Shipping & checkout
CartUser supports 5 shipping models (flat, carrier-specific, location-based, weight-based, product-centric) and a flexible checkout system with toggleable fields. Configure to match any business model.
Shipping models
Configure from Admin → Settings → Shipping Configuration
| Model | Best for | How it works |
|---|
| FLAT | Single-rate stores | One fee for all orders. Set in standard_shipping_fee |
| CARRIER_SPECIFIC | Multi-courier stores | Customer picks courier at checkout (Standard, Express, Same Day). Each has own rate + delivery time |
| LOCATION_BASED | Zone-based pricing | Rate set per city (Admin → Cities → edit → shipping_fee) |
| PRODUCT_CENTRIC | Heavy/oversize items | Each product has its own shipping_fee. Cart total = sum of all product shipping |
| FREE | Free shipping promotion | No shipping charge on any order |
Setting up shipping carriers
- Admin → Catalog → Shipping Delivery.
- Click Create.
- Fill in:
- Name — e.g. "Standard Shipping"
- Duration — e.g. "5-7 business days"
- Price — base rate
- Free shipping — toggle (overrides price)
- Shipping type — price_wise (free above $X) or weight_wise (rate per kg)
- Price configuration — JSON for tier pricing if applicable
- Save.
Free shipping above threshold
- Admin → Settings → Shipping Configuration.
- Set Shipping Option = FLAT.
- Set Standard Shipping Fee = your normal rate.
- Enable Free shipping above X toggle.
- Set threshold (e.g. $100).
- Customers see "Free shipping on orders over $100" at checkout.
Pickup option (no shipping)
Let customers pick up from your store instead of shipping:
- Admin → Settings → Checkout & Shipping → enable Pickup Option.
- Add pickup locations: Admin → Settings → Pickup Locations → Create.
- At checkout, customer chooses Shipping or Pickup.
- If Pickup → shipping fee = $0, customer selects pickup location.
Checkout customization
Admin → Settings → Checkout & Shipping
| Setting | Effect |
|---|
| Enable Order Notes | Adds optional "Order notes" textarea on checkout |
| Enable Pickup Option | Adds Pickup vs Shipping toggle |
| Require Phone | Makes phone field mandatory |
| Require Email | Makes email mandatory |
| Enable Google Maps | Shows map with location pin on address form |
| Guest Checkout | Customers can checkout without account |
| Create Account During Checkout | Optional checkbox to auto-create account at end |
| Minimum Order Amount | Enforce minimum cart value |
Taxes
- Admin → Catalog → Tax → Create.
- Define tax (e.g. VAT 20%, GST 18%, Sales Tax 7%).
- Attach to product: Admin → Products → edit → Tax tab → assign tax(es).
- At checkout, taxes auto-calculated + shown as line item.
Coupons / discount codes
- Admin → Promote → Coupons → Create.
- Set: Code (e.g. WELCOME10), Type (Fixed/Percent), Value, Start date, End date.
- Optionally restrict to specific products or sellers.
- Customer enters code at checkout → discount auto-applies.
Order flow
- Customer adds product → cart
- Customer clicks Checkout
- Selects address (or enters new one)
- Selects payment method (or wallet)
- Optional: applies coupon code, order notes
- Clicks Place Order
- System creates order in Placed status
- If COD → order goes directly to fulfillment
- If gateway → redirected to gateway, paid, returned with status
- Admin/seller sees new order in dashboard
- Admin updates status: Confirmed → Processing → Shipped → Delivered
- Customer gets email + push notification on each status change
Order statuses
| Status | Meaning | Set by |
|---|
| Placed (1) | Customer submitted order, awaiting confirmation | Auto on checkout |
| Confirmed (2) | Admin/seller confirmed availability | Manual |
| Processing (3) | Order being packed | Manual |
| Shipped (4) | Handed to courier / dispatched | Manual |
| Delivered (5) | Customer received order | Manual or delivery boy app |
| Cancel (6) | Order cancelled | Manual |
| Return (7) | Customer returned order | Manual |