Overriding the Courier Name sent with Despatch Notifications

This guide explains what the Override channel shipping service setting does, when you should use it, which channels support it, and how to set it up on a shipping method.

What does Override channel shipping service do?

When you despatch an order, StoreFeeder sends a shipping update back to the channel it came from. As well as the tracking number, this update tells the channel which carrier delivered the parcel. By default, StoreFeeder uses the courier linked to the order's shipping method (or, for some channels, its own built-in list of carrier names).

The Override channel shipping service setting lets you replace those default values with the exact carrier details a specific channel expects. You set it on a shipping method, once per channel, and StoreFeeder then sends your values for every order on that shipping method from that channel.

Depending on the channel, you can override one or more of these fields:

• Carrier Code: the channel's own code or ID for the carrier.
• Carrier Name: the carrier name shown against the order on the channel.
• Custom shipping method name: the name of the delivery service shown on the channel.

When should I use it?

Use an override when the carrier details StoreFeeder sends by default are not the ones the channel needs. The most common reasons are:

• The channel doesn't recognise your carrier. Some marketplaces only accept carrier names or codes from their own list. 
• You buy shipping through an aggregrator like intersoft If you buy labels through a aggregrator, the courier on your shipping method may be the aggregrator's name rather than the carrier that actually delivers the parcel. An override lets you send the real carrier, for example Royal Mailor DPD.
• Tracking links don't work for your customers. Webstores such as Shopify, BigCommerce and WooCommerce use the carrier name or code to build the tracking link your customer sees. If the name doesn't match one the platform knows, the customer gets a tracking number with no working link.

If your tracking is already accepted and showing correctly on the channel, you don't need to set up an override.

Supported channels

Override channel shipping service is available for the channels below. Each channel only accepts the fields it can use. Any field it can't use is greyed out on the shipping method.

We are constantly adding to the channels we support this for so this may expand.

What each channel does with your values

• Amazon: the Carrier Code must be one of Amazon's recognised carrier codes. As you type, StoreFeeder suggests matching codes and shows "Not a recognised Amazon carrier code" if the value isn't on Amazon's list. You can still save an unrecognised code, but Amazon may not accept it. The Carrier Name and Custom shipping method name appear against the order in Seller Central. The method name is limited to 49 characters.
• OnBuy: the Carrier Code is OnBuy's numeric courier ID, not a name. You can find the ID in OnBuy's seller documentation, or by asking your OnBuy account manager.
• Wayfair: the Carrier Code must be a carrier code Wayfair accepts. Check it with Wayfair before you use it.
• BigCommerce: the Carrier Code is sent as the shipping provider and the Carrier Name as the tracking carrier. BigCommerce uses these to build the customer's tracking link.
• Magento 2: the Carrier Code is sent as the tracking carrier code and the Carrier Name as the tracking title.
• Shopify: the Carrier Name is sent as the tracking company. Enter it exactly as it appears in Shopify's list of carriers, for example Royal Mail or DPD UK, so that Shopify can build the tracking link.
• TikTok Shop: the Carrier Name must match one of TikTok Shop's shipping providers exactly, written without spaces, for example RoyalMail, Evri, DpdUk, YodelUk, DhlUk or UpsUk. Capital letters don't matter. If the name doesn't match, StoreFeeder ignores the override and falls back to its default carrier for that courier.
• WooCommerce: the Carrier Name replaces the carrier in the tracking note added to the order. See How to Setup a WooCommerce Tracking Note Template.
• Merchantry: the Custom shipping method name is sent as the shipping method against the order.
• PriceMinister (Rakuten France): the Custom shipping method name is sent as the carrier (transporter) name.
• All other supported channels: the Carrier Name is sent as the carrier against the order. Use the carrier name the channel shows in its own carrier list.

Before you start

You'll need:

• A shipping method already set up. See Creating a Shipping Method.
• At least one supported channel connected to your StoreFeeder account. Only connected channels of a supported type appear in the Channel dropdown.
• The exact carrier code, carrier name or method name your channel expects. StoreFeeder can't look these up for you. Get them from the channel's seller documentation or support team.

Step 1: Open the shipping method

Click Settings in the top right of the screen, then go to Shipping Configuration > Shipping Methods. Click the shipping method you want to change to open the Edit Shipping Methods page.

Step 2: Add an override for a channel

Scroll to the bottom of the page to the Override channel shipping service section.

1. Click Add shipping service setting. If you have no overrides yet, you can click add them now instead.
2. Choose the channel from the Channel dropdown. The Channel Type column fills in automatically.
3. Fill in each field that isn't greyed out: Carrier Code, Carrier Name and/or Custom shipping method name. Every available field is required.
4. Repeat for any other channel that needs an override on this shipping method.

Step 3: Save the shipping method

Click Save. From now on, whenever StoreFeeder sends a shipping update to that channel for an order on this shipping method, it sends your override values instead of the defaults.

To change an override, edit the values and save again. To remove one, click the delete button at the end of its row, then click Save. StoreFeeder then goes back to sending the default carrier details.

Things to watch for

• Overrides belong to the shipping method, not the order. StoreFeeder checks the order's shipping method at the moment it sends the shipping update. If you change an order's shipping method before the update is sent, the override on the new shipping method is used, or none if it doesn't have one.
• Overrides also apply to orders that are waiting to update. Orders already despatched but not yet updated on the channel pick up a new override. Orders that have already been updated on the channel are not re-sent.
• StoreFeeder sends your values exactly as typed. For Amazon, Temu, The Range, Marketplacer, Virtualstock, ManoMano and TikTok Shop, the override replaces StoreFeeder's automatic carrier matching completely. A typo is sent to the channel as it is.
• Some channels need a tracking number. On Etsy, Cdiscount and OnBuy, carrier details are only sent when the order has a tracking number. Without one, the override has nothing to attach to.
• Shopify needs a courier on the order. If the order has no courier recorded against it at despatch, the override isn't applied.
• Merged or split orders. If lines from the same channel order are despatched on different shipping methods, StoreFeeder uses the first override it finds among them.

Troubleshooting

"*required field" appears under a field when I save
Every field that isn't greyed out must be filled in for that channel. Enter a value, or delete the row if you don't need an override for that channel.

"*must be a number" appears under the OnBuy Carrier Code
OnBuy needs its numeric courier ID, not a carrier name. Replace the name with the number from OnBuy.

"Not a recognised Amazon carrier code"
The code isn't on Amazon's list of carrier codes. Pick one of the suggestions that appear as you type. If Amazon doesn't list your carrier, use Other and enter the carrier in the Carrier Name field.

I can't find my channel in the Channel dropdown
Either the channel type isn't supported (see the table above), or it already has an override on this shipping method. Each channel can only have one override per shipping method.

The Add shipping service setting button is greyed out
Every supported channel on your account already has an override on this shipping method. Edit an existing row instead.

The channel is still showing the old carrier
Check that the order was on this shipping method when the shipping update was sent. Orders updated on the channel before you saved the override won't change. For TikTok Shop, check that the Carrier Name exactly matches one of TikTok Shop's provider names, with no spaces.

Related articles

• Creating a Shipping Method
• Changing Shipping Methods after Despatch
• Why are my tracking numbers not uploaded to Amazon?
• How to Setup a WooCommerce Tracking Note Template