Re: Magento 1.9.3.9 checkout error "please specify a shipping method"
Understand the Error: The “please specify a method” error occurs when Magento cannot detect a valid rate for the order, even if a method like Free is selected.
Check Method Configuration: Go to System → Configuration → Sales → Methods and ensure Free or other options are enabled, with proper conditions (minimum order amount, allowed countries, etc.).
Verify Quote Data: The issue often arises when the sales quote doesn’t have rates properly loaded. Check if the quote contains valid addresses.
Review Rates Calculation: Ensure collectRates() is being called before placing the order. Without this, Magento sees the rates as null, triggering the error.
Check the Address in Quote: Sometimes the address is missing or incomplete (missing postcode, region, or country). Ensure all required fields are set in the quote.
Clear Cache and Sessions: Magento caches rates like spike website. Clear var/cache, sessions, and reindex. This often resolves rate detection issues.
Check for Customizations: Any custom modules or spike related checkout modifications may interfere with rate calculation. Disable custom modules temporarily to test.
Enable Free Globally: Sometimes enabling Free for specific countries or conditions can fail. Test by enabling it globally without conditions.
Debug Logging: Enable Magento logs and inspect var/log/exception.log and var/log/system.log for errors during checkout; you might spot where rates fail to load.
Review Overrides in Quote.php: Custom hacks in sales/quote.php can break the flow. Ensure getAddress()->collectRates() is correctly called and no rate filtering blocks Free.
Test with Default Theme: Switch to Magento’s default theme temporarily. Custom checkout JS or templates can prevent proper rate selection (Spike checkout themes sometimes cause this).
Final Step – Reproduce & Debug: Reproduce the issue on a clean Magento 1.9.3.9 installation. Compare method configuration and quote behavior to identify why rates are null.
