Plugin/Theme Conflicts with Conditional Shipping

Problem Description #

You set correct shipping conditions, but shipping methods still behave incorrectly, sometimes visible when they should be hidden, or hidden unpredictably. Suspect conflict with another plugin or theme.

Common symptoms:

• Conditions sometimes work, sometimes don’t (inconsistent).

• Checkout refresh or shipping method list fails to update after address/product change.

• JS errors in console, or shipping options disappear with caches/optimizers enabled.

Cause:
Because shipping method visibility is often manipulated via PHP backend and/or JS (to recalc on checkout), conflicts with caching plugins, JS minifiers, checkout optimizers, or themes with custom checkout can interfere. The plugin’s own troubleshooting FAQ lists plugin/theme conflict as a common reason for “Shipping Methods Not Displaying Correctly.” WPFactory+1

Solution – step‑by‑step #

1. Switch to a default theme and disable non‑essential plugins
   • Use a standard theme (e.g. Storefront / Twenty Twenty‑Three) and disable caching / optimization / checkout modification plugins.

   • Test shipping with a simple condition. If it works, conflict is confirmed.

2. Re‑enable plugins one by one and test after each
   • This helps isolate which plugin causes the issue (cache, performance, shipping‑class, or custom checkout plugin).

3. Ensure caching/optimization plugin excludes checkout & cart from cache
   • If using cache/CDN/minify, configure it so that cart, checkout, and shipping‑method fragments are never cached or minified.

4. Check checkout page JS for errors
   • Open DevTools → Console; look for JS errors that might block shipping method updates. Resolve or disable conflicting script.

5. Clear all caches (server, object, page, CDN) after changes
   • Some caching persists across sessions, ensure full purge before retesting.

6. If conflict present and unavoidable, consider alternative shipping plugin
   • If you rely heavily on conflicting plugin (e.g. custom checkout or optimization), evaluate whether it’s compatible or find alternative shipping/checkout solutions.
     

Prerequisites #

• Admin & possibly developer access. Ability to enable/disable plugins and switch themes.
  

Additional Notes / Prevention #

• Document any plugins that modify checkout/cart or shipping, maintain compatibility notes whenever you update WordPress or WooCommerce.

• For production stores, test plugin/theme updates on staging first.