How to Set Up Shipping in Your Online Store

To set up shipping in an online store, you need four clear decisions: which couriers you use, how you calculate the rate (flat, by weight, or by zone), the amount above which you offer free shipping, and whether you allow in-store pickup. You set these once in your platform (WooCommerce, Shopify, or others), then test them with a real order before launch. Below is each concrete step, tailored for the Romanian market.

Which couriers should you choose in Romania?

In Romania, the most-used couriers for online stores are Sameday (with its easybox locker network), FAN Courier, Cargus, and DPD. You don't have to commit to just one - many stores offer two options: home delivery and locker/easybox delivery, because the locker is cheaper and more customers now prefer it.

Our practical advice: start with a single courier to keep things simple, then add a second option (usually a locker) once you see what customers ask for. Each courier gives you a business account and, for WooCommerce or Shopify, an official plugin that automatically generates the AWB (tracking number) and calculates the rate at checkout. That saves you hours of manual work.

How do you set shipping rates?

You have three models, from simple to advanced:

For most small stores, a flat rate is the best choice: the customer knows the cost upfront, and you don't lose sales to confusion. Set the rate close to the courier's real cost - if you pay 18 lei, charge 20-25 lei, not 40. Inflated shipping is one of the main reasons for cart abandonment.

Don't forget cash on delivery (COD): in Romania it's still in high demand. The courier charges a commission for COD, which you either absorb or add as a separate fee at checkout.

Above what amount should you offer free shipping?

Free shipping above a certain threshold is the simplest trick for increasing order value. The practical rule: set the threshold 20-30% above your average order value. If people spend an average of 150 lei, set "free shipping from 200 lei." The customer adds one more product to reach the threshold, and you cover the shipping cost from the margin on that extra product.

Don't offer free shipping on every order if your margin is thin - you lose it on every parcel. Better a fair threshold, communicated clearly on the product page and in the cart ("50 lei more until free shipping").

Is it worth offering in-store pickup?

If you have an office, a workshop, or a physical store, add an in-store pickup option. It's free for the customer, it removes your courier cost, and it brings people to you - where they buy more. In your platform you add it as a "shipping method" with a 0 rate and a message with the address and hours.

It's especially useful for local customers and for expensive or fragile products, where the person wants to see the goods first. It costs nothing to enable, so it's worth testing.

How do you handle returns?

In Romania, for online sales to individuals, the customer has a legal right to return within 14 days without giving a reason (the right of withdrawal under GEO 34/2014, which transposes the European directive). It's not optional - you must have a clear return policy on your site.

Minimum checklist for your return policy:

• The 14-day window from receiving the product
• Who pays for return shipping (usually the customer, if you say so upfront)
• The product's condition (unused, with tags, in packaging)
• How the refund is made and how long it takes (max. 14 days from receiving the return)
• The address where the return is sent

A policy written simply and honestly reduces "how do I return this?" messages and builds trust. Many stores raise conversion just by prominently displaying "14-day returns."

Test before launch

Before you announce the store, place a real test order: check that the rate shows correctly, that the free-shipping threshold triggers, that the AWB is generated, and that the confirmation email goes out. Five minutes of testing saves your first missed order.

If you first want to know what the whole store costs you, read how much a website costs and why I need a website. At MPO Web Studio we build online stores from €690 with shipping and cash on delivery configured correctly from the start.

Want a free demo of your store, with shipping already set up? Message us on WhatsApp at wa.me/40750257140 and we'll show you concretely how it would look.