The Instant courier (such as GoSend, GrabExpress, and Lalamove) is a delivery service that relies on on-demand couriers to deliver goods quickly. However, in some cases, the instant courier option may not appear in the API response or on the website checkout page. This can be caused by various technical and operational factors. This article will discuss the main causes and solutions to resolve this issue.
1. Delivery Location Not Supported by the Courier
Cause:
Instant couriers are only available in certain areas supported by each service (for example, major cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, and Bandung). If the destination address is outside their service area, the instant courier option will not appear.
Solution:
- Ensure the origin and destination addresses are within the courier’s service coverage area.
- Check the list of regions supported by couriers such as GoSend, GrabExpress, or Lalamove.
- Use the Check Coverage API from Biteship to verify whether the address can be reached by the instant courier.
2. Instant Courier Service Not Enabled in API or Shopify Settings
Cause:
If the instant courier service is not enabled in Biteship API settings or not configured in Shopify, this option will not appear in the API response or checkout page.
Solution:
-
For Biteship API:
- Log in to the Biteship Dashboard → Courier Settings.
- Make sure the instant courier service is enabled.
- Sync Origin Address, ensure you have synced your Shopify address with Biteship to ensure smooth origin location points.
-
For Shopify:
- Go to Settings → Shipping and Delivery.
- Ensure Instant Courier is available in the shipping options connected to Biteship.
- Perform a resync or refresh the checkout page after making changes.
3. Package Weight or Dimensions Do Not Meet Courier Requirements
Cause:
Instant couriers have weight and dimension limits for packages they can deliver. If the item exceeds these limits, the courier service will not be available.
| Courier | Maximum Weight | Maximum Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| GoSend | 20 kg | 70 x 50 x 50 cm |
| GrabExpress | 20 kg | 50 x 50 x 50 cm |
| Lalamove | 50 kg (motorcycle), 200 kg (car) | Varies |
Solution:
- Check the weight and dimensions of the product at the location.
- If the item exceeds the limits, consider using a regular courier or cargo service.
- For more detailed information about courier services, you can see the link here
4. Shopify or Biteship API Rate Limit Exceeded
Cause:
If there are too many API requests in a short time, Biteship may limit the API response, causing shipping options not to appear.
Solution:
- Reduce excessive API polling. Use caching mechanisms or webhooks to get rate updates.
- Wait for a while, then try again.
- Ensure you do not exceed the Biteship API rate limit (for example, 1000 requests per minute in production).
5. API Response Error or Synchronization Failure
Cause:
If there is an error in communication between Shopify and the Biteship API, the instant courier service may not appear.
Solution:
- Check the API response logs in the Biteship Dashboard or use Postman to test the API response manually.
- If you get a 500 (Internal Server Error) or 429 (Too Many Requests) error, try again after some time.
- Contact support@biteship.com if the problem persists.
6. Instant Courier Delivery Distance Limit Exceeded
Cause:
Instant couriers have a maximum delivery distance limit. If the destination address is outside the radius set by the courier, the shipping option will not be available.
| Courier | Maximum Delivery Distance |
|---|---|
| GoSend | 20 km |
| GrabExpress | 20 km |
| Lalamove | City-based limit |
Solution:
- Make sure the distance between pickup and destination locations does not exceed the specified limit.
- If needed, use instant delivery with larger vehicles, such as cars or vans through Lalamove.
- Another alternative is to use same-day or next-day delivery services if the distance is too far for instant couriers.
- For more detailed information about courier services, you can see the link here
7. Instant Courier Service Not Available at That Time
Cause:
Some instant services like GoSend and GrabExpress have a limited number of couriers. If no couriers are available in a certain area, the service may not appear in the API response or checkout.
Solution:
- Make sure couriers are available by checking directly from the respective courier application.
- Retry the request after a few minutes or try during different operating hours.
8. Shipping Options Not Linked to Checkout Zones in Plugin
Cause:
If Shopify shipping zones are not configured correctly, the instant courier option will not appear at checkout.
Solution:
- Go to your plugin settings, ensure the shipping zones are set correctly.
- Make sure Instant Courier is included in the shipping methods available in the customer’s shipping zone.
Conclusion
If the instant courier service does not appear in the API response or Shopify checkout page, check the following factors:
✅ Check the courier service area coverage
✅ Ensure the courier service is enabled in API and Shopify
✅ Check package weight and dimension limits
✅ Make sure the API does not exceed rate limits
✅ Ensure courier service is available at that time
✅ Check shipping zones in Shopify
If you still experience issues, please contact support@biteship.com for further assistance.