Ecommerce Shipping Strategy Quiz

There is no single best strategy, the right approach depends on your order volume, average order value, product dimensions, and geography. Shopify Commerce Trends data shows stores with a free shipping threshold typically see 10-30% higher AOV, but flat rate shipping is simpler for low-volume stores, real-time carrier rates suit variable product sizes, and 3PL fulfillment unlocks scale above 500-1,000 orders per month. This quiz matches your specific situation to the right strategy.

Yes, Baymard Institute research shows 48% of cart abandonment is caused by unexpected shipping costs at checkout, and free shipping is consistently the #1 incentive that motivates online shoppers to complete purchases. However, "free" is never actually free, the cost must come from margin, a higher base price, or a minimum order threshold. Free shipping above a threshold is typically the best compromise, lifting AOV without destroying unit economics.

Set the threshold at 1.3-1.5x your current average order value. Below 1.2x and you barely lift AOV; above 1.6x and too many shoppers give up and abandon. Display a progress bar ("you are $12 away from free shipping") which lifts threshold qualification by 20-40%. Recalculate quarterly as AOV and product mix change, a threshold set 12 months ago may now be below AOV and delivering no lift.

Consider 3PL when monthly volume exceeds 500-1,000 orders, when fulfillment is taking more than one day per week of founder time, or when you need faster delivery windows than self-fulfillment can offer. 3PL costs typically run $0.50-$3.00 per order plus storage fees, so it becomes economical around the point where your founder time is worth more than the cost difference. Run blended cost-per-order numbers before switching, many stores switch too early and pay more.

Baymard Institute data shows 48% of cart abandonment is due to extra costs revealed at checkout, primarily shipping, making it the single largest driver of abandonment by a wide margin. Stores that surface shipping costs on product pages (not checkout), set clear free shipping thresholds, and avoid "rate shock" at payment can typically recover 5-15% of abandoned revenue without any other optimization.

This free quiz takes your monthly order volume, AOV, product dimensions, destination mix, current fulfillment, and biggest shipping complaint into account and matches you to one of five strategies: free shipping threshold, flat rate, real-time carrier rates, membership free shipping, or 3PL fulfillment. Once you know which strategy fits, our benchmark your ecommerce tool helps you compare against peers, and our shipping cost and cart abandonment tools help you execute the switch.

The average ecommerce conversion rate is 2-3% across all categories according to Statista 2025.

US domestic shipping costs $4-10 for small packages under 5lb.

Cart abandonment occurs when shoppers add items to their cart but leave before completing purchase.

Typical bulk order discounts are 5-10% for 100+ units, 10-20% for 500+ units, and 15-30% for 1,000+ units.

Shopify Commerce Trends data shows average ecommerce conversion rates vary significantly by category: fashion and apparel average 1.8-2.5%, electronics 1.2-2%, food and grocery 3-5% (driven by repeat buyers), and home and garden 1.5-2.5%.