Square Online vs Payment Link - Shipping Settings Different

[TCSlaguna]

Hey Everyone! 

I have an online store. Our Shipping settings are setup (Online -> Fulfillment -> Shipping). 

Trying to do Google Ads, clicks to a landing page that links to a promotional item via Payment Link. (The promotional item is not visible on our Online Store because obviously we want to limit it to people who found us via Google Ads). 

Come to find out, Payment Links has its own Fulfillment settings (Payment Links -> Settings -> General -> Fulfillment). 

Issues: 

1) Payment Links does not let you do tiered shipping rate:  Up to $100.00 - $10.00, $100.01 ad up - $0.00

2) You cannot set enable/disable Pickup on a per item basis

3) Payment Links have their own settings for pickup prep time and instructions

The interesting thing: 

Square Online pickup settings are being moved out of the Online dashboard and into Account & Settings. 

So wouldn't one assume it would apply to Payment Links as well? 

Having a unified Fulfillment, Pickup & Delivery settings that applies to both Square Online and Payment Links would make our lives easier. 

Am I just using Payment Links for the wrong purpose? 

@maxpete  @TheRealChipA  @Sam_400º @HC_Charlie  @Candlestore @ryanwanner 

[TCSlaguna]

I have created an item, turned shipping off, turned pickup on. 

the checkout link shows a shipping charge.

Am I doing something wrong? I would assume shipping charges would not apply for pickup.

[TCSlaguna]

$5 is not even my shipping rate. 

[TCSlaguna]

So…. Payment Links have different Shipping settings from Online.

Why?

[TheRealChipA]

Hey there @TCSlaguna.…. I wish I could add anything of value, here.  Yes, one “would” assume that fulfillment settings (and, therefore, shipping rates) should be unified, as well.  And this does seem like a big inconsistency.  I don’t think you are using payment links incorrectly, or for a purpose they weren’t intended for.  But it seems that is the case.  Having said all of that, I’m wondering if other sellers haven’t asked for the flexibility of having different fulfillment rules and/or shipping rates just for payment link purchases.  Now that I think about it, I could see the value of that, but even if that is the case, it still would be great to just add “payment links” to the unified fulfillment settings screen, rather than having two settings screens.  Just my two cents worth.

[HC_Charlie]

WOW @TCSlaguna that's a find...I never suspected that would have different settings. I think it would be much easier to have it unified. I'm not sure of the history of all of the development (probably somewhat piecemeal I suspect as most software is developed/changed over time)...but I'm wondering if a Payment Link historically functioned as just a way to shuttle payments (cash) back and forth, much like people would use PayPal or Venmo. Not necessarily to pay for a tangible product?? So there was less of a thought about shipping/fulfillment options here.

[Ellie_ · Accepted solution]

Hi there, @TCSlaguna,

I appreciate your patience while I dug into this deeper for you, I also noticed you started a thread about this, so I merged that into this post as well. What you are saying is correct about the checkout links and the settings. There was a recent change to Payment Links that separated those links settings from the Square Online settings. The shipping rate for payment links is now under one flat fee that you set, if you'd like to use tiered settings, you would need to send them a link to the item from your Square Online site directly. As for the pickup settings, you are also correct, with the change, the pickup settings are for all items, not item specific. If you have any additional questions about this, please let me know! 

I also appreciate @HC_Charlie & @TheRealChipA for stepping in here and giving your bits of advise and additional information you saw. If you two also have questions about this change, please let me know as well. 😊

[TCSlaguna]

@Ellie_ Thank you for the explanation. It makes sense. 

It would be nice if there was the flexibility to select:

- Unified shipping rates for Online and Payment Links

- Different shipping rates for Online and Payment Links

Perhaps a feature request to add to Ideate. 

Thanks!

[onstage]

why would forcing a single, flat fee be preferred to a dynamic, adjustable shipping fee like a normal online order would incur?

[DinaLRosenberg]

We use a flat fee as well because frankly we haven't been able to figure out the dynamic, adjustable shipping with our 1,000 different products.