Creating a free shipping discount

A free shipping discount takes the delivery charge off the order when the customer types your code. You create it under Discounts in your Orbit dashboard.

Considerations

• This type has no value to set. The Free shipping card reads This discount will apply free shipping to the entire order. The code is the whole discount.
• Shoppers must type the code at checkout. It never applies on its own.
• A discount has no country or shipping zone setting. It covers the whole order wherever the customer is.
• For free shipping that everyone gets over a set spend, with no code to type, add a Free Shipping method to your shipping zone instead. See the last section.
• A shopper can use one discount code per order.

Create a free shipping discount

1. From your Orbit dashboard, go to Discounts.
2. Click Create discount. The Select discount type dialog opens.
3. Click Free shipping, the row that reads Offer free shipping on an order.
4. In Title, type a name you will recognise later, such as Free shipping, no minimum.
5. In Discount code, type the code customers will use, for example FREESHIP, or click Generate code for a random one. The field turns your typing into capitals and keeps only letters, numbers, hyphens and underscores.
6. There is nothing to fill in on the second card. It only tells you what the discount does.
7. Set any conditions you want, such as a minimum spend or an end date.
8. Click Save discount to start it straight away, or Save draft to save it as inactive. The message Discount created successfully appears.

Ask for a minimum spend

Free shipping over a set basket value keeps the cost to you in check.

1. On the discount, click Requirements in the list on the left.
2. In the Minimum purchase requirements card, click Minimum purchase amount.
3. Type the amount the basket must reach, for example 75.
4. Save the discount.

Note: The minimum is checked against the item prices added together, before delivery is added. Shipping does not count towards it.

Free shipping without a code

A discount always needs a code. To give every qualifying shopper free delivery with nothing to type, add a shipping method instead.

1. From your Orbit dashboard, go to Settings.
2. Under Selling, click Shipping.
3. Click the Shipping Methods tab, then pick your zone under Select Shipping Zone.
4. Click Add Method. Under Shipping Method Type, pick Free Shipping. The Method Name fills in on its own. Customers see this name at checkout.
5. Click Create Method. The method's settings open.
6. Under Free Shipping Conditions, type a Minimum Order Amount. Leave it empty and free shipping is offered on every order.
7. Click Update Method.

Two settings in that card are worth knowing:

• Require Coupon: only show this option when a valid coupon is applied. Turning it on adds a Required Coupon Code box.
• Ignore Discounts: work out the minimum amount before other discounts and coupons come off.

A shipping method only reaches the countries its zone covers, so add one to each zone that needs it. See Setting up shipping zones and rates.

Related guides

• Creating a percentage discount
• Creating a fixed amount discount
• Setting up shipping zones and rates
• Connecting carriers and testing rates