May 13, 2023

Checkout on Facebook/Instagram or Shopify - Which is the best?

By Veronica Jeans, Shopify Queen

Check out on Facebook or Instagram

 Message in your Facebook & Instagram sales channel in the Shopify store:

"Beginning April 24, 2024, only shops with checkout on Facebook and Instagram will be supported

To build a seamless shopping experience for people that helps businesses of all sizes grow, beginning in April 24, 2024, we will only continue supporting Facebook and Instagram Shops with checkout enabled. To get ahead of these changes, enable checkout on Facebook and Instagram today."

 

 

** If a customer is shopping on your store's Facebook page or Instagram account, then they can select Buy now to purchase products directly on Facebook or Instagram.

  • The customer's payment and shipping details are saved securely for future purchases.
  • Instagram users can tag your products in their own posts, which lets other customers purchase the product directly from those posts.
  • Facebook and Instagram can send push notifications, countdowns, and product stickers to help drive sales of your next product release.
  • Facebook and Instagram can enable ad retargeting at all points of your customer's journey.
  • On July 1, 2023, Meta will remove the 5% selling fee per shipment. However, payment processing fees will still apply and will now be charged by Shopify directly.
    • If you are using Shopify Payments, then you will be charged the same processing fees as your online store by Shopify.
    • If you are using Shop Pay for third-party gateways, then this will not impact the fees for your store’s existing processor.
  • If you want to sell directly on Facebook and Instagram, then you need to comply with Facebook's Commerce eligibility requirements. This includes requirements such as a minimum return window of 30 days.
  • Carrier-calculated shipping rates aren't available when customers check out on Facebook or Instagram.
  • Discounts created in your Shopify admin can be applied to sales made through checking out on Facebook or Instagram.
  • Subscriptions, pre-orders and try before you buy are unavailable when a customer checks out on Facebook or Instagram.
  • The only customer information that you receive from the order is the customer’s name, email address, and shipping address. Customer email addresses collected through checking out on Facebook and Instagram can only be used for marketing purposes if the customer opts in.
  • Your Facebook account needs to be connected to a bank account so that you can receive payments for orders placed on Facebook and Instagram. In your Shopify admin, click Settings > Payments, and then click Go to Facebook to enter or edit your bank account information on Facebook.
  • You need to add a return policy for orders placed on Facebook and Instagram.
  • When you set up shipping information, you need to set a standard shipping option in your Shopify admin Shipping settings. No custom shipping profiles.

Not in the USA:

  • If your products have the All prices include tax setting active, then your products can't be sold using Checkout on Facebook and Instagram.
  • If you sell internationally, then you can activate Dynamic tax-inclusive pricing to include or exclude taxes based on your customer's location.

Do we have a Choice?

The message from Shopify:

"Beginning April 24, 2024, only shops with checkout on Facebook and Instagram will be supported

To build a seamless shopping experience for people that helps businesses of all sizes grow, beginning in April 24, 2024, we will only continue supporting Facebook and Instagram Shops with checkout enabled. To get ahead of these changes, enable checkout on Facebook and Instagram today.

First, the Facebook and Instagram channel is going to change in April 2024. "

warning from Shopify about Facebook & Instagram stores - Veronica Jeans Shopify Queen and bestselling author

Review the following considerations for having your customers check out from your Shopify store:

  • If a customer is shopping on your store's Facebook page or Instagram account, then they can select View on website to be redirected to your Shopify store where they can complete their purchase.
  • You can customize your customer's online store checkout experience. These customizations include allowing discounts and subscriptions, custom branding and messaging, and pre-order options.
  • You can use enhanced shipping options, such as flat shipping rates and carrier calculated shipping rates.
  • There are lower selling fees. Selling fees are based on your Shopify store's plan.
  • Customers shopping directly from your online store means that your store gets more traffic, and can lead to larger purchases.
  • Orders placed on Facebook and Instagram must be fulfilled within 30 days. If you use a print-on-demand service, then you should choose Your Shopify Online Store as your checkout option because you don't directly control fulfillment times.
Ecommerce Facebook & Instagram Checkout Instagram Shopify