Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.abconvert.io/llms.txt
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What is a shipping test?
A shipping test lets you offer different shipping rates, free shipping thresholds, and delivery options to different groups of visitors. This helps you identify the shipping strategy that maximizes conversion rates while protecting your profit margins. ABConvert uses Shopify’s Carrier Service API and Delivery Customization (Shopify Functions) to apply shipping rate changes dynamically at checkout without permanently altering your native Shopify shipping profiles.Shipping tests require the Shopify Carrier Service API. This is available by default on Shopify Advanced and Plus plans, or by request on Annual billing plans. (Source)
Shipping test use cases
- Optimize free shipping thresholds: Compare offering free shipping at $50 vs $75 to see which drives a higher average order value (AOV) without hurting conversion.
- Test flat rate shipping: See if a simplified $5 flat rate converts better than complex calculated rates.
- Experiment with premium shipping: Test offering expedited delivery options to see if customers are willing to pay for faster shipping.
- Test shipping rate names: Validate whether naming a rate “Standard Delivery” vs “Insured Tracked Shipping” impacts checkout completion.
Set up a shipping test
Create a new shipping test
In the ABConvert dashboard, click Create New Test and select Shipping Test.
Testing non-default shipping profilesABConvert automatically adds rates to your default shipping profile. To test non-default profiles, follow the steps below to add ABConvert rates to those profiles.
- In your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery
- Open the shipping profile you want to test
- In the shipping zone you want to include, click Add shipping option
- Set the rate type to Carrier or app calculated
- Select ABConvert Shipping
Add basic information and configure traffic split
Enter a descriptive name for your experiment, write a clear hypothesis, and select your primary success metric. By default, traffic is split evenly between the Control and Variant groups. You can adjust the traffic allocation or add more variants.
Configure your audience
Define which visitors should enter the experiment using audience targeting and traffic allocation rules. Read more in the Audience targeting guide.
Select shipping zones
Choose which Shopify shipping zones to include in the experiment. The test only applies to checkouts with shipping addresses matching the selected zones.
Configure variant shipping rates
Configure shipping rates for each variant group. The Control group uses your original shipping settings by default. For each selected shipping zone, you can manage the variant group’s rates:
- Delete rate: Remove an existing rate from the variant group.
- Edit rate: Update the name, description, or price of an existing rate.
- Add rate: Add a new shipping rate to the variant group.
Shipping test FAQs
Do I need to delete my existing Shopify shipping rates?
Do I need to delete my existing Shopify shipping rates?
No. ABConvert’s shipping tests use Shopify Functions (Delivery Customization) to automatically hide your native Shopify rates and replace them with your test rates during checkout. Your original shipping profiles remain intact.
Will visitors see the same rates if they refresh the checkout page?
Will visitors see the same rates if they refresh the checkout page?
Yes. ABConvert uses sticky bucketing. Once a visitor is assigned to a variant group and a shipping rate is calculated, they will continue to see the same shipping rates for the duration of the experiment.
Can I test country-specific rates?
Can I test country-specific rates?
Yes. You can select specific shipping zones during setup, and you can also explicitly exclude specific countries from your experiment in the audience targeting step.
Can I run multiple shipping tests at the same time?
Can I run multiple shipping tests at the same time?
Yes, you can run multiple shipping tests concurrently. However, you can only have one active test per shipping zone. This ensures accurate data tracking and prevents conflicting rates from being shown to the same visitor.
What if I use third-party calculated rates (like USPS, FedEx) or another shipping app?
What if I use third-party calculated rates (like USPS, FedEx) or another shipping app?
ABConvert can only import and modify your native Shopify shipping rates. While our test rates can safely display alongside third-party calculated rates at checkout, we cannot directly modify or hide rates generated by other shipping apps or carriers.