How to Compare Shipping Rates Between the Plugin and the Service Dashboard – Without an order

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When using the WooCommerce shipping plugins, one of the most common issues is that the rates displayed in the cart may be higher or lower than you expected.

To prevent undercharging or overcharging customers for shipping cost, it is important to identify the cause of any discrepancies between the rates returned by the shipping plugins and those shown on the service dashboard. 

Understanding the factors that may affect shipping rates ensures that shipping costs are accurate, providing the WooCommerce store admins with peace of mind when managing the store.

This guide explains how to identify discrepancies between shipping rates shown by WooCommerce shipping plugins ( EasyPost Shipping Pro, ShipEngine Shipping Pro, ChitChats Shipping Pro, Stallion Express Shipping Pro, Shipmondo Shipping Pro, etc.) and those displayed on the multi-carrier services dashboard without an actual order. Differences in rates typically occur because of:

  • Discrepancies in package dimensions/weight: The package dimensions and weight calculated by the plugin may differ from the values you enter on the services dashboard.
  • Rate adjustments: Package weight or shipping rate adjustments made within the plugin can impact the final live shipping rates.

Follow these steps when you suspect that the shipping rates returned from the shipping plugins are higher or lower than you expected.

Step 1: Obtain Shipping Rates and Package Information from the Shipping Plugin #

For demonstration purposes, we are using the EasyPost Shipping Pro plugin as an example.

1. Enable Debug Mode:

      • Navigate to the General tab in the plugin settings.
      • Enable Debug mode.

      2. Prepare Your Cart

        • Add the preferred items to the cart. 
        • input the shipping destination information.

        3. View Shipping Rates and Package Details:

          • The cart will display live shipping rates from available shipping services.
          • Above the cart, a box shows the package information including:
            • The shipping box selected by the plugin.
            • The final package dimensions and weight.
            • In our testing example, the plugin selected the M shipping box. The final package dimensions are 35x25x25 cm, and the package weight is 0.7 kg.
            • USPS Ground Advantage shows a rate of US$10.86, note it for later comparison.

          If the order is assigned to multiple shipping boxes, the information will display:

          • The number of shipping boxes.
          • Details for each shipping box selected by the plugin, including its dimensions and weight.
          • Ensure that the final package dimensions and weight align with the actual shipment. If they do not, review the product information and shipping box settings to confirm they are configured correctly.

          4. Capture a Screenshot:

          • Take a screenshot of the package information and the live shipping rates. 

          Step 2: Verify Package Information on the Service Dashboard #

          (Using EasyPost dashboard as an Example)

          1. Access the Service Dashboard:

          • Log in to your EasyPost Dashboard.
          • Go to the “Shipments” section.

          2. Create a New Shipment:

          • Click the “Buy A Label” button in the top right corner.

          3. Input the recipient’s shipping address:

          4. Enter Shipment Details:

          • Enter the package dimensions and weight. Here we input 35x35x25 cm, weight 24.7 oz (about 0.7 kg)
          • Click “Next: Carrier & Services.

          4. Compare Shipping rates:

          • Compare the shipping rates provided on the service dashboard with those from the plugin. For instance, check that the USPS Ground Advantage rate is US$10.86.

          5. Capture a Screenshot:

          • Take a screenshot of the shipping rates and package dimension/weight details from the EasyPost Dashboard for further comparison.

          Final Comparison #

          With screenshots from both the WooCommerce shipping plugins (eg EasyPost shipping pro) and the Services dashboard (eg EasyPost Dashboard):

          • Compare the package dimensions and weight to ensure that they are consistent.
          • Confirm that the shipping rates for the selected services (e.g., USPS Ground Advantage) match.

          If you notice any discrepancies, verify the settings in the shipping plugin and re-check the package dimension/weight information to ensure accurate rate comparisons.

          In our testing example, the package dimensions and weight are the same, and the live shipping rates for USPS Ground Advantage returned by the EasyPost Shipping Pro shipping plugins match those shown on the EasyPost services dashboard.

          Related information: 

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