How to offer free shipping after checkout (post-purchase shipping refund)
A post-purchase offer can unlock free shipping after the shopper has paid. For example: a shopper pays $6.99 shipping, then sees "Add this item and we'll refund your shipping." If they accept, UpsellPlus adds the item to the order and refunds the shipping they paid. The shopper sees a message on the offer page telling them their shipping will be refunded.
- Where: in a post-purchase offer, under Shipping refund → Refund the original shipping charge
- Two modes: whenever an offer is accepted, or only when the order reaches a subtotal
- Requires: permission for UpsellPlus to manage orders (you're asked the first time)
Why it works this way
Shopify can't recalculate shipping on an order that's already placed. So instead of removing the shipping charge, UpsellPlus refunds it once the accepted offer is on the order and the payment is captured.
Set up a shipping refund
- Create or open a post-purchase offer (Offers → Create Post-Purchase Offer, or a step in your funnel).
- On the offer's Behavior tab, find Shipping refund.
- Under Refund the original shipping charge, choose:
- Never: no shipping refund (default)
- Whenever an offer is accepted: refund shipping every time the shopper accepts this offer
- When the order reaches a subtotal: refund shipping only when the order subtotal (original order plus accepted offers) reaches the amount you set
- If you chose a subtotal, enter Order subtotal to reach, in your store currency, after discounts. Set it to match your free-shipping rate. UpsellPlus doesn't read it from your shipping settings.
- Approve the order permission if Shopify asks for it.
- Save and activate the funnel.
What the shopper sees
When the refund applies, the order summary on the offer page shows:
Free shipping unlocked — the shipping charged on your order will be refunded.
In threshold mode, the message only shows once the order would reach the subtotal you set.
Good to know
- Timing: refunds usually take a few minutes to issue, and several days to reach the shopper's bank.
- Payment methods that can't be refunded automatically: orders paid with cash on delivery, manual payments or Authorize.net are skipped.
- Funnels: in threshold mode, offers the shopper already accepted earlier in the funnel count toward the subtotal.
FAQ
Does the shopper pay shipping again for the added item?
No. The added item goes on the existing order, and the shipping charge from checkout is refunded.
Is the threshold taken from my Shopify shipping settings?
No. Enter it yourself so it matches your free-shipping rate.
What if the shopper paid with a method that can't be refunded through Shopify?
Cash on delivery, manual payment and Authorize.net orders are skipped. Refund those by hand if needed.
Related articles
- How to build a post-purchase upsell funnel
- How to upsell shoppers to free shipping or the next reward tier (Get to the next reward)
- Payment capture and ensuring the post-purchase authorization is captured
Updated on: 14/10/2026
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