Free Shipping Bar: FAQ & Troubleshooting

Find answers to common questions and solutions to typical issues with the GroPulse Free Shipping Bar app.

Table of Contents

• General Questions
• Setup & Installation
• Configuration
• Display Issues
• Features & Functionality
• Billing & Plans
• Technical Issues

General Questions

What is GroPulse Free Shipping Bar?

GroPulse Free Shipping Bar is a Shopify app that displays customizable shipping progress bars on your store. These bars show customers how close they are to earning free shipping, encouraging them to add more items to their cart and increase your average order value.

How does the free shipping bar work?

The bar compares the customer’s cart total to your configured free shipping threshold. It displays:

• An initial message when the cart is empty
• A progress message showing how much more they need to spend
• A success message when they qualify for free shipping

The visual progress bar fills up as customers add items, providing a gamified shopping experience.

Which bar types are available?

1. Top/Bottom Bar (Free Plan) – Fixed bar at page top or bottom
2. Product Page Bar (Growth Plan) – On product pages near Add to Cart
3. Cart Page Bar (Growth Plan) – On the cart page
4. Cart Drawer Bar (Growth Plan) – Inside sliding cart drawers

Does the bar actually enable free shipping?

No. The bar is a display/marketing tool that shows progress toward free shipping. You need to separately configure your actual free shipping threshold in Shopify’s shipping settings:

1. Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery
2. Set up free shipping rates with your threshold
3. Make sure the threshold matches what you set in the app

Setup & Installation

How do I install the app?

1. Visit the Shopify App Store
2. Search for "GroPulse Free Shipping Bar"
3. Click "Add app"
4. Approve the required permissions
5. The app is now installed

Why isn’t my shipping bar showing after installation?

There are two activation steps required:

1. App Embed Activation (for Top/Bottom Bar and Cart Drawer):
   • Go to the bar’s settings page
   • Click the "Activate" link
   • Enable the app embed in theme customizer
   • Save the theme
2. App Block Addition (for Product Page and Cart Page bars):
   • Go to the bar’s settings page
   • Click "Add to [Page]"
   • Position the block in theme customizer
   • Save the theme

How do I add the app block to my theme?

1. Open the GroPulse Free Shipping Bar app
2. Go to the bar type you want to configure
3. Look for the setup banner at the top
4. Click the "Add to [Page]" button
5. In the theme customizer, drag the block to your preferred position
6. Click Save

Do I need to modify any code?

No code modification is required. The app uses Shopify’s native app embeds and app blocks, which work with all Online Store 2.0 themes.

Configuration

What threshold should I set?

Set your threshold slightly above your average order value to encourage customers to add more items. For example:

• If your average order is $35, try a $50 threshold
• If your average order is $60, try a $75 threshold

Make sure this matches the free shipping threshold in your actual Shopify shipping settings.

What variables can I use in messages?

Examples:

• Initial: Free shipping on orders over {amount}!
• Progress: Add {remaining} more for FREE shipping!
• Success: You've unlocked free shipping!

Can I use different thresholds for different countries?

Currently, the app supports one threshold for all customers. You can use country targeting to show/hide the bar for specific countries, but the threshold remains the same.

How do I change the currency symbol?

The currency is automatically detected from your Shopify store settings. To change it:

1. Go to Shopify Admin > Settings > Store details
2. Check your store currency settings

Can I use custom fonts?

The app provides a selection of popular web-safe fonts. Custom font upload is not currently available, but the fonts work reliably across all browsers and devices.

Display Issues

The bar isn’t showing on my store

Checklist:

1. App Embed Activated?
   • Go to Online Store > Themes > Customize
   • Click the puzzle piece icon (App embeds)
   • Find and enable GP Free Shipping Bar
2. Bar Status Active?
   • Check the bar’s settings page
   • Make sure "Active" is selected
3. App Block Added? (for Product/Cart page bars)
   • Go to Theme Customizer
   • Navigate to the relevant template
   • Check if the app block is present
4. Cache Cleared?
   • Clear your browser cache
   • Try incognito/private mode
   • Some browsers aggressively cache
5. Targeting Settings?
   • Check device targeting (are you on excluded device?)
   • Check country targeting (is your country excluded?)
   • Check page targeting (are you on excluded page type?)

The bar shows but looks broken

1. Clear cache – Old styles may be cached
2. Check for CSS conflicts – Your theme may have conflicting styles
3. Try a different browser – To isolate the issue
4. Contact support – We can help with theme-specific issues

The bar overlaps with my theme’s header

For Top position bars:

1. Some themes have sticky headers
2. Try using Bottom position instead
3. Or adjust your theme’s header spacing
4. Contact support for specific guidance

Colors don’t match what I set

1. Make sure you saved your changes
2. Clear browser cache
3. Check if your theme has CSS that overrides colors
4. Some themes force certain color schemes

The progress bar shows wrong percentage

The progress is calculated based on:

• Customer’s actual cart total
• Your configured threshold

If it seems wrong:

1. Verify your threshold setting
2. Check if cart discounts are affecting the total
3. The preview slider is for testing only

Features & Functionality

How does the countdown timer work?

The countdown timer:

• Displays next to your shipping message
• Counts down from your set duration
• Resets when the page is refreshed
• Is hidden when free shipping goal is achieved
• Creates urgency but doesn’t track real offer expiration

How does scheduling work?

Scheduling allows you to show the bar only during specific times:

• Date Range: Between specific start and end dates
• Days of Week: Only on selected days
• Time-Based: Only during specific hours

All times are based on the timezone you select.

Does the bar update in real-time?

Yes! The bar updates automatically when:

• Items are added to cart
• Item quantities change
• Items are removed from cart

Some ajax cart implementations may have a slight delay.

Can I use multiple bar types together?

Yes, you can use all four bar types simultaneously. However, consider:

• Don’t overwhelm customers with too many bars
• Use consistent messaging and branding
• Some combinations may be redundant (e.g., Top Bar + Product Page Bar on product pages)

Does it work with multi-currency stores?

The app uses your store’s default currency. For multi-currency stores:

• Threshold is set in base currency
• Display will show in customer’s selected currency
• Conversion follows Shopify’s currency settings

Billing & Plans

What’s included in the Free plan?

• Top/Bottom Bar with all customization options
• Device targeting
• Country targeting
• Page targeting
• Live preview
• Unlimited impressions

What’s included in the Growth plan?

Everything in Free, plus:

• Product Page Bar
• Cart Page Bar
• Cart Drawer Bar
• Schedule Settings
• Countdown Timer

How do I upgrade my plan?

1. Open the app
2. Go to Pricing Plan (in the navigation)
3. Select the plan you want
4. Complete the Shopify billing process

Can I downgrade after upgrading?

Yes, you can change plans anytime:

1. Go to Pricing Plan
2. Select a different plan
3. Changes take effect at your next billing cycle

Note: If you downgrade from Growth to Free, you’ll lose access to premium bar types.

Is there a free trial for Growth features?

Check the app listing for current promotional offers or contact our support team.

Technical Issues

The app is loading slowly

1. Check your internet connection
2. Clear browser cache
3. Try a different browser
4. If persistent, contact support

Changes aren’t saving

1. Make sure you’re clicking the Save button
2. Check for error messages
3. Ensure you have a stable internet connection
4. Try logging out and back in
5. Clear browser cache

The preview doesn’t match my live store

The preview is a simulation. Differences may occur due to:

• Theme-specific styling
• Custom CSS on your store
• Browser differences

Always test on your actual store after saving changes.

Error messages when saving

Common causes:

• Session timeout (refresh and try again)
• Network issues
• Invalid data (check all fields are filled correctly)

If errors persist, note the error message and contact support.

The bar affects my page performance

The app is optimized for performance, but if you notice issues:

1. Check if you have many other apps installed
2. Test with the bar disabled to confirm it’s the cause
3. Contact support for optimization help

Troubleshooting by Bar Type

Top/Bottom Bar Issues

Product Page Bar Issues

Cart Page Bar Issues

Cart Drawer Bar Issues

Getting Help

In-App Support

Use the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the app for instant help.

Email Support

Contact us at support@gropulse.com

When Contacting Support, Please Include:

1. Your store URL
2. Which bar type you’re having issues with
3. Description of the problem
4. Any error messages you’ve seen
5. Screenshots if possible
6. Steps you’ve already tried

Helpful Resources

• Getting Started Guide
• Top/Bottom Bar Guide
• Product Page Bar Guide
• Cart Page Bar Guide
• Cart Drawer Bar Guide

Feature Requests

Have an idea for improving the app? We’d love to hear from you!

1. Use the in-app chat to share your idea
2. Email us at support@gropulse.com
3. Leave a review on the Shopify App Store with your suggestion

We regularly review feedback and update the app based on merchant needs.

Last updated: December 2024