Woocommerce shipping use case

Question

I have a use case for a website and I can't figure out how to configure WooCommerce Shipping to do what I want.

Regarding shipping in that store:

• There are products that can be delivered ONLY locally (for free). If someone is outside a defined the area, a message should notify him that this is a only local product.
• Other products can be delivered locally (for free) or to outside areas.
• Within these products that can be delivered to outside areas, different delivery rates apply (Product A is +$25 , but Product B is +$30, and Product C is +$10...)

I set up two Shipping zones:

• Local (only a list of Zip codes) -> Free Rate,
• Outside Area (everywhere) -> put a bunch of classes such as +10 , +20 , +25 ... and gave them rates

I have 2 main problems here:

1. I dont know how to force some products to be local ONLY.
2. when doing the setup above, the products that are on the outside area for which I gave a shipping class are not showing in local if someone is trying to checkout from a local Zip code.

How can this be solved?

Answer 1

As you have enabled that free local shipping rate, you will need to set it the code below. It can be a "Free Shipping" method or a "Local Pickup" method (set with 0 cost and no tax).

You will have also to set in the function the array of products IDs that need this shipping method enabled (hiding all others).

add_filter( 'woocommerce_package_rates', 'conditionally_hide_shipping_methods', 10, 2 );
function conditionally_hide_shipping_methods( $rates, $package ) {

    // Set HERE the shipping method to use: 
    // It can be 'free_shipping' or 'local_pickup' (set with 0 cost and no tax) 
    $shipping_method_id = 'local_pickup';

    // Set HERE your "LOCAL free" product IDs
    $local_free_ids = array( 40, 37 );

    $found = false;

    foreach( WC()->cart->get_cart() as $cart_item  ) {
        if( in_array($cart_item[ 'product_id' ], $local_free_ids) ) { // <== ID OF MY SHIPPING_CLASS
            $found = true;
            break; // Stop the loop
        }
    }
    // If on of this product Ids are in cart we hide all other shipping methods
    if ( $found ){
        $local_free = array();
        foreach ( $rates as $rate_id => $rate ) {
            if ( $shipping_method_id === $rate->method_id ) {
                $local_free[ $rate_id ] = $rate;
                break;
            }
        }
        return ! empty( $local_free ) ? $local_free : $rates;
    } else {
        return $rates;
    }
}

Code goes in function.php file of your active child theme (or theme) or also in any plugin file.

Sometimes is necessary to refresh the shipping caches:
1) First your cart is empty.
2) The code is already saved on your function.php file.
3) Go in a shipping zone and disable one "flat rate" (for example) and "save". Then re-enable that "flat rate" and "save". You are done.

Based on: WooCommerce - Hide other shipping methods when FREE SHIPPING is available

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To notify customers for Local products only, this should be asked in a new question...

Answer 2

These is somewhat debatable but you don't need to code to get this done. As I think you're already there.

I set up two Shipping zones:

Local (only a list of Zip codes) -> Free Rate, Outside Area (everywhere) -> put a bunch of classes such as +10 , +20 , +25 ... and gave them rates

In your Local and Everywhere should have same shipping classes but should have different values.

Let us say that in your settings be like this

Shipping Zone > Local

Zone regions: add list of zip codes or region.
Shipping methods: add a Flat Rate method

Flat Rate settings:

Shipping Zone > Everywhere

Zone regions: add list of zip codes or region or leave it blank.
Shipping methods: add a Flat Rate method

Flat Rate settings:

I have 2 main problems here:

1. I dont know how to force some products to be local ONLY.
2. when doing the setup above, the products that are on the outside area for which I gave a shipping class are not showing in local if someone is trying to checkout from a local Zip code.

1. You don't. Just add the correct shipping class for the product and the shipping will do it itself.
2. This is where you lost me. Here's a screenshot of my cart. Local vs Everywhere.

Local

Everywhere

Above two images are demonstrating a product that has a "Class A" shipping class.