PluginCity Free Shipping Bar for WooCommerce

FAQ

Does it work with the block cart and checkout?

Yes. The same bar is drawn in the Cart and Checkout blocks and in the block mini-cart, from the same settings, so it looks the same wherever a customer meets it.

Does it set up free shipping for me?

No, and it is worth being clear about this. Free shipping itself is a WooCommerce shipping method, set up under WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping. This plugin shows customers how close they are to earning it. It does take the amount from that method rather than asking you for it again, and if you change the amount on the bar’s settings it changes the method to match and tells you it has, so the two cannot end up telling your customers different things. Setting the method up in the first place, and everything else about it, is still WooCommerce’s own screen.

What does the bar count?

The cart subtotal, before shipping, with any coupon discount taken off it. Tax is counted only if your shop shows prices with tax included, so the amount the bar measures is the one the customer sees in their cart.

What happens when a customer uses a coupon?

The bar follows whatever your free shipping method is set to, so that it never promises something your checkout will not give. A coupon that takes money off reduces what the bar counts, because that is how WooCommerce decides whether the minimum has been met — unless you have ticked Apply minimum order rule before coupon discount, in which case the bar counts the full subtotal too. A coupon that gives free shipping outright fills the bar straight away, because the customer has already earned it.

Can I change the wording?

Yes, on the Localization tab. There are two sentences: one for a cart that is still short, and one for a cart that has earned free shipping. You can use {remaining} for what is left to spend, {total} for the cart total so far, and {threshold} for the amount itself, and each will be priced in your shop’s own currency. Bold, italics and links are allowed; anything else is stripped before it reaches the storefront.

Can I translate the wording into more than one language?

Yes. The plugin’s own labels are ready for translation in the usual way, and the two sentences you type in yourself are registered for WPML and WPML String Translation, so you will find them under String Translation rather than having to settle for one language.

Can I show the bar without any wording?

Yes. Untick the reminder on the Appearance card and the bar is drawn on its own. Clearing the sentence for a cart that has earned free shipping works too, if you want wording on the way up and a plain full bar at the end.

Can I put the bar somewhere else on my site?

Yes. The shortcode [fsbwc_bar] draws it wherever you put it — a landing page, a sidebar, a block template.

Can the bar show before the customer has added anything?

Yes, if you want it to. Tick “An empty cart” under Where it appears and a customer with nothing in their basket is shown the whole amount to spend. It is off to begin with, because the mini-cart sits in the header on most themes and that would put the offer on every page of your site.

Does the bar move as the customer shops?

Yes. Adding to the cart, changing a quantity, removing a line and applying a coupon all redraw the bar without reloading the page.

My side cart does not show the bar. Can I fix that?

Usually there is nothing to fix: a side cart built on WooCommerce’s own mini-cart shows the bar already, so start by ticking the mini-cart under Where it appears. If it still does not appear, that side cart has written its own basket and the plugin has no way to know where inside it the bar should go. Ask its author which hook it fires before listing the items, then add that name with a small snippet:

add_filter( 'fsbwc_mini_cart_hooks', function ( $hooks ) { $hooks[] = 'the_hook_it_named'; return $hooks; } );

Will it block anyone from ordering?

No. A customer who has not reached the amount checks out as normal and pays for shipping. Nothing about the bar refuses an order.

One of my customers has asked their computer for less animation. Does the effect still move?

No. The effects respect the reduced-motion setting in the operating system, so the bar keeps its colours and stands still.

Does it work with High-Performance Order Storage?

Yes. Nothing is written to orders, so HPOS shops are fully supported.

What happens if I deactivate WooCommerce?

The plugin steps aside and shows a notice. It does not fatally error, and your settings are waiting when WooCommerce comes back.

Do I need an account or a licence?

No. It is free to use for as long as you like, needs no key, and never contacts PluginCity.