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Custom shipping options

Printed From: ProductCart E-Commerce Solutions
Category: ProductCart Build To Order
Forum Name: Customizing BTO
Forum Description: Interact with other users, resellers and developers about customizing BTO
URL: https://forum.productcart.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5785
Printed Date: 21-November-2024 at 8:06am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Custom shipping options
Posted By: LarryG
Subject: Custom shipping options
Date 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,


  1. All weights are dimensional (The product’s dimensions are used to determine this, something like L X W XH  divided by 66)

  2. If there is more than 1 package then each package needs to be calculated and the total combined

  3. Some postal code ranges have a delivery surcharge

  4. 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 ?


 





Replies:
Posted By: ProductCart
Date 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 http://www.productcart.com" rel="nofollow - shopping cart software


Posted By: LarryG
Date Posted: 21-January-2014 at 2:57pm

Great News, You just made my day, can't wait


Smile



Posted By: cpgmar
Date 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



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