This guide is for merchants using the new version of Intuitive Shipping. If you’re using the Legacy version of the app, go here.
Not sure which version you’re using? Find out here.
This guide will show you how to link FedEx to Intuitive Shipping. To learn how to link other carriers, go here.
If you have an account with FedEx, you can connect your account to Intuitive Shipping. Then, when you set up a carrier service shipping method and select FedEx as the ‘parcel service’, you’ll have the option to use your discounted rates instead of their standard retail rates.
Account credentials are not required to use FedEx as a carrier service with Intuitive Shipping.
You can create a carrier service shipping method for FedEx without an account. You’ll have the opportunity to add account credentials directly from the shipping method later if desired.
Once your account credentials have been saved in Intuitive Shipping, your account will be used automatically each time you add the same carrier to a new shipping method.
Add FedEx To Carrier Accounts List
1) Click Settings on the sidebar menu, then select Carrier accounts from the drop-down list.
2) Click Add carrier account.
3) Select FedEx from the list of carriers.
4) Click the Configure account button.
Carrier Account Settings
1) Enter a carrier account Title, such as ‘FedEx’.
Carrier account titles are not visible to customers.
2) Select the Status for your FedEx account.
You have two (2) settings to choose from:
Active – when FedEx is added to a carrier service shipping method, your account will be used when calculating live rates at checkout. This is the default setting.
Inactive – when FedEx is added to a carrier service shipping method, your account will be ignored. Live rates will be calculated using FedEx’s standard retail rates.
Carrier account Status is ignored if none of your carrier service shipping methods are using FedEx. If you set up a shipping method with FedEx later, the current Status setting will be applied immediately.
FedEx Account
To complete this section, you’ll need your FedEx Authentication key, API password, Account number and Meter number.
If you don’t yet have an account with FedEx, skip ahead to Create A FedEx Account. Or, if you have an account but don’t know your credentials, skip ahead to Retrieve FedEx Account Credentials.
Return to this section once you have the required information.
1) Enter your FedEx Authentication key.
2) Enter your API password.
3) Enter your Account number.
4) Enter the Meter number.
3) Click the Save button to save your account settings.
Create A FedEx Account
1) Open a new browser tab, then go to the Fedex website.
2) Click the Sign Up or Log In button to begin the account application process.
3) Click Open An Account on the drop-down menu.
4) Click the Open An Account button.
5) Complete the FedEx Registration form, then click the Continue button to submit the form.
6) After completing the application, make a note of the Authentication key, API password, Account number and Meter number.
7) Return to Intuitive Shipping and begin at Step 1 of FedEx Account.
Retrieve FedEx Account Credentials
1) Open a new browser tab, then go to the Fedex website.
2) Click the Sign Up or Log In button to begin the account application process.
3) Enter your User ID and Password, then click the Log In button.
If you don’t remember your User ID or Password, use the ‘Forgot’ link provided.
3) Find and make a note of the Authentication key, API password, Account number and Meter number.
4) Return to Intuitive Shipping and begin at Step 1 of FedEx Account.
Restrictions
Each carrier has restrictions that may limit your shipping capabilities or prevent you from making certain shipments. Here are some restrictions to be aware of when using FedEx.
- Originating address – Not all FedEx services are available in every country. To see which domestic services are available in your country, visit your regional FedEx website or go here to select your country
- Restrictions by country – each country you ship to may have its own trade and import restrictions. Not all FedEx delivery services are available to all countries. To learn more about restrictions to specific countries, go here.
- Prohibited items – certain goods, including items considered to be illegal or dangerous, may not be shipped by FedEx under any circumstances. To learn more about restricted items, go here.
- Controlled items – items such as tobacco and vaping products, plants and animals, and dangerous goods may be shipped if they meet certain criteria. Other items such as pharmaceuticals may be shipped by FedEx under strict regulations in some areas and prohibited in others. To learn more about restricted items, go here.
- Packaging restrictions – some products can only be shipped if they comply with certain packaging standards. To learn more about FedEx packaging requirements or for guidance on packaging your items, go here.
- International restrictions – customs and international laws may limit what you ship, how you ship it, and how it can be returned to you. You may also require additional information – e.g. Harmonization codes – documentation and fees to complete your shipment. To learn more about shipping internationally with FedEx, go here.
- Size & weight restrictions – all packages shipped by FedEx within the US must not exceed a length plus girth of 165 inches (13.5 feet/ 419 cm), or 150 lbs (68 kg). Packages shipped within Canada must not exceed 108 inches (9 feet/ 274 cm) or 150 lbs (68 kg). Shipments outside of North America may be subject to dimension and weight restrictions of the origin or destination country. Certain delivery services may have size limitations. Packages exceeding 150 lbs may be suitable for FedEx Freight.
FedEx Freight is independent of FedEx and requires a separate account number.
For more information about FedEx restrictions, please visit FedEx or contact your local FedEx representative.
Troubleshooting
In certain situations, live rates from FedEx may not appear at checkout, or they might not be displayed as expected. You may be able to determine why rates aren’t being displayed correctly by reviewing the rate calculation Activity.
1) Click Activity on the main menu.
2) Select ‘Unsuccessful requests only‘ from the Filter by request status drop-down list. This will list only Activities where rates were not returned.
3) Click View beside any ‘unsuccessful’ Activity.
4) In the Details section, click View log beside Warnings and errors, if available.
Warnings & errors are not displayed as a result of missing information, such as missing customer address information – or an invalid request – e.g. Visibility is turned off, Carrier-calculated Rates are not enabled.
5) Review the warnings for FedEx delivery services.
Here are some of the more common reasons why your FedEx live rates may not be appearing at checkout.
Setup & Test Mode
While you are in Setup & Test mode, live rates will only appear at checkout when the customer name contains ‘Intuitive’, even when the Scenario status is set to ‘Everyone’. To make your rates available to customers, you will need to activate your account and begin your 14-Day FREE Trial.
Learn how to activate your account.
Scenario Status
If FedEx rates are not appearing, it may be because the Scenario Status is set to either Off (not visible to anyone) or Test (only visible when the customer name contains ‘Intuitive’).
Learn how to adjust Scenario Status.
Shipping Method Status
If FedEx rates are not appearing, it may be because a shipping method’s Visibility is set to either Off (not visible to anyone) or Test (only visible when the customer name contains ‘Intuitive’).
Learn how to adjust shipping method Visibility.
Carrier-calculated Rates
Shopify’s third-party carrier-calculated shipping rates feature must be enabled on your Shopify account in order to use any third-party shipping rate calculator app, including Intuitive Shipping.
Learn about Carrier-calculated shipping rates.
Account Credentials
Double-check to make sure that have entered the correct Authentication key, API password, Account number, and Meter number, and that there are no spaces or extra/ missing characters.
Packages
Rates may not appear if suitable package sizes are not available in a carrier service shipping method. For example, when the appropriate package size is either missing completely or is set to Inactive status, the next largest size package will be used. If the larger package exceeds FedEx’s size limitations, a rate will not be generated.
When no suitable package is available, Intuitive Shipping will attempt to create a custom package using the dimensions of the product(s) in the cart. Similarly, if the custom package exceeds FedEx’s size limitations, a rate will not be generated.
Check to make sure that the packages in your FedEx Shipping Method are suitable for products you’re shipping with FedEx and that they do not exceed the size limitations.
Delivery Services
Some FedEx delivery services may not be available due to restrictions, such as shipment size & weight or the customer’s address. If some delivery service rates are being generated, but others are not – or, if rates from another carrier rate shipping method (e.g. UPS) are being generated, but rates from FedEx are not – it is most likely due to service restrictions.
Be sure to check that the selected services are compatible with the shipping address. For example, if the customer address is international and only domestic services have been selected, rates will not be displayed.
If some rates were returned at checkout, but others were not, check for Notifications related to FedEx.
Product Dimensions & SmartBoxing™
If you are packaging with SmartBoxing™, all products must have dimensions assigned to them in Intuitive Shipping. Product dimensions determine how the SmartBoxing™ system will package the order. When product dimensions are missing, the packing process cannot be completed. Package information cannot be sent to FedEx and the calculation fails.
Syncing
While you’re in Setup & Test Mode, any changes you make to your products need to be manually synced in your General Settings. Once you have activated your account, changes to your products are synced automatically with Intuitive Shipping. However, if you make several changes to products at one time, it is possible that the auto-sync was not completed properly. When product information critical to the calculation is missing, the process fails, and package information cannot be sent to FedEx.
If you’re using the SmartBoxing™ packing algorithm, product dimensions are required. Be sure to add dimensions to any new products recently synced with Intuitive Shipping.
Cost Adjustments
If rates are returning but appear to be either too high or too low, cost adjustments may have been applied to the shipping method in the Optional Settings section. Check the Cost adjustment section of your FedEx shipping method’s Optional Settings.
Contact Us
If FedEx rates are not being displayed as expected and you are unable to resolve the issue, please contact us. We’re here to help!