Understanding Rates at checkout service levels, rates and settings
Rates at checkout
Learn how to configure service levels, checkout rates, pickup options, surcharges and other Rates at checkout settings in Bob Go.
Service levels
What is a service level?
A service level is the delivery option that is presented to your customer at checkout.
You can create service levels for:
- Door-to-door delivery
- Lockers and pickup points
- In-store pickup
How to create a service level
- Select the type of service level you want to create.
- Complete the required fields.
- Set the service level name that customers will see at checkout.
- Configure the handling time and delivery timeframe.
- Enable the service level when you are ready for it to be active.
Important: Only one pickup point service level can exist at a time.
Service level settings
Maximum pickup points to show
For pickup point service levels, this controls the maximum number of available pickup locations displayed to the customer at checkout.
Handling time
Additional time added for preparing the order before it is handed to the courier. This helps provide a more accurate expected delivery timeframe.
Delivery time
The delivery timeframe displayed with the service level so that the customer knows approximately how long delivery is expected to take.
Advanced options
Advanced options include liability settings for the service level, automatic liability settings, use of courier liability cover for dynamic or courier rates, and the option to ignore surcharges.
Rates
How do rates work?
Rates determine what your customer is charged for shipping at checkout. A rate can be added to an existing service level or configured as part of a new service level.
Multiple rates can be configured and their conditions may overlap.
What happens when multiple rates match?
When multiple rate conditions match, Bob Go will select the cheapest applicable rate. The exception is when a No rate configuration matches.
Door delivery rate types
Door delivery supports five rate types. Each rate is configured using delivery area, weight and order value criteria.
| Rate type | How it works |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rate | Uses cached rates for each service level, zone and courier. |
| Fixed rate | Charges a fixed amount when the configured order value or weight conditions are met. A fixed rate of zero can be used for free shipping. |
| Formula rate | Calculates the rate using a minimum charge and minimum weight, followed by a rate per kilogram thereafter. |
| No rate | Returns no shipping rate for areas or conditions you do not want to service. |
| Courier rate | Requests real-time courier rates using the order weight and addresses. |
Dynamic rates
Fixed rates
Formula rates
No rates
Courier rates
Courier rates and high-risk surcharges
If an address is classified as high-risk and attracts a courier surcharge, that surcharge is automatically included in the courier rate returned at checkout.
Smart shipping tip
Consider using the standard flyer dimensions of 42 × 32 × 6 cm as your default package. Rates at checkout uses the default package's volumetric weight when calculating checkout rates.
Lockers and pickup points
What is a pickup point?
A pickup point is a delivery option where the customer collects their parcel from a nearby locker or counter instead of having it delivered to their address.
Bob Box lockers and Pargo counters are current examples of pickup point services available through Bob Go.
How does it work at checkout?
The customer enters their delivery address and can select an eligible locker or pickup counter near that location.
Available pickup points are based on the customer's delivery address and are displayed within approximately a 5 km radius.
In-store pickup
What is Bob Go in-store pickup?
In-store pickup allows customers to place an order online and collect it directly from a selected physical store instead of having the order delivered.
Store locations can be configured in the Bob Go Address book, including:
- Store location
- Trading hours
- Collection radius
How does the customer collect the order?
The customer provides their order or waybill reference together with the OTP sent to them. A staff member with the Store Agent role can enter and verify the OTP. Once verified, the order is marked as collected or completed.
Surcharges
What are surcharges?
Surcharges are additional charges that may apply to courier collections or deliveries in areas outside established courier routes. Some remote or special-service areas may attract additional charges.
How do I configure surcharges?
Create surcharges by selecting the applicable zones and tags from the surcharge map.
Surcharges are global and are not linked to an individual service level. They can be configured as a fixed amount to help recover the surcharge through the checkout rate.
What happens if I do not configure surcharges?
For Dynamic Rates, if no surcharge has been configured and the delivery falls within a surcharge area, the merchant will carry the surcharge cost.
Checkout history
What does the history section show?
The History section shows previous checkout rate requests and the rates that were returned.
- Sales channel the request came from
- Timestamp
- Customer postal code
- Basket price and weight
- Shipping rate charged at checkout
- Total price
Maps
What do the maps show?
Bob Go maps classify delivery areas as Local, Main Centre or Regional based on the postal-code classifications used by the couriers. These maps help you understand how delivery areas are categorised when configuring rates.
Configuration settings
Fallback rate
A fallback rate is the shipping rate shown when the collection or delivery address cannot be successfully geocoded.
Preferred package
You can select a preferred package to be used when requesting checkout rates from couriers.
Hide the delivery timeframe
Enable Hide the delivery timeframe at checkout if you do not want delivery timeframes displayed to customers.
Default item weight
If Use default item weight is enabled, Bob Go will use the configured default weight for products that do not have a weight specified.
Installed channels
Installed channels are the sales channels connected to your Bob Go account.
To use Bob Go Rates at checkout with an installed sales channel, make sure checkout rates are enabled for that channel in Bob Go.
Good to know
Rates at checkout can be configured to match your shipping strategy, from simple fixed pricing to courier rates, pickup points and custom conditions. Review your service levels, rate rules and fallback settings carefully before making them available to customers.