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# Shipping Insurance Widget

## Important: What This Feature Does

The Shipping Insurance Widget allows customers to add a shipping insurance charge to their order. **This widget only collects payment - it does not provide actual insurance coverage.**
You are responsible for:

* Arranging actual insurance coverage with your shipping carrier or insurance provider
* Handling any claims or lost shipment issues
* Ensuring compliance with local laws regarding insurance charges

This widget simply adds a product to the customer's cart at a price you set, allowing you to collect funds to cover your insurance costs.

## What is the Shipping Insurance Widget?

The widget displays a toggle switch on your storefront (typically on the cart page) that allows customers to add shipping insurance to their order. When toggled on, it adds a shipping insurance product to their cart at the amount you specify.

## Setting Up the Widget

### Step 1: Create the Insurance Product

1. Navigate to **Widgets > Shipping Insurance**
2. Click **Create Insurance Product**
3. If prompted, approve additional permissions to allow Postcode Shipping to create products in your catalog
4. The app creates a product called "Shipping Insurance" with 100 variants (representing amounts from 1 to 100 in your store currency)

**Note:** This product appears in your product catalog by default. If you only want it used through the widget, set the product to "Unlisted" status in Shopify to hide it from your storefront.

### Step 2: Set Your Insurance Amount

1. On the Shipping Insurance settings page, enter the amount to charge for insurance
2. Enter a whole number between 1 and 100 (in your store's currency)
3. Click **Save**

**Examples:**

* USD store: Enter `5` for $5.00
* GBP store: Enter for £3.00 `3`
* EUR store: Enter `8` for €8.00

### Step 3: Add the Widget to Your Theme

1. Click **Add widget to theme** (or navigate to Shopify theme editor)
2. In the theme editor, navigate to your cart template
3. Click **Add block** and select **Shipping Insurance Widget** under Apps
4. Customize the widget text and styling in the sidebar
5. Click **Save**

The widget appears on your cart page immediately.

## Configuring Widget Text

**Toggle Label**

Default: "Add shipping protection"
The main label customers see. The insurance amount automatically appears after this text.

**Help Text - Before Insurance Added**

Default: "Protect your order during transit by adding shipping insurance."
Text displayed when insurance is not added. Explain why customers should add insurance.

**Help Text - After Insurance Added**

Default: "Your order is insured during transit."
Confirmation text displayed when insurance is toggled on.

**Shipping Insurance Policy Link**

**Highly recommended:** Add a link to a page explaining your insurance policy.

This page should explain:

* What your insurance covers
* How customers file claims for lost or damaged items
* Your claims process and timeline
* Any coverage limitations

Customers need to understand how to use the insurance they're purchasing.

**Example policy link text:** "Learn more", "View policy", "Claims process"

## Styling the Widget

Customize appearance to match your theme:

**Box styles:**

* Border radius, width, and color
* Background color
* Spacing above and below

**Element styles:**

* Text color
* Primary theme color (toggle switch)
* Element corners

All styling previews live in the theme editor. No coding required.

For additional customization not available in the theme editor, contact support.

## How Customers Use the Widget

1. Customer views cart page with items requiring shipping
2. Widget displays with toggle switch and help text
3. Customer clicks toggle to add insurance
4. Insurance product adds to cart at configured amount
5. Page refreshes showing updated cart total
6. Customer can toggle off to remove insurance

The widget remembers the toggle state during the browsing session.

## Widget Behavior

**Widget appears when:**

* Cart contains at least one item requiring shipping
* Customer is on a page where the widget is placed

**Widget hides when:**

* Cart is empty
* Cart contains only digital/non-shippable items

**Toggle state:**

* When insurance is added, toggle stays in "on" position
* Customer can toggle off to remove the insurance charge
* State persists as customer browses your store

## Changing the Insurance Amount

To change the insurance charge:

1. Navigate to **Widgets > Shipping Insurance**
2. Enter new amount (1-100)
3. Click **Save**

The widget updates automatically. No need to modify the theme or widget settings.

## Creating Your Insurance Policy Page

You should create a page explaining your shipping insurance policy. Include:

**What's Covered**

* Lost packages
* Damaged items during transit
* Stolen packages (if applicable)

**How to File a Claim**

* Contact information
* Required documentation (photos, receipts, tracking numbers)
* Timeline for filing claims

**Claims Process**

* How you investigate claims
* Expected resolution timeframe
* How refunds or replacements are handled

**Limitations**

* Items not covered
* Maximum claim amounts
* Exclusions or conditions

Link to this page in the widget's policy link settings.

## Best Practices

### Be Transparent

Make it clear that insurance is optional and explain what it covers. Customers should understand they're paying for protection against shipping issues.

### Set Fair Pricing

Insurance should cover your actual costs (carrier insurance fees, self-insurance costs, or third-party insurance). Don't use this as a profit center - keep customer trust.

### Honor Your Policy

If customers pay for insurance, honor claims according to your policy. Handle claims promptly and fairly.

### Create a Clear Policy

Write a detailed insurance policy page and link to it in the widget. Customers need to know how to use the coverage they've purchased.

### Test the Widget

Before launch:

1. Add items to your cart
2. Toggle insurance on and verify it adds to cart
3. Check the amount matches your settings
4. Toggle off and verify it removes from cart
5. Complete a test order to ensure insurance processes correctly

## Important Reminders

### This is Not Actual Insurance

The widget collects payment but provides no insurance coverage. You must arrange actual coverage separately through:

* Your shipping carrier's insurance options
* Third-party shipping insurance providers
* Self-insurance (setting aside funds to cover losses)

### You Handle Claims

When customers file claims, you are responsible for investigating and resolving them according to your policy.

### Legal Compliance

Ensure your insurance offering complies with local laws and regulations regarding:

* Consumer protection
* Insurance licensing requirements
* Disclosure requirements
* Refund obligations

Consult legal counsel if unsure about your obligations.

### Update Your Policy Page

Keep your insurance policy page current. If you change coverage, claims process, or terms, update the page immediately.

## Troubleshooting

### Widget Doesn't Appear

* Verify your theme supports app blocks (Online Store 2.0 themes)
* Check the widget is added in the theme editor
* Ensure cart contains shippable items
* Verify widget is placed on the correct template

### Can't Create Insurance Product

* Check if permission request appeared and was approved
* If you declined permissions, try again and approve when prompted
* Contact support if product creation fails after approving permissions

### Toggle Doesn't Work

* Ensure insurance product exists in your catalog
* Verify product hasn't been deleted or archived
* Check browser console for errors (or contact support)

### Wrong Amount Showing

* Verify the amount set in **Widgets > Shipping Insurance** matches your intention
* Remember: Amount is in your store's base currency without decimal separators (enter `5` for $5.00, not `500`)