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Get Started

Delivery Estimates Documentation

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Table of Contents

Getting Started

Installation

Automatic Installation (Recommended)

1. Install from Shopify App Store

  • Click "Add app" on the DeliveryEstimate listing
  • Review the permissions requested
  • Click "Install app"

2. Authorization

The app requests permission to:

  • Read your products (for product-specific rules)
  • Read your store information (for timezone settings)
  • Access theme features (to automatically add the widget)

3. Welcome Screen

After installation, you'll see two options:

  • Automatic Installation - Widget installs via theme app extension (recommended)
  • Manual Installation - Add widget through theme customizer

4. Choose Automatic Installation

  • Click "Start Installation"
  • Widget automatically appears on all product pages
  • No coding required

5. First-Time Setup

Complete the onboarding wizard:

  • Set your default processing time
  • Configure your first shipping zone
  • Customize widget appearance
  • Go live

Installation time: 2-3 minutes

Manual Installation

If you prefer manual control or have a custom theme setup:

  1. Install the app from Shopify App Store
  2. Complete authorization
  3. Choose "Manual Installation" on welcome screen
  4. Follow the instructions shown:
    • Go to: Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes
    • Click "Customize" on your active theme
    • In the theme editor, navigate to a product page
    • Click "Add section" or "Add block" (location depends on your theme)
    • Find and select "DeliveryEstimate" or "Apps"
    • Select the DeliveryEstimate widget
    • Position it where you want (typically above or below Add to Cart button)
    • Click "Save"
  5. Widget now appears on all product pages

No code editing required - Everything done through Shopify's visual theme editor.

Installation time: 3-5 minutes

Configuration Guide

Default Processing Time

Location: Timer Configuration page

What it does: Sets how many business days you need before shipping orders.

Processing Days Before Shipment

  • Enter the number of days needed to process orders
  • Default: 2 days
  • Range: 0-30 days
  • Example: If you need 1 day to pack and ship, enter "1"

Weekend Handling

Choose how weekends affect your calculations:

Count all days (including weekends)

  • Use if you ship 7 days per week
  • Example: Order Monday, 2 days processing = Wednesday

Exclude Saturdays and Sundays (Default)

  • Use if you only ship Monday-Friday
  • Example: Order Friday, 2 days processing = Tuesday (skips Sat/Sun)

Exclude Sundays only

  • Use if you ship Monday-Saturday
  • Example: Order Saturday, 2 days processing = Tuesday (skips Sunday only)

Best practice: Match your actual fulfillment schedule. If you don't pack/ship on weekends, exclude them.

Shipping Zones

Location: Geolocation page

What it does: Defines delivery times for different regions based on customer location.

Creating Your First Zone

  1. Click "Add Zone" button
  2. Fill in the form:

Zone Name

  • Internal name for your reference
  • Examples: "United States", "Europe - Standard", "Asia Express"
  • Not visible to customers

Countries

  • Select one or more countries for this zone
  • Searchable dropdown
  • Can select multiple countries with similar shipping times
  • Example: Group "France, Germany, Italy" into "EU Core"

Processing Days

  • Days needed before shipment for this zone
  • Overrides default processing time
  • Use when certain regions require extra handling
  • Example: Custom clearance for international = +1 day

Transit Days (Minimum)

  • Fastest delivery time from shipment to arrival
  • Based on carrier estimates
  • Example: Domestic express = 2 days

Transit Days (Maximum)

  • Slowest expected delivery time
  • Builds buffer for delays
  • Example: International standard = 7 days

Set as Default Zone

  • Check this for your fallback zone
  • Used when customer location doesn't match other zones
  • Typically your most common shipping region
  1. Click "Save"

Zone Examples

Example 1: US Merchant with Domestic + International

Zone 1: United States (Default)

  • Countries: United States
  • Processing: 2 days
  • Transit: 3-5 days
  • Customer sees: "Estimated delivery: Nov 18-20"

Zone 2: Canada

  • Countries: Canada
  • Processing: 2 days
  • Transit: 5-8 days
  • Customer sees: "Estimated delivery: Nov 20-25"

Zone 3: International

  • Countries: [All others]
  • Processing: 2 days
  • Transit: 10-15 days
  • Set as default: ✓

Example 2: UK Merchant with Regional Zones

Zone 1: UK Mainland (Default)

  • Countries: United Kingdom
  • Processing: 1 day
  • Transit: 1-2 days

Zone 2: Europe

  • Countries: France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium
  • Processing: 1 day
  • Transit: 3-5 days

Zone 3: Rest of World

  • Countries: [Leave empty - catches all others]
  • Processing: 2 days
  • Transit: 7-14 days
  • Set as default: ✓

Managing Zones

Edit Zone

  • Click the edit icon in the Actions column
  • Modify any settings
  • Click Save

Delete Zone

  • Click the trash icon in the Actions column
  • Confirm deletion
  • Cannot delete if it's the only zone

Zone Priority

When customer location matches multiple zones:

  • Most specific zone wins
  • First created zone used if tied
  • Default zone used if no matches

Best practices:

  • Start with 2-3 broad zones (domestic, international, default)
  • Add specific zones as you learn customer patterns
  • Test each zone by visiting your store with a VPN
  • Update transit times seasonally (holidays cause delays)

Product-Specific Rules

Location: Rules page

What it does: Override zone settings for products requiring different processing times.

When to Use Rules

Use product rules when:

  • Made-to-order or custom products need extra time
  • Pre-order items ship on specific dates
  • Certain products require special handling
  • Dropshipped items have different timelines

Creating a Rule

  1. Click "Add Rule" button
  2. Search for Product
    • Start typing product name
    • Select from dropdown (searches your Shopify catalog)
    • Shows product title and image for confirmation
  3. Set Custom Processing Days
    • Enter days needed before shipping THIS product
    • This replaces the zone's processing days
    • Transit time still comes from customer's zone
    • Example: Custom furniture = 14 days processing
  4. Enable/Disable Toggle
    • Turn rule on/off without deleting
    • Useful for seasonal products
  5. Click "Save"

Rule Examples

Example 1: Made-to-Order Products

Standard products: 2 days processing
Custom engraved items: 7 days processing

Rule:

  • Product: "Personalized Leather Wallet"
  • Custom Processing Days: 7
  • Enabled: ✓

Result:

  • US customer sees: "Estimated delivery: Nov 25-27" (7 processing + 3-5 transit)
  • Instead of: "Nov 18-20" (2 processing + 3-5 transit)

Example 2: Pre-Order Items

Rule:

  • Product: "Limited Edition Sneakers (Pre-Order)"
  • Custom Processing Days: 21
  • Enabled: ✓

Customer sees: "Estimated delivery: Dec 10-12"

When item ships early, disable the rule:

  • Toggle "Enabled" to OFF
  • Reverts to standard processing time
  • Re-enable for next pre-order batch

Example 3: Dropshipped Products

Your inventory: 2 days processing
Dropship supplier: 5 days processing

Rule:

  • Product: "Dropship Widget X"
  • Custom Processing Days: 5
  • Enabled: ✓

Managing Rules

Edit Rule

  • Click edit icon
  • Change processing days
  • Cannot change product (delete and recreate instead)

Disable Rule Temporarily

  • Toggle "Enabled" switch to OFF
  • Rule stays saved but doesn't apply
  • Useful for seasonal items

Delete Rule

  • Click trash icon
  • Confirm deletion
  • Product reverts to zone-based calculation

Best practices:

  • Only create rules when truly needed (fewer = easier to manage)
  • Use clear naming if products have similar titles
  • Document why each rule exists (processing time reason)
  • Review rules quarterly and remove obsolete ones

Holiday Calendar

Location: Timer Configuration page, Holiday Calendar section

What it does: Exclude specific dates from delivery calculations to avoid promising impossible delivery dates.

Understanding Skip Types

When you add a holiday, choose how it affects calculations:

Skip Dispatch Only

  • You don't ship orders on this day
  • Packages already in transit still move
  • Use for: Your business closure days
  • Example: Your warehouse is closed Christmas Day

Skip Delivery Only

  • Carriers don't deliver on this day
  • You can still ship orders
  • Use for: Carrier holidays when you're open
  • Example: Post office closed on national holiday

Skip Both (Most common)

  • Neither shipping nor delivery happens
  • Use for: Major holidays when everything stops
  • Example: Christmas, New Year's Day

Adding Holidays

  1. View the calendar (shows current month)
  2. Navigate months with arrow buttons
  3. Click on a date
  4. Modal appears:
    • Selected Date: [Auto-filled, read-only]
    • Holiday Name: Internal label for your reference (Examples: "Christmas Day", "Warehouse Closure", "Inventory Day")
    • Skip Type: Choose from dropdown (see above), Default: "Skip both"
  5. Click "Save"

Date marked with indicator on calendar and appears in list below.

Holiday Examples

Example 1: US Merchant - Major Holidays

Date Name Skip Type
12/25/2025 Christmas Day Skip both
01/01/2026 New Year's Day Skip both
07/04/2026 Independence Day Skip both
11/27/2026 Thanksgiving Skip both

Example 2: EU Merchant - Regional Closures

Date Name Skip Type
12/24/2025 Christmas Eve Skip dispatch
12/25/2025 Christmas Day Skip both
12/26/2025 Boxing Day Skip both
08/15/2026 Summer Closure Start Skip dispatch
08/30/2026 Summer Closure End Skip dispatch

Example 3: Custom Situation

Your warehouse operates 24/7, but carriers don't deliver Sundays:

  • Don't add Sunday holidays (use "Exclude Sundays only" setting instead)
  • Only add specific carrier holidays

Managing Holidays

View All Holidays

  • List appears below calendar
  • Shows: Date, Name, Skip Type
  • Sorted by date (earliest first)

Delete Holiday

  • Click trash icon in Actions column
  • Confirm deletion
  • Date immediately available for calculations again

Bulk Planning

  • Add multiple holidays in one session
  • Navigate through months quickly
  • Consider upcoming 12 months

How Holidays Affect Calculations

Example Calculation:

Settings:

  • Processing: 2 days
  • Transit: 3-5 days
  • Weekend exclusion: Both
  • Holiday: Dec 25 (Skip both)

Customer orders Dec 20:

  • Dec 20: Order placed
  • Dec 21-22: Weekend (skipped)
  • Dec 23: Processing day 1
  • Dec 24: Processing day 2
  • Dec 25: Christmas (skipped)
  • Dec 26: Dispatch
  • Dec 27-28: Weekend (skipped)
  • Dec 29-31: Transit days 1-3
  • Estimate shown: Dec 29-31

Without holiday: Would show Dec 27-29 (incorrect)

Best Practices

Plan ahead:

  • Add holidays for next 12 months at start of year
  • Review and update quarterly

Be conservative:

  • If unsure about carrier operations, mark as "Skip both"
  • Better to over-promise and deliver early

Regional considerations:

  • If shipping to multiple countries, add holidays for ALL regions you ship to
  • Example: US merchant shipping to Canada adds both US and Canadian holidays

Recurring holidays:

  • Must be added annually
  • Set calendar reminder to update each January

Communicate closures:

  • Consider adding banner on site: "Holiday shipping deadline: Dec 20"
  • Update product descriptions for last-minute shoppers

Widget Customization

Location: Timer Configuration page, Widget Display Options

Widget Style

Choose how the delivery estimate appears:

Text with Icon (Default)

🚚 Estimated delivery: Nov 18-20

  • Most visual
  • Draws attention
  • Recommended for first-time implementation

Text Only

Estimated delivery: Nov 18-20

  • Minimal design
  • Clean, subtle
  • Use if your theme is minimalist

Visual Timeline

Nov 12 → Nov 14 → Nov 18-20
Order placed → Dispatches → Delivered!
[Progress bar graphic]

  • Most detailed
  • Shows order journey
  • Higher engagement
  • Takes more vertical space

Show Delivery Icon

Availability: Only when "Text with Icon" is selected

Toggle ON (default):

  • Shows truck icon 🚚
  • More noticeable

Toggle OFF:

  • Hides icon
  • Text only appears
  • Cleaner look

Order Cutoff Time

What it does: Creates urgency by showing when customer needs to order for estimated delivery.

Enable/Disable

  • Toggle "Enable order cutoff time" checkbox
  • When enabled, additional fields appear

Daily Cutoff Time

  • Set the time orders must be placed by for same-day dispatch
  • Format: HH:MM AM/PM
  • Example: 2:00 PM
  • Meaning: Orders before 2pm ship today, after 2pm ship next business day

Cutoff Message Template

Customize the urgency message shown to customers.

Available placeholders:

  • {countdown} - Replaced with time remaining until cutoff (e.g., "3h 15m")
  • {cutoff_time} - Replaced with actual cutoff time (e.g., "2:00 PM")
  • {delivery_date} - Replaced with estimated delivery date range (e.g., "Nov 18-20")

Popular templates (click to use):

  • "Order within {countdown} to get it by {delivery_date}"
  • "Order by {cutoff_time}, get it by {delivery_date}"
  • "🕐 Order in {countdown} for delivery by {delivery_date}"
  • "Order before {cutoff_time} for same-day dispatch"

Example results:

Template: "Order within {countdown} to get it by {delivery_date}"

  • Customer sees at 11:30 AM: "Order within 2h 30m to get it by Nov 18-20"
  • Customer sees at 3:00 PM: "Estimated delivery: Nov 19-21" (cutoff passed, +1 day)

Widget Message Template

What it does: Customizes the main delivery text shown to customers.

Default: "Estimated delivery: {delivery_date}"

Available placeholders:

  • {delivery_date} - Required, shows calculated date range

Character limit: 100 characters

Popular templates (click to use):

  • "Get it by {delivery_date}"
  • "🚚 Arrives {delivery_date}"
  • "Expected delivery: {delivery_date}"
  • "Estimated delivery: {delivery_date}"

Custom examples:

  • "Usually arrives {delivery_date}"
  • "Expect your order {delivery_date}"
  • "Delivered to you by {delivery_date}"
  • "Ships soon, arrives {delivery_date}"

Validation: Message must include {delivery_date} placeholder.

Returns Message

What it does: Optionally displays return policy below delivery estimate.

Enable/Disable

  • Toggle "Show returns policy" checkbox
  • When enabled, text input appears

Returns Message Input

  • Single line text
  • Character limit: 100
  • No placeholders required
  • Displays in smaller, gray text below estimate

Popular templates (click to use):

  • "Free returns within 30 days"
  • "30-day return policy"
  • "Free & easy returns"
  • "Hassle-free returns"

Custom examples:

  • "Free returns and exchanges"
  • "60-day money-back guarantee"
  • "Return shipping on us"
  • "Not satisfied? Return for free"

Result example:

🚚 Order within 2h 15m to get it by Nov 18-20
Free returns within 30 days

Widget Preview

Location: Right column, visible while customizing

What it shows: Real-time preview of your widget in all three styles

Updates automatically when you:

  • Change widget style
  • Toggle icon visibility
  • Enable/disable cutoff time
  • Edit message templates
  • Enable/disable returns message
  • Modify any settings

Use the preview to:

  • See exactly how customers will see estimates
  • Test different message wording
  • Compare widget styles side-by-side
  • Ensure your branding matches

Save Configuration

  • Click "Save Configuration" button at bottom
  • Changes apply immediately to your live store
  • No cache clearing needed

Usage & Billing

Plans

Free Plan

Included:

  • 100 widget impressions per month
  • Unlimited shipping zones
  • Unlimited product rules
  • Holiday calendar
  • All widget customization options
  • Email support

What's an impression?

  • One impression = one time the widget loads on a product page
  • Same customer viewing 5 products = 5 impressions
  • Counter resets monthly on your subscription anniversary date

When you exceed 100 impressions:

  • Widget automatically disables
  • Notification banner appears in admin dashboard
  • Email sent to your account
  • Customers no longer see delivery estimates
  • Upgrade to Pro to re-enable

Pro Plan - $7.99/month

Included:

  • Unlimited impressions
  • All Free plan features
  • Priority email support (faster response)
  • Early access to new features
  • Influence roadmap with feature requests

Billing:

  • Charged monthly via Shopify
  • Appears on your Shopify invoice
  • Auto-renews unless canceled
  • Prorated refunds on cancellation

Checking Your Usage

Location: Visible on all admin pages

Header Display:

Usage: 45/100 impressions
merchant-store.myshopify.com

Detailed View: Settings page

Shows:

  • Current plan (Free or Pro)
  • Impressions used this period
  • Percentage used (with progress bar)
  • Days until reset
  • Upgrade button (if on Free plan)

Usage tracking:

  • Updates in real-time
  • Accurate within 1 hour
  • Historical data not stored (privacy)

Upgrading to Pro

  1. Go to Settings page
  2. Click "Upgrade to Pro" button
  3. Review pricing ($7.99/month)
  4. Click "Approve charge" on Shopify screen
  5. Instantly upgraded
  6. Widget re-enables if previously disabled
  7. First charge appears on next Shopify invoice

No credit card needed - Shopify handles billing

Downgrading to Free

  1. Go to Settings page
  2. Click "Downgrade to Free Plan"
  3. Confirm downgrade
  4. Immediately reverts to Free plan
  5. 100 impression limit re-applies
  6. No further charges
  7. Prorated refund for unused time (Shopify policy)

Note: If you've already exceeded 100 impressions this month, widget disables immediately upon downgrade.

Cancellation

To cancel completely:

  1. Uninstall the app: Shopify Admin → Apps → DeliveryEstimate → Delete
  2. All data automatically deleted
  3. No further charges
  4. Widget removed from storefront

Refund policy:

  • Follows Shopify's standard app refund policy
  • Typically prorated for unused time
  • Contact support@digitaldasher.co.uk for refund requests

Troubleshooting

Widget Not Appearing

Check 1: Widget Enabled?

  • Go to Settings page
  • Verify "Widget Enabled" toggle is ON
  • If OFF, turn ON and save

Check 2: Usage Limit Exceeded?

  • Check usage counter in header
  • If "100/100" or higher on Free plan, upgrade to Pro
  • Widget auto-disables when limit reached

Check 3: Installation Method

If using Automatic Installation:

  • Go to Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes
  • Click "Customize" on active theme
  • In theme editor, check if "DeliveryEstimate" app block is visible
  • If not visible, add it:
    • Navigate to a product page in the preview
    • Click "Add section" or "Add block"
    • Select "DeliveryEstimate" or look under "Apps"
    • Position on product page
    • Save

If using Manual Installation:

  • Go to: Shopify Admin → Online Store → Themes → Customize
  • Navigate to product page
  • Check if DeliveryEstimate block/section exists
  • If not, add it through the theme editor (no code required)

Check 4: Theme Compatibility

  • Widget works with 99% of themes
  • Test on default Shopify theme to isolate issue
  • If works on default but not your theme, contact support

Check 5: Browser Cache

  • Clear browser cache
  • View product page in incognito/private window
  • Hard refresh (Ctrl+F5 on Windows, Cmd+Shift+R on Mac)

Check 6: JavaScript Errors

  • Open browser console (F12)
  • Look for error messages
  • Screenshot and send to support if errors present

Incorrect Delivery Dates

Issue: Dates Too Soon

Possible causes:

1. Processing time too low

  • Go to Timer Configuration
  • Increase "Processing days before shipment"
  • Example: Change from 1 to 2 days

2. Transit time too optimistic

  • Go to Geolocation page
  • Edit relevant zone
  • Increase transit days minimum/maximum
  • Example: Change "2-3 days" to "3-5 days"

3. Holidays not added

  • Go to Timer Configuration → Holiday Calendar
  • Add upcoming holidays
  • Select appropriate skip type

4. Weekend handling incorrect

  • Go to Timer Configuration
  • Verify weekend exclusion setting matches your actual schedule
  • If you don't ship weekends, select "Exclude Saturdays and Sundays"

Issue: Dates Too Late

Possible causes:

1. Processing time too high

  • Reduce processing days if you ship faster than configured

2. Transit time too conservative

  • Edit zone, lower transit days based on actual carrier performance

3. Too many holidays added

  • Review holiday list, remove non-applicable dates

4. Wrong zone matched

  • Test with VPN to see which zone is matching
  • Verify country list in zone configuration
  • Check if default zone is too slow

Issue: Wrong Zone Applied

Problem: Customer in France sees US shipping estimate

Cause: IP geolocation failure or zone not configured

Solution:

  • Add specific zone for France (or "Europe" zone including France)
  • Set appropriate transit times
  • Set a conservative default zone for fallback

Testing zones:

  • Use VPN to test from different countries
  • Ask friends/colleagues in other countries to check
  • Verify zone's country list includes target countries

Widget Style Issues

Issue: Widget Doesn't Match Theme

Solution 1: Change widget style

  • Go to Timer Configuration → Widget Display Options
  • Try "Text only" for minimal themes
  • Try "Text with icon" for bold themes
  • Preview changes before saving

Solution 2: Custom CSS (Advanced)

  • Contact support for custom CSS snippet
  • Add to theme's custom CSS area
  • Adjust colors, fonts, spacing to match

Issue: Widget Overlaps Other Elements

Common causes:

  • Widget placed in wrong theme location
  • Theme CSS conflicts

Solution:

  • Reposition widget in theme editor (Customize theme)
  • Try moving above or below current position
  • Contact support for CSS fix

Issue: Mobile Display Problem

Check:

  • View on actual mobile device (not just browser resize)
  • Test in Chrome mobile, Safari mobile
  • Widget should automatically be responsive

If problem persists:

  • Screenshot the issue
  • Include device type and browser
  • Contact support with details

Location Detection Issues

Issue: Wrong Location Detected

Cause: IP geolocation inaccuracy (5-10% error rate)

Customer impact:

  • Sees estimate for different zone
  • Usually minor (still same region)

Solutions:

Short-term:

  • Use broader zones (e.g., "All of Europe" instead of country-specific)
  • Set conservative default zone

Long-term (future feature):

  • Customer address input for exact calculation
  • Not available in current version

Issue: No Location Detected

Fallback behavior:

  • App uses default zone automatically
  • Customer sees default zone's estimate
  • No error message shown

Optimization:

  • Ensure default zone has reasonable times
  • Make default zone your most common shipping region

Performance Issues

Issue: Widget Loads Slowly

Expected load time: Under 1 second

If slower:

Check 1: Internet connection

  • Test site speed overall
  • Use Google PageSpeed Insights
  • Compare widget load time to other elements

Check 2: Server issues

  • Rare, but possible during high traffic
  • Usually resolves within minutes
  • Check status page (future feature)

Check 3: Too many apps

  • Shopify sites with 20+ apps can have conflicts
  • Try disabling other apps temporarily to test
  • Re-enable one by one to identify conflict

Contact support if:

  • Consistently loads over 2 seconds
  • Causes page slowdown
  • Increases bounce rate

Admin Dashboard Issues

Issue: Can't Save Settings

Error messages:

"Validation failed"

  • Check required fields are filled
  • Zone name, countries, and transit days must be set
  • Custom message must include {delivery_date}

"Network error"

  • Check internet connection
  • Try again in 1 minute
  • Clear browser cache

"Session expired"

  • Click Save again
  • Re-authenticates automatically

Issue: Changes Not Reflecting on Storefront

Time delay:

  • Changes should appear immediately
  • Max delay: 2-3 minutes

If longer:

  • Clear browser cache
  • Check in incognito window
  • Verify settings were actually saved (green success message)

Issue: Product Search Not Working (Rules page)

Problem: Can't find products when creating rules

Solutions:

  • Type exact product name (case-insensitive)
  • Try partial name (e.g., "leather" finds "Leather Wallet")
  • Check product is published (not draft)
  • Refresh page and try again

If product still not found:

  • Verify product exists in Shopify admin
  • Try searching different product
  • Contact support with product name

Best Practices

Accurate Estimates

Research Your Actual Times

Before configuring:

  1. Review last 50-100 orders
  2. Calculate average time from order to delivery
  3. Split by region/country
  4. Add 1-2 day buffer for safety

Processing time calculation:

  • Time from order placed to shipment
  • Include picking, packing, label printing
  • Account for order volume spikes
  • Be realistic, not optimistic

Transit time calculation:

  • Check carrier estimates
  • Add buffer for delays
  • Consider seasonal variations (holidays slower)
  • Use maximum range, not minimum

Update Seasonally

Times to review settings:

November-December (Holiday season)

  • Increase processing time (+1-2 days)
  • Add all major holidays
  • Update cutoff times earlier
  • Communicate delays on site

January (Post-holiday)

  • Return to normal processing times
  • Remove passed holidays
  • Review and adjust based on holiday performance

Summer (if applicable)

  • Account for vacation closures
  • Add any summer holidays
  • Update if staffing changes

Quarterly:

  • Review actual delivery performance
  • Adjust zones if consistently early/late
  • Update carrier transit times

Communication Strategy

Product pages:

  • Widget shows estimate automatically
  • Consider adding text: "Delivery times may vary during holidays"

Checkout page:

  • Shopify shows shipping options with costs
  • Widget reinforces delivery timing expectation

Order confirmation email:

  • Include estimated delivery date
  • Set expectation: "Estimated, not guaranteed"

Shipping confirmation:

  • Provide tracking number
  • Update customer if delays expected

Zone Strategy

Start Simple

Initial setup:

  • 3 zones maximum
    1. Domestic (your country)
    2. International fast (nearby countries)
    3. Rest of world (default)

As you grow:

  • Split busy regions into specific zones
  • Example: US merchant adds "Canada" and "Mexico" as separate zones
  • Keep total zones under 10 for manageability

Zone Grouping Tips

Group countries with similar:

  • Transit times from your warehouse
  • Carrier service levels
  • Customs clearance times (international)

Example groupings:

EU Merchant:

  • Zone 1: Home country (1-2 days)
  • Zone 2: EU Core (FR, DE, IT, ES, NL, BE) (2-4 days)
  • Zone 3: EU Extended (Nordic, Eastern Europe) (4-6 days)
  • Zone 4: UK (post-Brexit, 4-7 days)
  • Zone 5: Rest of World (7-14 days, default)

US Merchant:

  • Zone 1: United States (3-5 days, default)
  • Zone 2: Canada (5-8 days)
  • Zone 3: International (10-15 days)

Testing Zones

Before going live:

  • Use VPN or ask friends to test from each zone
  • Verify correct estimate appears
  • Check date math is accurate
  • Test during different times of day (cutoff time)

Ongoing:

  • Monitor customer service questions about delivery
  • Track actual delivery times vs estimates
  • Adjust zones quarterly based on data

Product Rules Strategy

When to Use

Good use cases:

  • Made-to-order items (custom engraving, personalization)
  • Pre-order products with fixed ship dates
  • Dropshipped items with longer fulfillment
  • Products requiring special sourcing
  • Custom-built items (furniture, electronics)

Don't use for:

  • Minor variations (1 day difference - not worth complexity)
  • Temporary stock issues (restock instead)
  • Seasonal slowdowns (adjust processing time globally instead)

Naming Conventions

If you have many products with similar names:

Add processing time to product title:

  • "Custom Leather Wallet (Ships in 7 days)"
  • "Pre-Order: Limited Sneakers (Ships Dec 1)"

Or use tags:

  • Tag products "made-to-order"
  • Filter by tag when creating rules
  • Bulk apply same processing time

Communication

Product descriptions:

  • Mention longer timeframe in description
  • Widget reinforces, doesn't replace communication
  • Example: "This item is made to order. Please allow 7 business days for creation."

Why this matters:

  • Sets expectations before cart
  • Reduces customer service questions
  • Justifies price premium for custom work

Cutoff Time Optimization

Finding Your Cutoff

Test different times:

  • Start conservative (e.g., 12:00 PM)
  • Track if you consistently ship by 5:00 PM
  • Gradually extend cutoff later (1:00 PM, then 2:00 PM)
  • Monitor if you can meet promises

Factors affecting cutoff:

  • Order volume at different times
  • Warehouse closing time
  • Carrier pickup schedule
  • Staff availability

Best practice: Set cutoff 2-3 hours before carrier pickup

Urgency Messaging

Most effective templates:

Creates urgency:

  • "Order within {countdown} to get it by {delivery_date}"
  • "🕐 Only {countdown} left for delivery by {delivery_date}"

Informative but less urgent:

  • "Order by {cutoff_time}, receive by {delivery_date}"
  • "Same-day dispatch if ordered before {cutoff_time}"

Test and measure:

  • Try different messages for 2 weeks each
  • Track conversion rate changes
  • Use message that performs best

Weekend Cutoffs

Consider:

  • Friday orders with 2:00 PM cutoff ship Friday
  • Friday orders after 2:00 PM ship Monday
  • Customers ordering Saturday/Sunday see Monday dispatch

Communication:

  • Some merchants disable cutoff on weekends
  • Show standard estimate without countdown
  • Prevents confusion about weekend ordering

Return Policy Integration

When to Show Returns Message

Always show if:

  • You offer free returns (competitive advantage)
  • 30+ day return window (generous policy)
  • Easy return process (major selling point)

Don't show if:

  • No returns allowed (final sale items)
  • Complicated return process (reduces effectiveness)
  • Short return window that's industry standard

Messaging Tips

Be specific:

  • ✅ "Free returns within 30 days"
  • ❌ "Easy returns"

Highlight value:

  • ✅ "Free return shipping"
  • ✅ "Hassle-free returns"
  • ❌ "Returns accepted"

Match your policy:

  • If 60-day returns: mention it! ("60-day returns")
  • If 90-day: major selling point! ("90-day money-back guarantee")

Legal Compliance

Ensure returns message matches:

  • Actual return policy on site
  • Terms and conditions
  • Legal requirements in your jurisdiction

EU merchants: GDPR requires 14-day minimum return period

Don't overpromise:

  • Widget shows simplified message
  • Full policy should be linked on product page
  • Be accurate to avoid customer disputes

FAQ

General Questions

Q: Does the app work with my theme?
A: Yes, DeliveryEstimate works with all Shopify themes (2.0 and legacy). Automatic installation via theme app extension is compatible with all themes.

Q: Will it slow down my site?
A: No. The widget loads asynchronously and typically adds less than 100ms to page load time. It won't affect your site speed score.

Q: Can customers see the estimate before adding to cart?
A: Yes, the estimate appears on the product page, before any cart interaction. This helps customers make informed purchase decisions earlier.

Q: Is the delivery date guaranteed?
A: No. The app shows estimates based on your configuration. Actual delivery times depend on carrier performance, weather, customs, and other factors outside the app's control. The estimate helps set customer expectations but isn't a guarantee.

Q: Can I show different estimates for different shipping methods?
A: Currently, the app shows a single estimate based on geographic zone. Future versions may support carrier-specific estimates. Workaround: Use the most conservative estimate to cover all shipping methods.

Q: What happens if customer is using a VPN?
A: The app detects VPN IP and matches it to that location. If you want accurate estimates, customers should disable VPN. Most customers don't use VPNs, so this rarely impacts estimates.

Q: Can I hide the widget on specific products?
A: Yes, via Settings page → Visibility section. You can hide by collection, product tag, or specific products. Useful for digital products or gift cards.

Q: Does it work on mobile?
A: Yes, the widget is fully responsive and works perfectly on all mobile devices.

Q: Can I translate the widget to other languages?
A: Currently, widget text is customizable but single-language. You can change the message template to any language. Multi-language automatic translation coming in future update.

Technical Questions

Q: What Shopify plan do I need?
A: All Shopify plans supported: Basic, Shopify, Advanced, and Plus.

Q: Does it work with Shopify Plus checkout customizations?
A: The widget appears on product pages, not checkout. It works with all checkout setups.

Q: Can I use it with other shipping apps?
A: Yes, DeliveryEstimate complements shipping apps. It shows estimates on product pages; shipping apps handle checkout calculations. No conflicts.

Q: What if I use a custom theme or heavily modified theme?
A: Automatic installation works with custom themes via the theme customizer. No code editing needed. Contact support if you need assistance positioning the widget.

Q: Can I customize the CSS?
A: Basic customization available via widget settings (colors, styles). Advanced CSS customization available by request (contact support).

Q: Does it integrate with ERP or inventory systems?
A: Not currently. The app uses your configured processing/transit times. Integration with external systems planned for future release.

Q: What about products with variants (different colors, sizes)?
A: All variants of a product show the same estimate. If variants have different processing times, you'll need to separate them into different products and use product rules.

Pricing & Billing Questions

Q: Is there a free trial?
A: Yes, the free plan includes 100 impressions per month permanently. No credit card required. Upgrade to Pro when you need unlimited impressions.

Q: What counts as an impression?
A: Each time the widget loads on a product page = 1 impression. Same customer viewing multiple products = multiple impressions.

Q: Can I switch between Free and Pro plans?
A: Yes, upgrade or downgrade anytime. Changes take effect immediately. Downgrades are prorated.

Q: What payment methods are accepted?
A: All billing handled by Shopify. Charges appear on your Shopify invoice. Whatever payment method you have with Shopify is used.

Q: Are there any setup fees or hidden costs?
A: No. Free plan is $0. Pro plan is $7.99/month. No setup fees, no cancellation fees, no hidden costs.

Q: What happens if I exceed 100 impressions on Free plan?
A: Widget automatically disables. You'll receive email notification. Upgrade to Pro to re-enable instantly.

Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Refunds follow Shopify's standard app refund policy. Contact support@digitaldasher.com for refund requests. Typically prorated for unused time.

Q: Is there a discount for annual payment?
A: Not currently. Pro plan is month-to-month at $7.99/month. Annual option may be added in future.

Setup & Configuration Questions

Q: How long does setup take?
A: Installation: 2-3 minutes. Initial configuration: 10-15 minutes (set processing time, create zones, add holidays). Total: 15-20 minutes to go live.

Q: Do I need coding skills?
A: No. Installation and all configuration done through visual interfaces. No coding knowledge needed.

Q: Can someone help me set it up?
A: Yes, email info@digitaldasher.co.uk for setup assistance. We'll guide you through configuration or help you set it up.

Q: Should I start with simple or detailed configuration?
A: Start simple: 2-3 broad zones, basic processing time, no product rules. Add complexity as you learn what works. You can always refine later.

Q: How do I know if my estimates are accurate?
A: After 2-4 weeks, review actual delivery times vs estimates. Track support tickets about delivery. Adjust zone times if consistently early/late.

Q: Can I copy settings from another store?
A: Not automatically. You'll need to manually recreate zones and settings in each store. Future export/import feature planned.

Troubleshooting Questions

Q: Widget isn't showing on my product pages. What do I do?
A: Follow troubleshooting steps in Troubleshooting section above. Most common: Check if widget is enabled in Settings, verify usage limit not exceeded, clear browser cache.

Q: Estimates seem wrong. How do I fix?
A: Verify zone configuration matches your actual shipping times. Check that correct zone is matching customer location (test with VPN). Add missing holidays. Review weekend handling setting.

Q: Can I test without affecting real customers?
A: Yes, use Shopify's preview feature or password-protect your store during testing. Or test on a development store.

Q: I changed settings but don't see updates on storefront. Why?
A: Changes take 1-2 minutes to propagate. Clear browser cache and refresh. Check in incognito window to bypass cache.

Q: Widget looks broken or overlaps with other elements. Help?
A: Try different widget style (text only vs icon+text). Move widget position in theme editor. Contact support with screenshot for CSS fix.

Feature Requests

Q: Can you add [specific feature]?
A: We actively consider all merchant feedback. Email feature requests to info@digitaldasher.co.uk. Pro plan merchants get priority for feature consideration.

Q: Is multi-warehouse support coming?
A: Yes, planned for future release. No ETA yet. Sign up for updates to be notified when available.

Q: Will you add carrier API integration?
A: Under consideration. Adds complexity and cost but provides more accurate estimates. Researching best approach.

Q: Can you support my language?
A: Multi-language support is high priority. You can currently customize message template in any language manually. Auto-translation coming in future update.

Contact & Support

Email Support

Email: info@digitaldasher.co.uk

Response time:

  • Free plan: Within 24 hours (business days)
  • Pro plan: Within 12 hours (priority support)

What to include in your email:

  • Shop domain (yourstore.myshopify.com)
  • Detailed description of issue
  • Screenshots if relevant
  • Steps you've already tried

Documentation

This documentation: Available at digitaldasher.com/deliveryestimate/support

Video tutorials: Coming soon

Knowledge base: Coming soon

Feature Requests

Email feature ideas to: info@digitaldasher.co.uk

Include:

  • What feature you want
  • Why you need it
  • How it would help your business

We review all requests and prioritize based on merchant demand.

Bug Reports

If you find a bug:

  1. Email info@digitaldasher.co.uk
  2. Include:
    • What you were doing
    • What happened vs what you expected
    • Screenshots/screen recording
    • Browser and device info
  3. We'll investigate and fix ASAP

Last Updated: November 2025
Version: 1.0