipping fees using this feature once. If backers can adjust their address, they may owe a different amount in shipping, which could result in incorrect shipping amounts collected.

How shipping costs appear on the backend backer - creator facing view:

How shipping costs appear on the survey for backers - backer/survey-facing view:

Qualifications to use this feature:

No shipping fees are in the pledge manager already.
Most, if not all, survey backers must have completed surveys & can’t update their address; you don’t plan to accept further surveys.
You want to offer exact or free shipping to specific backers, ex. Retailers get $0 shipping.

How to enable for project:

Please contact your Success Rep or email hello@backerkit.com to discuss if this feature is a good fit for your specific use case. If so, you will need to prepare a file with the directions below.

File Upload Requirements: In order to apply correctly, the .csv file for uploading shipping fees must be plain text numbers only with no currency or other symbols. Please review closely before sending.

How to create your .csv file for uploading shipping fees:

2 Columns only, with titles (template can be found here)
- Column A: list backer IDs
- Column B: list shipping amount
IDs and Fees must be plain text and numbers only:
- No currency symbols showing ($, £, etc)
- No other symbols included (#, etc)
- No words (ex. 'Free' - list the shipping amount as 0 instead)

Important Notes:

Uploaded shipping rates are static, and override anything else. They will not change or update due to any other actions in the pledge manager. For example:
- You have 100 backers, including 10 VIP backers who get $5 shipping via the shipping upload. You then set up a Whole Order Shipping profile.
- The Whole Order rates will only apply to the other 90 backers. The $5 rate for the VIP backers will not change.
If VAT or Tax Rules have Tax Shipping Fees? checked, the shipping tax will not show on backers' orders while Charge Shipping Later is still enabled.
- Once Charge Shipping Later is disabled during the Shipping Review, and shipping fees are approved and applied to orders, a line item will appear for VAT Shipping with the correct rate and the backer's balance updated.