Shipping is where many new stores quietly lose money or customers. Rates that are too low eat your margin, rates that are too high kill the sale, and an unclear delivery time causes messages and complaints.
This is a practical sequence to set it up properly the first time.
Choose one or two couriers that cover your customers, define rates by city or zone, decide on cash on delivery, and publish delivery times and a returns policy. Keep it simple at launch and refine from real orders.
Choose your courier by coverage and service
In Saudi Arabia and the GCC, common options include SMSA, Aramex, Saudi Post (SPL) and Naqel, plus local delivery apps in big cities. Compare how well each covers your customers' cities, how they handle cash on delivery, how fast they are, and how their tracking and support work.
Ask for current rate cards and terms directly, since they change.
- Coverage of the cities where your customers live.
- Cash on delivery collection and how long they take to pay you.
- Pickup from your location or drop-off.
- Tracking link you can send to customers.
Set rates that protect your margin
Weigh and measure a typical package, add packaging, and work out your real average cost. Then choose one model: flat rate, rate per city or zone, or free shipping above a minimum basket. Free shipping above a threshold is popular because it raises the basket size.
Cash on delivery: decide on purpose
Cash on delivery helps trust, but it brings refused parcels and return costs. Consider a small COD fee, confirming orders by WhatsApp or SMS before dispatch, and offering a discount for prepaying with mada or Apple Pay.
Publish delivery times, tracking and returns
Give honest time ranges per city, for example 2 to 4 working days, and the cut-off hour for same-day dispatch. Send the tracking number to the customer automatically. Add a short returns section: who pays shipping back and how refunds work.
Setting it up with Uttra
In the chat you could write: "Add a Shipping and Delivery page and a delivery box on product pages. Rates: Riyadh and Jeddah one price, other cities another, free above a basket total I choose, cash on delivery option at checkout." Review in the preview, then publish to your Uttra address or your own domain.