It is important that your online store shipping is setup correctly so as to avoid wasting money, time and resources. If you are a new merchant just setting up your store for the first time the process can be somewhat overwhelming and a bit confusing. Outlined are the steps you can use to correctly set up your online store shipping.

The first thing to do is set up the shopping methods you would like to use. You may choose air, ground, FedEx or any other methods that you find most suitable. You will be required to pay a fee to the companies providing these services. There are also general methods and custom methods which you want to utilize if you need to customize the process. Try to avoid shipping to overseas countries unless you really need to so as to lessen or prevent fraudulent charges.   After configuring your shipping methods, you can then set up rates and rules. There are various rates such as flat rates or percentage rates. The rate you choose is entirely up to you. In general you should choose a rate that will cover the shipping charges so you can still make a profit on each sale. Make the rules for your shipping rates very clear to buyers. This will prevent confusion and less returned items as well as the transaction fees incurred as a result.

     Next, set up shipping settings which are just the manner in which the items will be shipped to the buyer. You can have default settings or you can modify it for separate products. These may include the shipping location, estimated delivery time and other shipping calculations. It is also recommended that you have a reference number to track the shipments and also additional insurance if something goes wrong when shipping the product.

   Finally, you need confirmation messages to confirm purchase, shipment and delivery of products. .Each software varies but the standard process is basically the same. By following these steps your online store shipping should be much easier to set up and maintain.