What is Local Pickup?
Local pickup or self-pickup is a shipping option for online orders that allows buyers to pick up their orders at a specified location usually at a physical store.
"Self-pickup," also known as local pickup, presents a convenient choice for online shoppers to collect their orders.
Sellers have the flexibility to either assign a cost to this option or offer it free of charge. The price for the self-pickup is set by the sellers or it can be free.
When enabled, self pickup option will be appear on the checkout page.
Upon receiving an order and confirming the product's availability, you can indicate its readiness for pickup. If the order is ready to be picked up, you should mark it as "ready for pickup" from the Orders → Order.
Once the order has been retrieved by the customer, remember to update its status to "Picked Up."
Set Up the Local Pickup Option
To enable the local pickup option:
Log in to your eCommerce admin panel.
Head to the Settings → Shipping.
Click on the location under the Local pickup section.
Here, you can turn on the toggle to enable the local pickup for this location.
This stage also allows you to include any pertinent instructions related to the pickup process.
Benefits of Offering Local Pickup
Offering local pickup as a shipping option can provide several benefits for both you and your customers:
Benefits for Customers
- No Shipping Costs: Customers can avoid shipping fees by picking up their orders in person.
- Faster Delivery: Local pickup allows customers to receive their orders immediately, without waiting for shipping.
- Inspection Before Acceptance: Customers can inspect their purchases before taking them home, ensuring satisfaction.
- Environmentally Friendly: Reduces carbon emissions associated with delivery vehicles.
Benefits for Sellers
- Reduced Shipping Costs: You don't have to pay for packaging and shipping for local pickup orders.
- Increased Local Customer Base: Attracts customers who prefer to shop locally or pick up their purchases in person.
- Additional Sales Opportunities: When customers come to pick up their orders, they might make additional purchases.
- Simplified Returns Process: Returns can be handled immediately when customers pick up their orders.
Best Practices for Local Pickup
- Clear Instructions: Provide clear instructions on where and when customers can pick up their orders.
- Flexible Pickup Hours: Offer flexible pickup hours to accommodate different customer schedules.
- Notification System: Implement a notification system to inform customers when their orders are ready for pickup.
- Dedicated Pickup Area: Create a dedicated area for order pickups to streamline the process.
- Identity Verification: Establish a process for verifying customer identity during pickup.