Hide Shipping Methods Action

The Hide Shipping Methods action allows you to hide shipping methods based on defined groups. This provides more advanced control over delivery option visibility compared to simple hide operations.

How It Works

This action works in conjunction with delivery option groups. You first define groups of delivery options using conditions, then use this action to hide entire groups based on additional logic.

Use Cases

Complex Hiding Scenarios

  • Hide multiple related shipping methods at once
  • Apply group-based logic to shipping visibility
  • Create conditional shipping tiers
  • Implement location-based shipping restrictions
  • Hide shipping methods based on product combinations

Business Rules Implementation

  • Restrict shipping methods for hazardous materials
  • Limit delivery options based on warehouse availability
  • Hide shipping for products requiring special handling
  • Implement carrier-specific restrictions

Configuration Options

Group Selection

Select which delivery option groups to hide:

  • Groups defined by “Define Delivery Options Groups” action
  • Multiple groups can be selected
  • Groups are evaluated based on their conditions

Hiding Conditions

Define when selected groups should be hidden:

  • Product-based conditions
    • Specific product types
    • Product tags
    • Product vendor
    • Product weight/dimensions
  • Cart-based conditions
    • Total cart value
    • Total item count
    • Mixed product types
  • Customer-based conditions
    • Customer tags
    • Customer location
    • Purchase history
  • Time-based conditions
    • Day of week
    • Time of day
    • Date ranges

Logic Operators

Combine multiple conditions:

  • AND: All conditions must be met
  • OR: At least one condition must be met
  • NOT: Inverse of the condition
  • Nested Logic: Complex condition combinations

Examples

Example 1: Hide Express Options for Heavy Items

Hide all express shipping methods when cart contains heavy items:

Group: Express Shipping Methods
Condition: Any product weight > 50 lbs
Action: Hide group

Example 2: Location-Based Restrictions

Hide certain shipping methods for international orders:

Group: Domestic Only Carriers
Condition: Shipping country != Store country
Action: Hide group

Example 3: Product-Specific Shipping

Hide standard shipping for perishable items:

Group: Standard Shipping Options
Condition: Cart contains products tagged "perishable"
Action: Hide group

Example 4: Tiered Shipping by Value

Hide premium shipping for low-value orders:

Group: Premium Shipping Services
Condition: Cart total < $100
Action: Hide group

Working with Groups

Prerequisites

Before using this action, you must:

  1. Define delivery option groups using “Define Delivery Options Groups” action
  2. Assign shipping methods to appropriate groups
  3. Set up group conditions

Group Examples

Common group configurations:

  • Express Group: Next Day, 2-Day, Priority
  • Economy Group: Standard, Ground, Economy
  • Local Group: Same Day, Local Delivery, Store Pickup
  • International Group: International Standard, International Express

Best Practices

  1. Group Organization: Create logical, reusable groups
  2. Fallback Options: Always ensure some shipping method remains available
  3. Clear Logic: Use descriptive group names and conditions
  4. Performance: Minimize complex nested conditions
  5. Testing: Test with various cart and customer scenarios

Advanced Patterns

Pattern 1: Progressive Hiding

Hide shipping tiers based on cart value:

Group 1: Premium Express - Hide if cart < $200
Group 2: Standard Express - Hide if cart < $100
Group 3: Economy - Never hide (fallback)

Pattern 2: Regional Shipping

Different shipping options by region:

Group: West Coast Express - Show only for CA, OR, WA
Group: East Coast Express - Show only for NY, NJ, CT
Group: Central Standard - Show for all other states

Pattern 3: Product Mix Rules

Adjust shipping based on product combinations:

If cart contains "fragile" AND "heavy":
  Hide: Standard Shipping Group
  Show: Special Handling Group

Limitations

  • Groups must be defined before they can be hidden
  • At least one shipping method must remain visible
  • Cannot dynamically create groups within this action
  • Group conditions are evaluated before hiding conditions
  • Performance impact with very complex group logic

Regular Expressions

String conditions in delivery customization functions support regular expression matching. Use the RegExp or RegExp* operators to match patterns in delivery option names, addresses, or other text fields.

See the Regular Expressions reference for supported syntax and examples.