Settings - General Tab

The General tab in Settings is where you configure basic preferences, measurement units, default rates, warehouse hours, and notification settings.

Accessing General Settings

How to access:

Click Settings in the left navigation menu
Click the General tab (first tab, selected by default)

What you'll see:

Current subscription plan info
Measurement units settings
Default/backup rates
Warehouse hours configuration
Notification preferences
Save Settings button

Settings Tabs

What they are: Tabs at the top of the Settings page to navigate between different settings sections.

Available tabs:

General: Basic preferences and defaults
Carriers: Carrier-specific settings
Billing & Plans: Subscription and payment settings
Integrations: ERP/WMS and fulfillment rules

How to use: Click a tab to switch to that settings section.

Current Plan Display

What it is: A box showing your current subscription plan information.

What it shows:

Plan name (e.g., "Current Plan: Starter")
Plan description
Manage Subscription button

How to use:

Review your current plan
Click Manage Subscription to go to Billing tab

What it means: Shows which subscription tier you're on, which determines available features.

Measurement Units

What it is: Choosing your preferred units for entering dimensions and weights.

Why it matters: Sets the default units used throughout the app when entering package dimensions.

Dimensions Unit

What it is: Unit system for package dimensions (length, width, height).

Options:

Centimetres (cm): Metric system
Inches (in): Imperial system

How to select:

Click the radio button for your preferred unit
Selection is saved when you click Save Settings

What it affects:

Default unit in booking modal
Dimension input fields
Saved package dimensions

Default: Centimetres (cm)

Weight Unit

What it is: Unit system for package weight.

Options:

Kilograms (kg): Metric system
Pounds (lb): Imperial system

How to select:

Click the radio button for your preferred unit
Selection is saved when you click Save Settings

What it affects:

Default unit in booking modal
Weight input fields
Saved package weights

Default: Kilograms (kg)

Note: You can still enter dimensions/weights in different units in the booking modal - this just sets the default.

Default / Backup Rates

What it is: Fallback shipping rates used when live carrier rates aren't available.

Why it's needed: Ensures you can always get a shipping quote even if carrier APIs are down or rates aren't available.

How it works:

Used as a safety net when carrier rates fail
Internal reference rates only (not charged to customers)
Helps with quote calculations when carrier data is missing

Domestic Backup Rate

What it is: Default rate for domestic (within Australia) shipments.

How to set:

Enter dollar amount in AUD (e.g., "9.95")
This is your estimated average domestic shipping cost
Click Save Settings

When it's used:

When carrier API is unavailable
When no carrier rates are returned
As a fallback for quote calculations

Example: Enter "9.95" for $9.95 default domestic rate.

International Backup Rate

What it is: Default rate for international shipments.

How to set:

Enter dollar amount in AUD (e.g., "24.95")
This is your estimated average international shipping cost
Click Save Settings

When it's used:

When carrier API is unavailable for international
When no international rates are returned
As a fallback for quote calculations

Example: Enter "24.95" for $24.95 default international rate.

Best practice: Set these to your average shipping costs so quotes are reasonable even when carrier rates aren't available.

Warehouse Open Hours

What it is: Configuring when your warehouses are open for carrier pickups.

Why it matters: Helps carriers know when they can collect shipments and sets service expectations.

How to configure:

For each day of the week, set:
- Opens: Opening time (e.g., "09:00")
- Closes: Closing time (e.g., "17:00")
- Closed: Checkbox if warehouse is closed that day
Click Save Settings

Days shown:

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Time format: 24-hour format (e.g., "09:00" for 9 AM, "17:00" for 5 PM)

Closed checkbox:

Check if warehouse is closed that day
When checked, opens/closes times are ignored

What it affects:

Carrier pickup scheduling
Service time calculations
Fulfillment time estimates

Example: Set Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00, Saturday 9:00-12:00, Sunday closed.

Notification Settings

What it is: Choosing which email notifications you want to receive.

Available notifications:

Order updates: Notifications when order status changes
Shipment confirmations: Notifications when shipments are booked
Balance warnings: Notifications when prepaid balance is low
Monthly limit alerts: Notifications when approaching monthly shipment limit

How to configure:

Check/uncheck notification checkboxes
Click Save Settings

What it affects: Which email notifications you receive from Pack to the Future.

Default: All notifications enabled.

Save Settings Button

What it does: Saves all changes made in the General tab.

How to use:

Make your changes (units, rates, hours, notifications)
Click Save Settings button at the bottom
Wait for confirmation

What happens:

All settings are saved
Success message appears
Changes take effect immediately

Unsaved changes warning: If you try to leave the page with unsaved changes, you'll see a browser warning banner.

When it's enabled: The Save Settings button appears on the General and Integrations tabs. The Billing & Plans and Carriers tabs don't have a Save Settings button as those changes are handled automatically or through other actions.

Note: Each tab (General, Integrations) has its own Save Settings button. Changes are saved independently for each tab.

Form Validation

What it is: Ensuring settings values are valid before saving.

Validation rules:

Rates: Must be positive numbers (can be decimals)
Times: Must be valid time format (HH:MM)
Units: Must be one of the available options

What happens if invalid:

Form won't submit
Error messages appear
Invalid fields are highlighted

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use different units in different parts of the app? A: The General settings set the default, but you can still enter dimensions in different units in the booking modal using the unit selector.

Q: What if I don't set backup rates? A: The app will still work, but quotes may fail if carrier APIs are unavailable. It's recommended to set reasonable backup rates.

Q: Do warehouse hours affect when I can book shipments? A: No, you can book shipments anytime. Hours are used for carrier pickup scheduling and service time calculations.

Q: Can I set different hours for different warehouses? A: Currently, warehouse hours are set globally. Different hours per warehouse may be available in future updates.

Q: What timezone are warehouse hours in? A: Hours are in your local timezone (based on your Shopify store settings).

Q: Can I disable all notifications? A: Yes, uncheck all notification checkboxes and save settings.

Q: Will I still see in-app notifications if I disable email notifications? A: Yes, email notifications are separate from in-app notifications and banners.

Q: What happens if I don't save settings? A: Changes are lost if you navigate away without saving. The browser may warn you about unsaved changes.

Q: Can I reset settings to defaults? A: There's no reset button, but you can manually change settings back to your preferred defaults.

Q: Do backup rates affect what customers see? A: No, backup rates are internal only. They're used when carrier rates aren't available, but live carrier rates are always preferred.