ShipHero's RateShop+ feature is an advanced tool that gives you much greater control and customization over how your orders are rate-shopped to find the cheapest, most effective shipping method. Instead of just picking the absolute lowest-cost method from all available carriers, you can fine-tune the comparison to align with your business goals, carrier relationships, and customer expectations.
Customize which methods are available for ground services or international shipments. The options are endless.
Before You Begin
Connect any carriers you want to use in RateShop+ under Shipping > Carriers. The Carriers filter in RateShop+ only shows carriers that are already connected to your account.
RateShop+ is one of three tools ShipHero offers for cost-optimized carrier selection. For the full picture, see Overview: Optimizing Carrier Connections in ShipHero.
Table of Contents
- RateShop+ Key Customization Features
- RateShop+ Notes and Limitations
- Setting Up RateShop+
- RateShop+ Rating Factors Explained
RateShop+ Key Customization Features
The RateShop+ feature allows for granular control through the following settings:
| Feature | Description | Example Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Define Included Methods | Choose exactly which Carrier Methods (for example, USPS Ground Advantage or FedEx Express Saver) to include in the calculation. | Exclude Carrier Methods you rarely use or that perform poorly. |
| Set Rating Factors (example below) | Apply a cost multiplier (factor) to a Carrier Method's quoted rate before ShipHero compares it to others. | If you get a 5% cashback bonus on a specific Carrier Method, set a factor of 0.95 for that method so it appears cheaper in the calculation and gets prioritized. |
| Set Maximum Delivery Time | Set a maximum number of delivery days for each Carrier Method. | Only consider a Carrier Method if its estimated delivery time is 3 days or less, so you get the cheapest rate without sacrificing speed. |
RateShop+ Notes and Limitations
- RateShop+ logic and rating factors are only applied during the label printing process.
- RateShop+ does not affect the initial shipping quotes shown to the end customer or the rates displayed when using the Calculate Shipping Rates button during packing.
Note for 3PLs: Depending on how your clients' billing settings are enabled, RateShop+ will include the markup cost for your clients when generating labels. For more information, see How to Show the Label Cost to 3PL Clients. 3PLs can choose whether to use a RateShop+ method for all clients or for specific clients.
Setting Up RateShop+
The process to enable and configure RateShop+ involves two primary steps: creating a custom RateShop+ method and assigning it to orders.
Important
- When naming a RateShop+ method, do not use "Cheapest" alone. Include a descriptive word, for example "Cheapest Ground" or "Cheapest International."
- When selecting carriers, select an actual carrier and service. Do not select any option that starts with "Cheapest" — RateShop+ ignores those options during rate shopping.
Creating a RateShop+ Method
-
Go to the RateShop+ page.
- Manual Navigation: Go to the shipping.shiphero.com platform, select the Settings button from your user menu, open the Shipping menu, and click RateShop+.
1a. Manual Navigation Part 1: 1b. Manual Navigation Part 2: - Click Create Method.
- Enter a clear name for the new RateShop+ profile, for example "Cheapest Ground 3-Day Max" or "Prioritize USPS with Discount."
-
Select the specific Carriers and Carrier Methods you want to include in this custom rate-shopping profile.
-
On the next screen, set the Rating Factor and Maximum Delivery Time (in days) for each selected Carrier Method.
4a. Setting Rating Factors: 4b. Setting Maximum Delivery Times: - Save the new RateShop+ method.
Using the RateShop+ Method on Orders
To set a RateShop+ cheapest method on an order, select Cheapest as the "Carrier" and the RateShop+ method as the "Method." You can also automate selecting a RateShop+ profile on an order through Mapping Shipping Methods and Automation Rules.
| Setting a RateShop+ Method on an Order | Mapping a RateShop+ Method to a Shipping Method |
|---|---|
RateShop+ Rating Factors Explained
The Rating Factor is the core mathematical tool in RateShop+ that lets you influence the rate-shopping decision without changing the actual label cost.
| Rating Factor | Effect on Carrier Rate | RateShop+ Priority | Why You'd Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | No adjustment (Rate = Cost) | Neutral | For carriers with no special financial incentives. |
| Below 1.00 (for example, 0.95) | Makes the rate appear cheaper in the calculation. | Prioritized | To account for rebates, volume discounts, or cashback you receive later, making the carrier the true "cheapest" option for your business. |
| Above 1.00 (for example, 1.05) | Makes the rate appear more expensive in the calculation. | De-prioritized | To push the system away from carriers that often have high accessorial fees or poor delivery times. |
The RateShop+ Calculation
RateShop+ does not look at the Initial Quoted Rate to determine the winner. It looks at the Adjusted Rate.
Adjusted Rate = Initial Quoted Rate × Rating Factor
RateShop+ Example Scenario
Imagine you have an order that qualifies for two different Carrier Methods, both offering competitive rates. You want to prioritize Carrier B because it offers a 5% cashback bonus at the end of the month, even though its initial quote is slightly higher than Carrier A's.
| Carrier Method | Initial Quoted Rate (Actual Cost) | Desired Rating Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier A (Standard Ground) | $10.00 | 1.00 (no adjustment) |
| Carrier B (Preferred Ground) | $10.40 | 0.95 (to reflect the 5% cashback discount) |
Applying the RateShop+ Calculation
| Carrier Method | Calculation | Adjusted Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier A | $10.00 × 1.00 | $10.00 |
| Carrier B | $10.40 × 0.95 | $9.88 |
RateShop+ Calculation Outcome
- Without RateShop+: Carrier A ($10.00) is the absolute cheapest, and the system would select it.
- With RateShop+: After applying the Rating Factor, the system sees the adjusted cost for Carrier B as $9.88.
- Result: RateShop+ selects Carrier B because its Adjusted Rate ($9.88) is now mathematically the lowest compared to Carrier A's Adjusted Rate ($10.00).
Important
The actual label cost charged to your account remains $10.40 for Carrier B in this example. The Rating Factor only makes an internal adjustment before the rate-shopping comparison. It does not change the real cost of the label.