Shipping
Configure shipping for your marketplace: flat rate pricing, free shipping thresholds, country restrictions, and shipping deadlines with automatic enforcement.
Overview
Prometora's shipping feature lets you offer physical product delivery on your marketplace. When enabled, shipping adds:
- Flat rate shipping — a fixed shipping cost per order
- Address collection — buyers enter their shipping address at checkout
- Phone number collection — for delivery coordination
- Deferred payouts — seller funds are held until the order is shipped
- Shipping deadlines — automatic cancellation and refund if sellers don't ship on time
When to Enable Shipping
Enable shipping if your marketplace sells physical products that need to be delivered — handmade goods, vintage items, clothing, electronics, or any tangible products. For digital-only marketplaces (templates, courses, downloads), shipping is not needed.
Enabling Shipping
To turn on shipping for your marketplace:
- Go to Store Settings → General in your Prometora dashboard
- Find the Shipping section
- Toggle shipping to Enabled
- Configure your shipping options (described below)
- Click Save
When shipping is enabled, the checkout flow changes to collect a shipping address and phone number from the buyer. Seller payouts are also deferred until the seller confirms shipment.
Shipping Mode
Currently, Prometora supports flat rate shipping as the shipping mode. This means every order has the same shipping cost regardless of weight, dimensions, or distance.
Need Custom Shipping Rates?
If you have an agreement with a shipping provider and access to their API, we can help you integrate carrier-calculated rates into your marketplace. Reach out to us at [email protected] and we'll work with you to set it up.
Flat Rate Amount
Set the shipping cost that will be added to every order. This amount is charged to the buyer at checkout on top of the product price.
Example: $5.99 flat rate shipping per order
Choose a rate that balances cost recovery with buyer expectations. Consider what your sellers typically spend on shipping and set a rate that covers most cases without discouraging purchases.
Free Shipping Threshold
Optionally, you can set a minimum order amount above which shipping becomes free. This encourages larger orders and increases your average order value.
Example: Free shipping on orders over $50. Leave empty to always charge shipping.
Tip: Use Free Shipping to Boost Sales
Free shipping thresholds are one of the most effective ways to increase average order value. Setting the threshold just above your current average order value encourages buyers to add one more item to their cart.
Shipping Countries
Select which countries your marketplace supports for shipping. Only buyers with addresses in the selected countries will be able to complete checkout.
Shipping Countries
When shipping countries are configured, the checkout form automatically collects:
Shipping Address
- Street address
- City, state/province
- Postal/ZIP code
- Country
Phone Number
Collected for delivery coordination and carrier requirements. Shown to the seller when they ship the order.
Shipping Deadline
The shipping deadline is the maximum number of days a seller has to ship an order after it's placed. This protects buyers and ensures timely fulfillment.
Example: 5-day deadline selected
What Happens When the Deadline Passes
If a seller does not confirm shipment within the deadline:
Seller Reminders
Sellers receive email reminders as the deadline approaches, prompting them to ship or update the order.
Automatic Cancellation
The order is automatically cancelled if no shipment confirmation is provided by the deadline.
Automatic Refund
The buyer is automatically refunded the full amount, including shipping costs.
Warning: Auto-Cancel Is Final
Once the shipping deadline passes and an order is auto-cancelled, it cannot be reversed. The buyer receives a full refund and the seller does not receive any payout. Encourage your sellers to ship promptly or communicate delays with buyers before the deadline.
How It Works for Sellers
When shipping is enabled, the seller experience changes to include shipment tracking and deferred payouts:
Order Received
When a buyer places an order, the seller sees it on their My Sales page with the buyer's shipping address and phone number.
Payout Deferred
The seller's payout is held until they confirm the order has been shipped. This protects buyers from paying for unshipped orders.
Ship the Order
The seller ships the product and fills out the shipping form on the My Sales page, entering the carrier and tracking number.
Payout Released
Once the seller confirms shipment with a tracking number, their payout is released and processed through Stripe according to the normal payout schedule.
How It Works for Buyers
Buyers have a straightforward experience with shipping-enabled orders:
Checkout with Shipping
At checkout, the buyer enters their shipping address and phone number. The shipping cost is shown as a separate line item.
Awaiting Shipment
After payment, the order appears on the buyer's My Orders page with an "Awaiting Shipment" status.
Shipping Notification
When the seller ships the order, the buyer receives an email notification with the tracking number and carrier information.
Order Complete
The buyer can track their package using the provided tracking number. If the seller doesn't ship within the deadline, the buyer is automatically refunded.
Quick Reference
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable Shipping | Turn shipping on or off for your marketplace |
| Shipping Mode | Flat rate (fixed cost per order) |
| Flat Rate Amount | The shipping cost added to each order |
| Free Shipping Threshold | Order amount above which shipping is free (optional) |
| Shipping Countries | Countries you ship to (enables address + phone collection) |
| Shipping Deadline | Max days for seller to ship (3, 5, 7, or 14 days) |
Need Help Configuring Shipping?
If you're unsure about the right shipping settings for your marketplace, contact us at [email protected]. We're happy to help you find the best configuration for your use case.