Since Ambaum supports a number of automotive brands we often get asked how best to handle core charges on their Shopify site.
So what is a Core Charge?
A core charge is a refundable deposit added when purchasing certain automotive parts like batteries, EGR coolers, or fuel injectors. This charge ensures you return your old part for remanufacturing. For example, when buying a $235 fuel injector, you'll pay an additional $25 core charge. You receive the full $25 back when you return your old injector within the specified timeframe. This system supports recycling and keeps remanufactured parts available while reducing waste.
Ambaum can customize the cart page, forcing the user to checkout with the core charge. We can make it so the customer is unable to just remove the core charge product, it would also remove the parent product from the cart as well.
When you set up core charges for your site, it is best to think about them as separate products and not just a line item service charge. You also want to be able to associate each core charge with the parent product so there is a relationship between them. This is important on the back end when you need to collect and remit your core charges to state agencies like the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDFTA) as well as makes it quick and easy to handle refunding the customer the core charge amount when they send it in.
If you are looking for examples of core charges on sites Ambaum has worked on check out the following product detail pages for examples:
You will see the most common implementation is to clearly identify on the product detail page that a core charge will be added and then when you add the product to your cart you will see the additional charge on a separate line item.
