Shopify merchants in the UK can now give shoppers the option to collect orders from a Royal Mail pickup point directly at checkout. This new feature, announced in the Merchant Changelog, adds a map‑based selector and displays each location’s address, opening hours, and price before the customer confirms the purchase. Below we break down what changed, who it affects, and exactly how to enable and test the new workflow.
Why This Update Matters
Offering pickup points expands your fulfillment toolkit beyond home delivery, catering to shoppers who prefer a convenient, cost‑effective way to collect parcels. Royal Mail’s extensive network of over 10,000 locations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland means more flexibility, lower shipping costs for low‑value orders, and a potential boost in conversion rates for merchants who previously only offered standard carrier delivery.
How It Works for Merchants
When a shopper reaches the shipping step, a new “Royal Mail Pickup Point” option appears alongside traditional carrier services. Selecting it opens an interactive map (or a list view) where the customer can browse nearby locations, see real‑time opening hours, and view any additional fees. Once a point is chosen, the address is saved to the order, and the fulfillment workflow treats the pickup point just like any other shipping address.
Setting Up Royal Mail Pickup Points in Your Store
Enabling the feature does not require any code changes for most merchants. Follow these three steps in the Shopify admin: 1️⃣ Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery. 2️⃣ Under “Pickup locations,” click “Add pickup point provider” and select “Royal Mail.” 3️⃣ Review the default pricing rules, adjust as needed, and click Save. After saving, the option automatically appears at checkout for customers whose shipping address is in the United Kingdom.
Example carrier‑service response that includes a pickup point (for developers building custom rate apps):
{\n \"rates\": [\n {\n \"service_name\": \"Royal Mail Pickup\",\n \"service_code\": \"royal_mail_pickup\",\n \"total_price\": \"450\",\n \"description\": \"Royal Mail Pickup Point – £4.50\",\n \"pickup_point\": {\n \"id\": \"RM12345\",\n \"name\": \"Royal Mail – St Paul’s Street\",\n \"address1\": \"12 St Paul’s Street\",\n \"city\": \"London\",\n \"province\": \"\",\n \"country\": \"GB\",\n \"postal_code\": \"EC4A 1AA\",\n \"latitude\": 51.5142,\n \"longitude\": -0.0945,\n \"opening_hours\": \"Mon‑Fri 9 am‑5 pm\"\n }\n }\n ]\n}
Developer Considerations
If you’ve built a custom carrier service app, you’ll need to include the pickup_point object in the rate response so the checkout UI can render the map selector. The object follows Shopify’s standard pickup point schema—note the required fields (id, name, address1, city, country, latitude, longitude). No additional API endpoints are needed; the existing CarrierService API accepts the extra payload. Remember to test both the JSON schema and the handling of optional fields such as province or opening_hours to avoid checkout errors.
Testing the Checkout Experience
Create a test order with a UK shipping address, proceed to the shipping step, and verify that the Royal Mail option appears. Use the “Preview” mode in the Shopify admin or a private browsing window to see the map and list view. Confirm that selecting a point correctly updates the shipping address preview and that the final order shows the pickup point’s details in the admin under “Fulfillment.” If you encounter missing locations, double‑check that the merchant’s store settings have “Shipping to pickup points” enabled.
Next Steps & Best Practices
• Communicate the new option to existing customers via email or banner ads. • Set clear pricing rules—most merchants charge a flat fee that covers the Royal Mail handling cost. • Keep your pickup point data fresh; Royal Mail updates locations quarterly, so schedule a periodic sync if you rely on a custom database. • Monitor checkout conversion and shipping‑related support tickets to gauge the impact.
Ready to give your UK shoppers the flexibility they want? Enable Royal Mail pickup points today, test the flow, and watch your checkout metrics improve. Have questions or need a hand with carrier‑service integration? Drop a comment below or reach out to our Shopify Experts team for personalized support.
