Zipcode Shipping & COD Checker – Merchant User Manual

Welcome. This guide explains how to install, set up, and use the app from start to finish. It is written for store owners who are not technical.

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1. App Overview

What This App Does

The app lets you control shipping and Cash on Delivery (COD) based on where your customers are. It works in one of two modes, depending on what Shopify allows on your store:

Mode A — Custom shipping rules (Carrier Calculated Shipping ON)

Use this when Shopify has enabled carrier / app calculated shipping on your store.

• The app calculates shipping rates at checkout using your rules.
• You set prices in the app (by country, postcode, weight, order value, and more).
• Manage rules, postcodes, pincode ranges, CSV import, and COD from Shipping → Custom shipping rules.

Mode B — Show rates by postcode (CCS OFF stores)

Use this when Shopify has not enabled carrier calculated shipping on your store plan.

• The app does not change shipping prices — you manage prices in Shopify Admin → Settings → Shipping and delivery.
• The app shows or hides your existing Shopify shipping rates by postcode at checkout.
• Manage everything from Show rates by postcode in the app menu.
• You can block delivery for specific postcodes and set default rates for postcodes not in your list.

Which mode am I in? Open the app. If you see Show rates by postcode in the menu, you are in Mode B. If you see Custom shipping rules, you are in Mode A.

Common Use Cases

Both modes

• Block delivery – Don't offer shipping to certain postcodes or areas.
• Product page pincode checker (Pro plan) – Customers check delivery before adding to cart.
• In-app pincode try-it – Test a postcode from the dashboard.

Mode A — Custom shipping rules

• Rules by area – Different shipping prices by pincode, region, weight, or cart value.
• COD by area – Turn COD on/off by area; set COD fees.
• Bulk pincode import – CSV upload and pincode ranges.
• Allow-list mode – Serve only selected postcodes in Default Shipping Settings.

Mode B — Show rates by postcode

• Show selected Shopify rates – e.g. only "Standard" for pincode 302001, only "Express" for 110001.
• Hide all rates – Delivery blocked for a postcode or for any postcode not in your list.
• Default rates – For postcodes with no rule, show chosen Shopify rates (when "Only deliver to postcodes in my list" is OFF).
• Prefix and range rules (Basic plan and above) – e.g. 302* or 302000...302099.

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2. Installation & First-Time Setup

Step 1: Install the App

1. From your Shopify Admin or the App Store, open Zipcode Shipping & COD Checker and click Install (or Add app).
2. When asked, review and approve the permissions the app needs (e.g. shipping and payment customization).
3. You will be sent to the app. The first screen you see is the Subscription page.

Step 2: Choose a Plan and Approve Billing

1. On the Subscription page, you'll see the available plans (e.g. Plan A, Plan B).
2. Select the plan you want and click to subscribe.
3. You will be taken to Shopify to approve the charge (monthly or as shown).
4. After you approve, you'll return to the app. The app is now unlocked and you can use Settings and Shipping.

Note: If your store is on a free trial of the app, you can use the app during the trial. When the trial ends, you must subscribe to a plan to keep using the app.

Step 3: First setup (depends on your store mode)

Mode B — Show rates by postcode (CCS OFF)

1. Open Show rates by postcode in the app menu.
2. The app loads your Shopify shipping rate names automatically (or tap sync if needed).
3. Add your first postcode rule and assign which Shopify rates to show.
4. Turn on Use my postcode rules, then tap Save rules to checkout.

Mode A — Custom shipping rules (CCS ON)

1. Go to Settings → Default Shipping Settings.
2. Add at least one default shipping rate (name, price, optional description/days).
3. The app uses your store's currency from Shopify.
4. Click Save.

This default rate is what customers see when their address doesn't match any rule (Mode A).

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3. Dashboard Overview

After installation and billing:

• Home / Dashboard – Shortcuts, trial or subscription status, and help links.
• Subscription – View plan (Free, Basic, Advanced, Pro), trial, and billing.

If you see Show rates by postcode (Mode B — CCS OFF):

• Show rates by postcode – Sync Shopify rate names, add postcode rules, set checkout toggles, and Save rules to checkout.
• Pincode checker (Pro) – Theme block for product-page checks.
• Settings – General app settings.

If you see Custom shipping rules (Mode A — CCS ON):

• Settings – Default Shipping Settings (default rates, global COD, allow-list mode).
• Custom shipping rules – Overview, Rules, Locations, CSV Upload.
• Pincode checker (Pro) – Theme block for product-page checks.

You need an active subscription (or Free plan / active trial) to use the app. If billing is pending or expired, the app may send you back to the Subscription page.

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4. Feature-Wise Usage (Step-by-Step)

4.1 Default Shipping Settings (Mode A — Custom shipping rules only)

Where: Settings → Default Shipping Settings tab.

Skip this section if your app menu shows Show rates by postcode — use section 4.6 instead.

1. Default shipping rates
   Add one or more rates (name, price, optional description/days). These are used when no rule matches.

2. Currency
   The app uses your store's currency from Shopify. All shipping rates are shown in that currency.

3. Global COD

   • Turn Global COD on if you want COD available everywhere by default.
   • Set COD charge (e.g. 0 or a fixed amount) if you want a fee.

4. Allow list mode
   If you turn this on, only addresses that appear in your postcodes, pincode ranges, or shipping rules will get any shipping rates. All other addresses will see "delivery not available."

5. COD payment only when COD shipping is selected (Plan B or higher)
   When this is on, the COD payment method at checkout is shown only if the customer has selected a COD shipping option. If they choose a non-COD shipping method, COD payment is hidden. This keeps checkout clear and avoids COD on non-COD orders.

Save after any change.

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4.2 Creating a Shipping Rule (Mode A only)

Where: Custom shipping rules → Rules (or Overview → Create rule).

1. Click Create rule (or similar).
2. Rule name – Give it a clear name (e.g. "Delhi NCR").
3. Rule type – Choose what the rule depends on:
   • Location – Country, postcodes, or pincode ranges.
   • Product – Specific products in the cart.
   • Weight – Cart weight ranges.
   • Value – Cart value ranges.
4. Conditions – Fill in what must match:
   • For location: select country, then add postcodes and/or a pincode range (e.g. 110001–110099).
   • For product / weight / value: set the ranges or products as shown on screen.
5. Shipping rates – Add one or more rates (name, price, optional description/days). You can add different rates for different weight or value bands if the form allows.
6. COD – For this rule, you can enable COD and set a COD charge (or use "use default" if available).
7. Priority – Lower number = higher priority. If two rules could match, the higher-priority rule is used.
8. Set the rule to Active and Save.

Tip: Test with one country and a few postcodes first. Then add more postcodes or ranges.

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4.3 Managing Postcodes and Pincode Ranges (Mode A only)

Where: Custom shipping rules → Locations (or Postcodes / Pincode ranges).

• Individual postcodes – Add or edit postcodes and link them to a rule, or mark them as allow/block delivery and COD on/off.
• Pincode ranges – For numeric postcodes (e.g. India), add a range (e.g. 110001–110099) and link it to a rule. Every postcode in that range is covered by that rule.
• Countries – The app can sync countries from your Shopify shipping zones. Use the Locations/Countries section to see or manage countries if the app offers it.

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4.4 Bulk Upload (CSV) (Mode A only)

Where: Custom shipping rules → CSV Upload.

1. Prepare a CSV file with columns such as postcode, city, state, country (and any other columns the app asks for). Use the app's sample CSV or template if provided.
2. In the app, choose the file and select the rule to attach the postcodes to (if applicable).
3. Upload. The app will validate and import. Check the result message or history for success or errors.
4. If the app blocks duplicate files within 24 hours, wait or change the file slightly before uploading again.

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4.5 Subscription and Plans

Where: Subscription (from the app navigation or Home).

• View your current plan and trial (if any).
• Subscribe – Pick a plan and approve the charge in Shopify.
• Upgrade / change plan – Use the options on the Subscription page if you want to switch plans.
• Billing – The app may show pending or active charge status. Approving the charge in Shopify activates paid plans.

Plan limits for Show rates by postcode (Mode B):

Feature	Free	Basic	Advanced	Pro
Access Show rates by postcode	✅	✅	✅	✅
Postcode pattern rules	2	15	40	100
Exact postcodes (total)	50	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Prefix 302* / Range	❌	✅	✅	✅
Default rates per country	1 country	✅	✅	✅
Save rules to checkout	✅	✅	✅	✅
Product page pincode checker	❌	❌	❌	✅

CCS OFF stores on a paid plan may receive a monthly discount on subscription — see the Subscription page in the app.

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4.6 Show rates by postcode (Mode B — CCS OFF stores)

Where: Show rates by postcode in the app menu.

Use this when Shopify has not enabled carrier calculated shipping. The app does not set prices — it controls which of your existing Shopify rates appear at checkout for each postcode.

Step 1: Load your Shopify rates

1. Open Show rates by postcode.
2. The app syncs shipping method names from your Shopify delivery profiles (automatic on page load, or use sync if offered).
3. Set and change prices in Shopify Admin → Settings → Shipping and delivery — not in this app.

Step 2: Add postcode rules

1. Click Add rule (or similar).
2. Enter a postcode pattern:
   • Exact: 302001 or comma list 302001,302002 (Free plan: exact only, max 50 codes total).
   • Prefix: 302* (Basic plan and above).
   • Range: 302000...302099 (Basic plan and above).
3. Choose country.
4. Select which Shopify shipping rates to show for matching postcodes.
5. Delivery: Turn off "Allow delivery" (or similar) to block all shipping for that postcode — no rates will show at checkout.
6. Set priority (lower number = wins when two rules match).
7. Save the rule.

Step 3: Checkout behaviour toggles

Under What should customers see?:

1. Use my postcode rules

   • ON — Your postcode rules apply at checkout.
   • OFF — Rules are ignored; customers see all Shopify rates.

2. Only deliver to postcodes in my list

   • For postcodes not in your rules:
   • ON — Block all shipping. Default rates below are not used.
   • OFF — Show your default rates (section below) instead.

3. Tap Save rules to checkout after any rule or toggle change. Until you save, checkout still uses the previous configuration.

Step 4: Default rates (postcodes not in your list)

Only applies when "Only deliver to postcodes in my list" is OFF.

1. Scroll to Default rates (postcodes not in your list).
2. Add which Shopify rates to show when no rule matches (one set per country; Free plan: one country).
3. Save rules to checkout again.

Quick reference — what customers see at checkout

Situation	Only deliver… OFF	Only deliver… ON
Postcode in list, rule allows rates	Selected rates only	Selected rates only
Postcode in list, delivery blocked	No shipping options	No shipping options
Postcode not in list	Default rates	No shipping options
Use my postcode rules OFF	All Shopify rates	All Shopify rates

Tips

• Rule changes are not live at checkout until you tap Save rules to checkout.
• If checkout still shows old behaviour, save again and wait a minute, then test in a fresh checkout.
• Shopify allows a limited number of active delivery customizations per store (platform cap). The app shows your count on the page.

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5. How the App Works During Checkout

5.1 Mode A — Custom shipping rules (CCS ON)

When a customer goes to checkout and enters their shipping address:

1. Shopify sends the address (and cart details like items, weight, value) to the app.

2. The app:

   • Checks if the address is blocked (e.g. postcode or range marked block, or Allow List mode with address not listed). If blocked, no shipping rates from the app are shown.
   • If not blocked, it looks for a matching rule (by country, postcode/range, and any product/weight/value conditions). Rules are evaluated in priority order; the first matching rule wins.
   • If a rule matches, it returns the rates (and COD settings) defined for that rule.
   • If no rule matches, it returns your default shipping rates (and global COD if enabled).

3. Checkout shows the rates from the app. The customer picks a shipping method and pays.

4. COD payment visibility (Advanced plan+)
   If you turned on "COD payment only when COD shipping is selected":

   • When the customer selects a COD shipping option → they can choose COD as payment.
   • When they select a non-COD shipping option → COD payment is hidden.

5.2 Mode B — Show rates by postcode (CCS OFF)

When Use my postcode rules is ON and you have Saved rules to checkout:

1. Customer enters postcode at checkout.
2. The app matches the postcode to your rules (exact → range → prefix, then by priority).
3. If a rule blocks delivery → all shipping options are hidden.
4. If a rule allows specific rates → only those Shopify rate names stay visible; others are hidden.
5. If no rule matches:
   • Only deliver to postcodes in my list ON → all options hidden.
   • Only deliver… OFF → your default rates for that country are shown.

Prices always come from Shopify — the app only controls visibility.

If Use my postcode rules is OFF, the app makes no changes and Shopify shows all rates normally.

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6. Managing & Updating Settings

Mode A — Custom shipping rules

• Default Shipping Settings – Settings → Default Shipping Settings.
• Rules – Custom shipping rules → Rules.
• Postcodes and ranges – Custom shipping rules → Locations.

Mode B — Show rates by postcode

• Rules and toggles – Show rates by postcode page.
• Always tap Save rules to checkout after changes.

Both modes

• Subscription – Change plan or handle billing.
• Changes apply to new checkouts. Past orders are not changed.

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7. Common Issues & Tips

"I don't see Show rates by postcode in the menu."

• Your store likely has Carrier Calculated Shipping enabled. Use Custom shipping rules instead (Mode A).
• If you expected Mode B, ask Shopify Support to confirm whether carrier calculated shipping is available on your Shopify plan.

"My postcode rules don't work at checkout (Mode B)."

• Is Use my postcode rules turned ON?
• Did you tap Save rules to checkout after saving rules or toggles?
• Test in a new checkout (not an old tab).
• Confirm rate names in the app match Shopify (re-sync rates if you renamed them in Shopify Admin).

"Customers outside my list still see shipping rates (Mode B)."

• Check Only deliver to postcodes in my list. When OFF, unknown postcodes show default rates, not a block.
• When ON, postcodes not in your list should see no shipping options — and default rates do not apply.

"I blocked delivery but rates still show (Mode B)."

• Ensure the rule has Allow delivery turned off.
• Save rules to checkout after editing the rule.

"I don't see any shipping rates at checkout." (Mode A)

• Ensure you have saved at least one default shipping rate in Default Shipping Settings.
• In Shopify Admin, go to Settings → Shipping and delivery and confirm the app's carrier service is in a shipping zone for your test country.
• Check that the address is not blocked and that matching rules are Active.

"I don't see any shipping rates at checkout." (Mode B)

• You may have Only deliver to postcodes in my list ON and the test postcode is not in your rules.
• Or a block delivery rule matches the postcode.
• Or no default rates are set while Only deliver… is OFF and no rule matches.

"COD payment shows even when I didn't select COD shipping."

• Available on Advanced plan or higher (Mode A).
• Go to Settings → Default Shipping Settings and turn on COD payment conditional display, then Save.

"My CSV upload failed or was skipped." (Mode A)

• Use the app's sample CSV format. Check required columns.
• If the file was uploaded recently, wait 24 hours or change the file.

"I'm stuck on the Subscription page."

• Approve the pending charge in Shopify, or use the Free plan if available.

"I want to serve only certain postcodes." (Mode A)

• Use Allow List mode in Default Shipping Settings, then add postcodes via Locations or CSV.

"Rates are in the wrong currency." (Mode A)

• The app uses your store currency from Shopify Admin → Settings → Store details.

"Can I use Show rates by postcode on Basic?"

• Yes. Basic, Advanced, and Pro all include Show rates by postcode with higher limits than Free (prefix/range, more rules, multiple default countries).

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Need more help? Use the Support section inside the app or contact the developer using the details provided in the app or on the App Store listing.

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This manual describes only features that exist in the current app. Behavior is based on the app's code and design.