Overview
You may notice a field called _shq_cart_id appearing in Shopify order details. This is expected behavior and is required for ShipperHQ to function correctly when processing and tracking shipping rates.
Why This Data Appears in Shopify
Shopify exposes certain product and cart data through metafields, which allows third party apps like ShipperHQ to store and retrieve information needed for rate calculation and order tracking.
The _shq_cart_id value is written intentionally by ShipperHQ and displayed because Shopify surfaces metafield data in the order details view.
What "_shq_cart_id" Is Used For
The _shq_cart_id is critical for ShipperHQ because it allows the system to:
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Track carts across separate rate requests
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Reconcile split rate requests, such as multi origin or complex shipping scenarios
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Ensure the correct shipping logic and rates are associated with the final order
Without this identifier, ShipperHQ would not be able to reliably associate rate calculations with the correct cart and order.
Important Notes
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This data is informational only and does not affect order pricing or fulfillment.
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It should not be removed or modified.
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The field is safe to ignore from a merchant or customer perspective.
Summary
The _shq_cart_id field appears in Shopify orders because Shopify exposes metafield data. ShipperHQ uses this value internally to track carts and manage split rate requests accurately. Its presence is expected and required for proper functionality.