Custom shipping options

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Trying to find a solution for accuratley determining shipping costs with FedEx in Canada as it doesn't work now and ProductCart seems to have no intention of addressing the issue.
The problem I have with the custom shipping
options in ProductCart is that they completely ignore locations in determining
shipping costs. The returned rate for shipping a product down the street would
be the same as shipping it to the Arctic Circle. You can enter any address in
the “estimate shipping charges” and you get the same result ( you don't even have to enter an address you can enter anything. Once a customer
pays for an order it’s not pleasant to go back and tell them shipping will be 2
-5 times the amount indicated and already paid for even if you have all kinds of disclaimers. Getting pre-authorizations
on the credit card and then having to figure out the exact shipping, then manually processing the
credit card transaction seems to defeat the purpose of a shopping cart.

For FedEx at least, Canada is divided up
into 6 pricing Zones based on postal code ranges in each province. Some zones have
a higher shipping rate than others so there is a chart with rates ranging from
1-150 lbs.  and a different rate per lb.
for each of the 6 zones. The first 3 letters of a postal code determines which
rate zone to apply. For example, Postal codes starting  with B0A – BOE indicate Zone 6 so if the
package weighs 5 lbs then column 6 is referenced 5 rows down to the correct
shipping charge. So the postal code the customer enters for shipping needs to
be captured. 

The database for the rates would have 150
rows and 7 or 8 columns,

There are a few other variables,

All weights are dimensional (The product’s
dimensions are used to determine this, something like L X W XH  divided by 66)
If there is more than 1 package then each
package needs to be calculated and the total combined
Some postal code ranges have a delivery surcharge
Residential deliveries have a set
additional charge of 2.75  (there is
already an area in ProductCart that is set up to indicate commercial or
residential).

Is this something that would be ridiculously expensive to do ?

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LarryG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15-February-2013 Status: Offline Points: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote LarryG Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Custom shipping options Posted: 09-January-2014 at 9:53am
	Trying to find a solution for accuratley determining shipping costs with FedEx in Canada as it doesn't work now and ProductCart seems to have no intention of addressing the issue. The problem I have with the custom shipping options in ProductCart is that they completely ignore locations in determining shipping costs. The returned rate for shipping a product down the street would be the same as shipping it to the Arctic Circle. You can enter any address in the “estimate shipping charges” and you get the same result ( you don't even have to enter an address you can enter anything. Once a customer pays for an order it’s not pleasant to go back and tell them shipping will be 2 -5 times the amount indicated and already paid for even if you have all kinds of disclaimers. Getting pre-authorizations on the credit card and then having to figure out the exact shipping, then manually processing the credit card transaction seems to defeat the purpose of a shopping cart. For FedEx at least, Canada is divided up into 6 pricing Zones based on postal code ranges in each province. Some zones have a higher shipping rate than others so there is a chart with rates ranging from 1-150 lbs. and a different rate per lb. for each of the 6 zones. The first 3 letters of a postal code determines which rate zone to apply. For example, Postal codes starting with B0A – BOE indicate Zone 6 so if the package weighs 5 lbs then column 6 is referenced 5 rows down to the correct shipping charge. So the postal code the customer enters for shipping needs to be captured. The database for the rates would have 150 rows and 7 or 8 columns, There are a few other variables, All weights are dimensional (The product’s dimensions are used to determine this, something like L X W XH divided by 66) If there is more than 1 package then each package needs to be calculated and the total combined Some postal code ranges have a delivery surcharge Residential deliveries have a set additional charge of 2.75 (there is already an area in ProductCart that is set up to indicate commercial or residential). Is this something that would be ridiculously expensive to do ?

ProductCart Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group ProductCart Team Joined: 01-October-2003 Status: Offline Points: 135	Post Options Post Reply Quote ProductCart Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21-January-2014 at 2:36pm
	Hi Larry, We are currently in the middle of an extensive process to update ProductCart's certification with FedEx Web Services (based on their latest APIs). The new integration will be included in ProductCart v5 (scheduled for release within a few months), and will support Canadian merchants (i.e. shipments originating from an address within Canada). There'll be many enhancements, such as support for the FedEx Freight API, ETDs (Electronic Trade Documents) and much more. Please look for more information about the new version on our Web site over the coming weeks.
	The ProductCart Team Home of ProductCart shopping cart software

LarryG Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 15-February-2013 Status: Offline Points: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote LarryG Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21-January-2014 at 2:57pm
	Great News, You just made my day, can't wait

cpgmar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04-December-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote cpgmar Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 19-November-2014 at 6:23pm
	I understand that UPS is making major changes as of the first of 2015 and the dimension of the box will make a big difference in charges on lighter weight packages. For example, a large box weighing 15 lbs. can be charged as 30 lbs. if the dimensions say that is what that box should weigh based on its size. It is called dim weight and Fed Ex is going to this set up as well. How can we calculate this in either shipping settings when we can only enter one box size in the settings. Will there be any new changes to the UPS API soon? Will dim charges be accommodated somehow?
	Cindy The Tasteful Garden www.tastefulgarden.com