Shipping buffers allow you to adjust the totals shown to your customers at checkout by adding a positive or negative buffer to cushion or subsidize shipping or landed costs.
Types of buffers
In Dashboard, you can set up carrier buffers or service level buffers—each with the option to increase or decrease shipping costs.
Carrier buffer - Adjusts shipping costs for all service levels of a chosen carrier, using a percentage or fixed amount.
Service level buffer - Adjusts shipping costs for a specific service level by a percentage or fixed amount.
Add a positive buffer to collect extra funds and offset costs—like international shipping risks, warehousing expenses, or foreign exchange fluctuations.
$3 buffer - If a carrier quotes $15 for shipping, a $3 buffer bumps it to $18. This covers added costs like packaging or labor without cutting into your margins.
10% buffer - For a $50 shipping rate, a 10% buffer adds $5, making it $55. It’s a simple way to cushion against losses from theft or customs adjustments.
50% buffer - A $20 rate jumps to $30 with a 50% buffer—great for offsetting dimensional weight costs on bulky items.
50% buffer - A $10 shipping rate drops to $5 with a 50% buffer, drawing in price-sensitive buyers with lower costs.
$10 buffer - If shipping is $20, a $10 buffer lowers it to $10. This discount can thank repeat customers with a better rate.
Add a Carrier buffer
To add a carrier buffer:
Log in to Dashboard and go to Settings -> Rates and select the carrier to which you'd like to add a buffer.
Under Carrier buffers, click New buffer.
Enter a buffer name and description
Enter the start date. By default, 12:00 am on the current date is selected so the buffer takes place immediately. An end date is optional. Buffers scheduled for a future date will show in the Scheduled tab.
Select whether you will increase or decrease shipping by a percent or amount.
To select specific countries for this buffer to apply to, check the Apply to specific countries checkbox, and choose the countries you want the buffer to apply to.
Note Buffers are a type of rule and will also display under Rules in Dashboard.
Add a Service level buffer
To add a Service level buffer:
Log in to Dashboard and go to Settings -> Rates then select a carrier, followed by a specific service level
Under Service level buffers, click New buffer.
Enter a buffer name and description.
Enter the start date. By default, 12:00 am on the current date is selected so the buffer takes place immediately. An end date is optional. Buffers scheduled for a future date, will show in the Scheduled tab.
Select whether you will increase or decrease shipping by a percent or amount.
To select specific countries for this buffer to apply to, check the Apply to specific countries checkbox, and choose the countries you want the buffer to apply to.
Note Buffers are a type of rule and will also display under Rules in Dashboard.
Archive buffers
To archive an active buffer:
Under Carrier buffers or Service level buffers, click into an existing buffer.
A slide over with the buffer details will display. At the bottom, click Archive.
Note Buffers are archived immediately.
Recreate buffers
To recreate a buffer from an archived buffer:
Under Carrier buffers or Service level buffers, click on the Archived tab.
Click into an archived buffer you would like to recreate.
Edit the buffer details as needed.
Click Recreate buffer.
Common buffer questions
Below are common questions you may have about buffers.
When both a carrier-level buffer and a service-level buffer are applied, the buffer that was created first gets applied first. Then, the second buffer is applied on top of the already-buffered amount.
For example, say you create a 10% buffer on UPS (the carrier) first, and then a 15% buffer on UPS Expedited (a service level under UPS). If the original shipping cost is 30 USD:
The first buffer adds 10% of 30 USD = 3 USD → New total: 33 USD
The second buffer adds 15% of 33 USD = 4.95 USD → Final total: 37.95 USD
So, the final shipping cost with both buffers applied would be 37.95 USD.
If there are overlapping buffers, the buffer that was created first gets applied first. Then, the second buffer is applied on top of the already-buffered amount.
Yes. If you want a carrier or service level buffer to apply to only specific countries, check the Apply to specific countries checkbox when creating the buffer, and choose the countries you want the buffer to apply to.
Shipping buffers
Add shipping buffers
Learn how to adjust shipping costs using buffers.Shipping buffers allow you to adjust the totals shown to your customers at checkout by adding a positive or negative buffer to cushion or subsidize shipping or landed costs.
Types of buffers
In Dashboard, you can set up carrier buffers or service level buffers—each with the option to increase or decrease shipping costs.
Carrier buffer - Adjusts shipping costs for all service levels of a chosen carrier, using a percentage or fixed amount.
Service level buffer - Adjusts shipping costs for a specific service level by a percentage or fixed amount.
Positive shipping buffers
Add a positive buffer to collect extra funds and offset costs—like international shipping risks, warehousing expenses, or foreign exchange fluctuations.
Here are a couple of examples:
Negative shipping buffers
Apply a negative buffer to lower shipping costs for customers—perfect for offering competitive rates or rewarding loyal shoppers.
Here are a couple of examples:
Add a Carrier buffer
To add a carrier buffer:
Log in to Dashboard and go to Settings -> Rates and select the carrier to which you'd like to add a buffer.
Under Carrier buffers, click New buffer.
Enter a buffer name and description
Enter the start date. By default, 12:00 am on the current date is selected so the buffer takes place immediately. An end date is optional. Buffers scheduled for a future date will show in the Scheduled tab.
Select whether you will increase or decrease shipping by a percent or amount.
To select specific countries for this buffer to apply to, check the Apply to specific countries checkbox, and choose the countries you want the buffer to apply to.
Add a Service level buffer
To add a Service level buffer:
Log in to Dashboard and go to Settings -> Rates then select a carrier, followed by a specific service level
Under Service level buffers, click New buffer.
Enter a buffer name and description.
Enter the start date. By default, 12:00 am on the current date is selected so the buffer takes place immediately. An end date is optional. Buffers scheduled for a future date, will show in the Scheduled tab.
Select whether you will increase or decrease shipping by a percent or amount.
To select specific countries for this buffer to apply to, check the Apply to specific countries checkbox, and choose the countries you want the buffer to apply to.
Archive buffers
To archive an active buffer:
Under Carrier buffers or Service level buffers, click into an existing buffer.
A slide over with the buffer details will display. At the bottom, click Archive.
Recreate buffers
To recreate a buffer from an archived buffer:
Under Carrier buffers or Service level buffers, click on the Archived tab.
Click into an archived buffer you would like to recreate.
Edit the buffer details as needed.
Click Recreate buffer.
Common buffer questions
Below are common questions you may have about buffers.
What happens if I create a carrier buffer and a service level buffer?
When both a carrier-level buffer and a service-level buffer are applied, the buffer that was created first gets applied first. Then, the second buffer is applied on top of the already-buffered amount.
For example, say you create a 10% buffer on UPS (the carrier) first, and then a 15% buffer on UPS Expedited (a service level under UPS). If the original shipping cost is 30 USD:
So, the final shipping cost with both buffers applied would be 37.95 USD.
What happens if there are overlapping buffers?
If there are overlapping buffers, the buffer that was created first gets applied first. Then, the second buffer is applied on top of the already-buffered amount.
Do buffers apply to all countries enabled in Dashboard by default?
Yes. If you want a carrier or service level buffer to apply to only specific countries, check the Apply to specific countries checkbox when creating the buffer, and choose the countries you want the buffer to apply to.
When scheduling a buffer, what time zone is used?
Your local time zone is used when scheduling a buffer, based on your computer’s date and time settings.
Are shipping buffers rules?
Yes. Shipping buffers are a type of rule. They will display under buffers and Rules in Dashboard.
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