Why 68% of NZ Online Shoppers Abandon Carts: Fix Your Shipping Strategy First
2025-10-03
Why 68% of NZ Online Shoppers Abandon Carts: Fix Your Shipping Strategy First
In the world of eCommerce, one of the most frustrating experiences for online sellers is seeing customers browse products, add items to their cart, and then leave without checking out.Often, the problem is not your product, your pricing, or even your website. It's your shipping setup.
According to data from NZ Post, shipping plays a much bigger role in customer decision-making than most people realize:
-91% of shoppers actively look for stores that offer free shipping
-81% say shipping costs influence which store they buy from
-68% have abandoned their cart because shipping was too expensive
These numbers tell a clear story. Shoppers are highly sensitive to shipping fees. Even if they love the product, complicated or high delivery charges can easily push them away. On the other hand, clear and reasonable shipping options can be the very thing that convinces them to place the order.
Does Free Shipping Really Help Sales or Hurt Your Profit?
Free shipping is not just about saving a few dollars. It can be a powerful tool for boosting trust, increasing conversions, and encouraging repeat purchases.From the customer's perspective, free shipping sends two key messages:
-The seller believes in their product and is willing to take on part of the cost.
-The checkout process is easy and transparent, reducing pressure and hesitation.
As a result, offering free shipping can increase not only the chance of a first-time purchase but also the likelihood that customers will come back again.
Of course, free shipping is not always practical. If your product has a low price point or your customers are spread across a wide region, covering the cost of every delivery might hurt your margins. That is why it is important to find a strategy that works for your specific business.
Three Smart Shipping Tactics to Improve Your Profit and Customer Experience
If offering free shipping on every order is not an option, here are three smart ways to improve your shipping offer without hurting your bottom line.
1. Set a Free Shipping Threshold to Encourage Larger Orders
One of the simplest and most effective tactics is to offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount, such as $39 or $49. This encourages customers to add more items to their cart to qualify.This works especially well for stores that sell related products that can be purchased together.
2. Offer Local Free Shipping in Target Areas
In New Zealand, same-city shipping is usually cheaper and more predictable. You can use this to your advantage by offering free shipping within your local area.This makes your store more appealing to nearby customers and helps you focus your marketing efforts on regions where you are most competitive.
3. Compare Courier Rates to Lower Your Logistics Costs
Sometimes the best shipping strategy is not about pricing for the customer but about managing your own back-end costs. Different couriers have different prices depending on the weight, size, and destination of your packages. By comparing options and using the right courier for each order, you can significantly reduce what you pay.
How iShipping Helps New Zealand Sellers Lower Delivery Costs
Having the right strategy is important, but you also need the right tool to make it work.
iShipping is a smart shipping platform designed for NZ eCommerce sellers. It brings together courier services like NZ Post, Aramex, DHL, and more, and makes it easy to manage everything in one place.
With iShipping, you can:
-Compare shipping rates from multiple couriers and choose the best option for each order
-Save up to 50% on delivery costs，get free courier bags and shipping labels
-Automatically sync orders from platforms like TradeMe and Shopify
-Start shipping with no monthly fees and no minimum volume
This means you can offer better shipping to your customers, without spending more yourself. Many sellers use iShipping to create the perfect balance between attractive offers and sustainable costs.
Final Tip: Turn Your Shipping Strategy into a Competitive Advantage
Shipping might seem like a small detail, but it plays a big role in how customers view your store.When your shipping is simple, affordable, and transparent, people are more likely to trust your business and complete their purchase. Free delivery helps, but even more important is showing your customers that you care about their experience.
With a clear strategy and a smart tool like iShipping, you can make shipping one of your store’s biggest strengths.
Try iShipping today and see how much you can save on every order.