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How to Merge Different Shipping Rates Together

Combine multiple shipping methods for consolidated checkout rates

Table of Contents

Overview

When a cart contains products that don't share common shipping options because they ship from separate origins or warehouse with different carriers, ShipperHQ needs to be configured to combine them and return unified shipping rates. You can use Method Merging Rules to sum certain shipping methods in these situations.

Use Cases

Multiple Origins

Imagine you have products coming from different places, each with its own carrier. For example:

  • Product "Tent" ships from "Houston" using UPS
  • Product "Bucket" ships from "Dallas" using FedEx

You can define a merge rule for these methods and create a new method name. When both products are in the cart, the new merge rule will show as one combined rate under your chosen name.

Split Shipping Groups

You may have two or more products from the same origin needing separate shipping methods. For example, "Umbrella" is in the "Regular" shipping group limited to UPS Ground, while "Salt" is in the "Rush" group using UPS Next Day Air.

💡 Rate Shopping: The Carrier Merge Rules page can set up rate shopping to compare rates of various methods and show the cheapest one at checkout. Check out our Rate Shopping guide for more details.

Requirements

Method Merging Rules need the Multi-Origin Shipping  Advanced Feature. To activate it:

ShipperHQ Dashboard→ Advanced Features → Multi-Origin Shipping → set toggle to "Active"Enabling Multi-Origin Shipping

Setting Up Method Merging Rules

Let's explore some common scenarios and how to configure them.

Automatic Method Merging (fallback)

If Show Merged Rates is set to Yes and no Method Merging rules have been defined, ShipperHQ will automatically merge the cheapest method from each origin or group into a single shipping rate.Show merge rates

  • Displayed title: Shipping

  • Method code: AUTO_MERGED_METHOD

Shipping with the Same Carrier

Same Carrier, Different Origins

If products ship from different origins but use the same carrier methods, ShipperHQ will auto-merge these methods, so no merged rates are needed.

Same Carrier, Same Origins

For products from the same origin with different methods, create a merge rule using duplicate carriers.

Steps:

  1. Go to the Carriers tab and duplicate the existing UPS Carrier. Name it "UPS Expedited" for only your expedited method (e.g., 2nd Day).
    • NOTE: Duplicating the carrier is necessary as you cannot merge methods from the same carrier.
  2. Keep your original UPS Carrier unchanged.
  3. Go to Shipping Groups and set one to Rate as a Separate Shipment.Rate Shipping Group as separate shipment
  4. Restrict that group to the new UPS 2nd Day method and save it.
  5. Go to Method Merging Rules in the left-hand nav under Carriers, and add a new rule.
    method merging rules
  6. Name the Merge Rule and set a Method Code.
  7. Choose two methods to merge: one from your original UPS Carrier and one from your duplicated UPS Carrier.
  8. Save the merge.

Sample showing how to fill details to create a method merging rule for same carrier.

Add Carrier Rules to hide your duplicated 2nd Day method when the rush item isn't in the order. Consider adding Backup Carriers in your merging rules. Learn more about Backup Carriers.

Shipping with Separate Carriers

For different origins with different carriers or products with uncommon methods, you'll need merge rules.

Steps:

  1. Go to Method Merging Rules tab and add new.
  2. Name the Merge Rule and set a Method Code.
  3. Choose the methods to merge.
    • NOTE: You can't merge methods from the same carrier.
  4. Save the merge.

Sample showing how to create a method merging rule with different carriers.

Merging with a 3PL Carrier

For a 3PL, note these points:

  • If "Show cheapest rate" is checked, the system will merge this method with the other if both return rates.
  • If not ticked, it is possible other 3PL carrier methods will return separately.

Sample of a method merging rule with a 3PL with show cheapest rate option ticked.

Showing Split Rates

On platforms like Magento and Zoey, you can show rate breakdowns by origin or product. Even when showing breakdowns, the cart estimator simplifies it with merged rates.

Split Rates on Shopify

Shopify handles Split Shipping differently. With multi-location inventory, Shopify might split orders into separate shipment ratings.

ShipperHQ rates each separately and sends results back to Shopify, which combines or displays them as split shipments.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter 'No merged rates.' error, review your settings. This indicates missing merge rules.

To test configuration:

  1. Add one product from Origin A and confirm the expected rates.
  2. Clear the cart and add one from Origin B to confirm expected rates.
  3. Verify that at least one shipping method from both Origin A and Origin B tests is included in a Method Merge Rule.
  4. Add products from Origins A and B and ensure merged rates display.