> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.smartshipping.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Product Category Shipping

> Different shipping rates for different product types

# Product Category Shipping

## The Challenge

**Meet Mike's Multi-Category Store** - He sells various product types that need different shipping approaches:

* **Regular items** (clothing, books): Standard \$8 shipping
* **Fragile items** (glassware, electronics): Extra careful handling, \$8 + \$5 fragile fee = \$13
* **Heavy items** (furniture, appliances): Weight-based shipping \$15 base + \$3/kg
* **Digital products** (software, ebooks): No shipping needed - \$0

Mike needs different shipping rules for different product categories without confusing customers.

## Smart Shipping Solution

### Step 1: Create Product Groups

**Group 1: Regular Products**

1. Go to **Product Groups** → **Create Group**
2. Name: "Regular Items"
3. Select products: clothing, books, accessories, etc.

**Group 2: Fragile Products**

1. **Create Group** → Name: "Fragile Items"
2. Select products: glassware, electronics, ceramics

**Group 3: Heavy Products**

1. **Create Group** → Name: "Heavy Items"
2. Select products: furniture, appliances, exercise equipment

**Group 4: Digital Products**

1. **Create Group** → Name: "Digital Downloads"
2. Select products: software licenses, ebooks, digital courses

### Step 2: Create Zone and Base Rates

**Create Zone**: "United States" - Select US

**Base Rate (for products not in any group):**

1. **Create Rate** → "Standard Shipping"
2. Rate type: **Flat Rate**
3. Price: \$8.00
4. Product group: "All Products" (default)

### Step 3: Set Up Product Group Rates

**Regular Items Rate:**

1. **Create Rate** → "Regular Shipping"
2. Rate type: **Flat Rate**
3. Price: \$8.00
4. Product group: "Regular Items"

**Fragile Items Rate:**

1. **Create Rate** → "Fragile Item Shipping"
2. Rate type: **Flat Rate**
3. Price: \$8.00
4. Product group: "Fragile Items"
5. **Flat rate addon**: \$5.00 (adds fragile handling fee)

**Heavy Items Rate:**

1. **Create Rate** → "Heavy Item Shipping"
2. Rate type: **Weight Based (Per Unit)**
3. Base price: \$15.00
4. Price per unit: \$3.00 per kg
5. Product group: "Heavy Items"

**Digital Products Rate:**

1. **Create Rate** → "Digital Delivery"
2. Rate type: **Flat Rate**
3. Price: \$0.00
4. Product group: "Digital Downloads"

### Customer Experience Examples

**Order with regular t-shirt:**

* Shows: "Standard Shipping: \$8"

**Order with wine glasses:**

* Shows: "Fragile Item Shipping: \$13" (\$8 base + \$5 fragile fee)

**Order with 5kg table:**

* Shows: "Heavy Item Shipping: \$30" (\$15 + 5kg × \$3)

**Order with ebook:**

* Shows: "Digital Delivery: Free"

**Mixed cart (t-shirt + wine glasses):**

* Shows: "Fragile Item Shipping: \$13" (most expensive rate applies)

**Result**: Mike's customers see appropriate shipping costs based on what they're buying. Fragile items get extra care, heavy items are priced fairly by weight, and digital products ship free - all automatically!