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| Click Here to view our Training Video covering the Shipping and Tax sections |
Shipping Methods
From the Store Settings dropdown, click on "Shipping Methods".
The "Shipping Methods" table contains all
of the available shipping methods you support. You may configure
the current list of shipping methods by setting the "Active"
field to "Y" to enable the shipping method or "N"
to disable it. DO NOT DELETE
SHIPPING METHODS.
You may add additional shipping methods if needed. The shipping methods
will be listed in the dropdown menu of available shipping choices
for the customer.
When editing shipping methods, you may change the "Shipping
Method Name" fields, but DO NOT change
the "Shipping
Method" field, which is used by the LIVE shipping calculation
system.
Available Shipping Calculation Systems:
| LIVE |
This calculation system works by direct
communication with shipping companies, including UPS, FedEx,
USPS and DHL, to give the customer an accurate shipping rate
based on the total weight of the order, as well as the customer's
shipping address.
You may modify the "shipping method name" field for each record.
For example, by default the "UPS Ground" shipping method is titled "UPS
Ground". However, you may rename this "shipping method name" to "Regular
Ground Shipping" if you'd perfer. Just remember that may you NOT change
the "Shipping Method" field.
UPS and USPS require you to register with them in order to use our "Live
Shipping Rate Lookup" feature. There are no costs involved. To register
with these companies, go to the home page of your area and click on "Set & Test
Shipping Rates". This page displays instructions to follow in order
to register with these shipping companies.
Please note that all LIVE rates are the same rates you'd get by going to
the shipping company's website (such as UPS.com) and getting a rate quote.
If you've negotiated with UPS for a lower rate than normal, this LIVE connection
CANNOT get your specific rates, as the shipping company's interfaces do not
allow for this. However, we do offer ways to adjust these live rates. For
example, if you get 5% off the normal rates, you can use the variable "Config_ExtraShippingCostPercent" and
set it to "-5" to adjust all LIVE rates down by 5%. Also, please
be aware that the other fields on this "Setup & Test Shipping Rates" page
are important factors that influence the rates, such as the pickup type of "Daily
Pickup" vs. "One-Time Pickup".
FedEx-Specific Notes:
The variable "EnableShippingRates_Residential" toggles between
two different shipping methods offered by FedEx:
FedEx Home Delivery
FedEx Ground
If the variable "EnableShippingRates_Residential" is enabled, you
cannot offer FedEx Ground. If the variable is disabled, you cannot offer
FedEx Home Delivery. FedEx Ground is only a service to business addresses,
whereas Home Delivery is the name of the same service to residential addresses.
The price varies just slightly.
If a LIVE shipping company's web service is unavailable at anytime for any
reason( for example if USPS doesn't respond with any rates), your store will
revert to using the "BaseRate" and "CostPerPound" fields of the shipping
method, which normally have no affect on the LIVE calculation. The "BaseRate"
would be $10.00 for example, and then the "CostPerPound" can be $2.00 for
example. So, on a five pound order, the shipping rate would be $20.00.
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| BACKUP |
This calculation system is very flexible.
You can incorporate a combination of rules to determine pricing,
such as rules based on OrderPrice, ShipTo Location, Weight,
etc. You can read more about "ByOrderPrice" and "Apply
To Locations" later in this tutorial. let's begin by discussing
the "BaseRate" and "CostPerPound" values which apply only to
this "BACKUP" system.
The BACKUP system uses the following fields in particular:
BaseRate - A flat fee for the shipment, for example $10.00
CostPerPound - A fee multiplied by the weight of the order,
for example $2.00.
Using the parameters above the shipping rate for a five-pound order, the shipping rate would
be $20.00.
Setting up an Example BaseRate + CostPerPound Scenario:
Let's say you want to offer Three shipping choices for your customers.
To do this, you'll only need to make three shipping methods as follows:
| Shipping Method |
BaseRate |
CostPerPound |
| Ground |
$10.00 |
$2.00 |
| 2nd Day |
$20.00 |
$2.75 |
| Next Day |
$37.00 |
$3.50 |
STEP 1:
1) Create a new shipping method (or change an existing method) with the following
values:
2) Set the "System" to "BACKUP".
3) Set the "ShippingMethodID" to any unique number such as 1001.
4) Set the "Shipping Method Name" to "Ground".
5) Enable the "Shipping Method Active" checkbox.
5) Enable the "Apply To All" checkbox.
6) Set the "BaseRate" to $10.00, and set the "CostPerPound" to
$2.00.
STEP 2:
1) Create a new shipping method (or change an existing method) with the following
values:
2) Set the "System" to "BACKUP".
3) Set the "ShippingMethodID" to any unique number such as 1002.
4) Set the "Shipping Method Name" to "2nd Day".
5) Enable the "Shipping Method Active" checkbox.
5) Enable the "Apply To All" checkbox.
6) Set the "BaseRate" to $20.00, and set the "CostPerPound" to
$2.75.
STEP 3:
1) Create a new shipping method (or change an existing method) with the following
values:
2) Set the "System" to "BACKUP".
3) Set the "ShippingMethodID" to any unique number such as 1003.
4) Set the "Shipping Method Name" to "Next Day ".
5) Enable the "Shipping Method Active" checkbox.
5) Enable the "Apply To All" checkbox.
6) Set the "BaseRate" to $37.00, and set the "CostPerPound" to
$3.50.
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| Free |
This system is triggered whenever an order
qualifies for "FREE SHIPPING". An order qualifies
for free shipping if:
(1) The order subtotal, before tax and
shipping, is greater than or equal to the "Config_FreeShippingQualifyPrice"
value. For example, you may give free shipping on all orders
over $99.00 by setting this "Config_FreeShippingQualifyPrice"
variable to "99.00".
(2) All of the products in
an order are marked as "FREE SHIPPING ITEMS".
Whenever this system is triggered, it adds this method to the
shipping choices menu simply as an additional choice. You may
only have one record in your "Shipping Methods" table
that is assigned to the "Free" system, which by default
is:
| ID |
Shipping Method Name |
| 500 |
Free Shipping (7 Day Ground) |
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| Download |
This system is triggered whenever an order's
total weight is ZERO. This can be used for software sales which
are distributed to the customer via digital download. Cost is
always $0.
You may only have one record in your "Shipping Methods"
table that is assigned to the "Download" system, which
by default is:
| ID |
Shipping Method Name |
| 501 |
NONE |
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| Pickup |
This system is used by your store's Point-Of-Sale System. Cost is always $0.
You may only have one record in your "Shipping Methods"
table that is assigned to the "Pickup" system, which
by default is:
| ID |
Shipping Method Name |
| 502 |
In-Store Pickup |
Also, the "Pickup" method ALWAYS shows up if you're logged in as an istrator, regardless of whether or not this shipping method is enabled in your system.
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Calculating By Order Price:
This example shows how to set up shipping rates based on the subtotal of the order.
Let's make this example for setting up the
following price chart:
| Min Order Price |
Max Order Price |
Shipping Charge |
| $0 |
$50 |
$10.00 |
| $50.01 |
$100 |
$25.00 |
| $100.01 |
|
$40.00 |
STEP 1:
1) Create a new shipping method (or change an existing method) with the following
values:
2) Set the "System" to "BACKUP".
3) Set the "ShippingMethodID" to any unique number such as 1004.
4) Set the "Shipping Method Name" to "Standard Shipping".
5) Enable the "Shipping Method Active" checkbox.
5) Enable the "Apply To All" checkbox.
6) Set the "Minimum Order Price" to $0.00, and set the "Maximum
Order Price" to $50.00.
7) Set the "BaseRate" to $10.00.
STEP 2:
1) Create a new shipping method (or change an existing method) with the following
values:
2) Set the "System" to "BACKUP".
3) Set the "ShippingMethodID" to any unique number such as 1002.
4) Set the "Shipping Method Name" to "Standard Shipping".
5) Enable the "Shipping Method Active" checkbox.
5) Enable the "Apply To All" checkbox.
6) Set the "Minimum Order Price" to $50.01, and set the "Maximum
Order Price" to $100.00.
7) Set the "BaseRate" to $25.00.
STEP 3:
1) Create a new shipping method (or change an existing method) with the following
values:
2) Set the "System" to "BACKUP".
3) Set the "ShippingMethodID" to any unique number such as 1002.
4) Set the "Shipping Method Name" to "Standard Shipping".
5) Enable the "Shipping Method Active" checkbox.
5) Enable the "Apply To All" checkbox.
6) Set the "Minimum Order Price" to $100.01, and leave the "Maximum
Order Price" blank.
7) Set the "BaseRate" to $40.00.
As you'll notice above, we named all methods the same "Standard Shipping". You
can repeat the steps again to create another set of 3 methods all named "Rush
Delivery 2nd Day" for example and the "BaseRate" set to a higher
price for each method of course.
Applying Shipping Rates to certain locations:
To setup different shipping methods for each location, you'll be utilizing the
following fields of the Shipping Methods table:
| ApplyToAll |
This field means the shipping method is applied to
ALL locations |
| ApplyTo CountryID(s) |
Type in the CountryID, or multiple CountryID(s) seperated
by commas, which you can find by selecting "Edit Countries" from the Store Settings dropdown. |
| ApplyTo StateID(s) |
Type in the StateID, or multiple StateID(s) seperated
by commas, which you can find by selecting "Edit States" from the Store Settings Dropdown. |
| DoNotApplyTo CountryID(s) |
Type in the CountryID, or multiple CountryID(s) seperated
by commas, which you can find by selecting "Edit Countries"from the Store Settings dropdown. |
| DoNotApplyTo StateID(s) |
Type in the StateID, or multiple StateID(s) seperated
by commas, which you can find by selecting "Edit States" from the Store Settings dropdown. |
The following example shows how to setup shipping rates based on the the location of the
customer.
| Country |
ApplyToAll |
ApplyTo
CountryID |
ApplyTo
StateID |
DoNotApplyTo
CountryID |
DoNotApplyTo
StateID |
| United States - Continental |
N |
234 |
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2,11 |
| United States - Alaska & Hawaii |
N |
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2,11 |
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| Canada |
N |
37 |
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| Other Countries |
Y |
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234,34 |
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Please note that you should NOT contradict the ApplyTo side
or the DoNotApplyTo side with itself. For example the following combinations
are INCORRECT and
will cause problems: The reason is because "234" is United States, and "2,11"
is Alaska and Hawaii. But if you apply a shipping method to "234" United States
then that already applies it to Alaska and Hawaii automatically. Therefore you
do not need to put "2,11" in the apply to.
ApplyTo
CountryID |
ApplyTo
StateID |
DoNotApplyTo
CountryID |
DoNotApplyTo
StateID |
| 234 |
2,11 |
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234 |
2,11 |
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Troubleshooting Live Shipping Rates
If the shipping rates returned by the system are either higher or lower than you expected, there are a few things to check to. The best place to do all your testing is to go to the home page of the area and click "Setup & Test Shipping Rates".
1) The first thing to do is scroll down to the bottom and click "Save Changes". The page will reload and calculate shipping rates. Then scroll back down to the very bottom, where you'll now see a tan colored box with the FROM and TO addresses. Verify that both the FROM and TO addresses are.
(a) One issue to check is that they spelled the state code correctly. For example CA or California. If they type the complete state name, you'll need to verify that you have that state name in your "States" table. To check, go from the home page of your area to "Edit States / Provinces". That will show you all registerred state names and related state codes. You can add additional states for other countries as well by clicking the "ADD" tab at the top of the page.
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Extra Shipping / Handling Cost
To add an additional cost to all shipping rates, modify
the configuration variable "Config_ExtraShippingCost". This
cost, (for example 5.00) will be added to all shipping choices (except
shipping choices which are $0).
You may also specify an additional weight to be added to each order,
for example if you ship catalogs with each order. To do this, simply
modify the value of the "Config_ExtraShippingWeight" variable.
For example to add 5 pounds to each order's shipping calculation,
set this variable to "5". |
Multiple Warehouses
To account for split-shipment fees incurred when orders
must be shipped from multiple warehouses, due to the fact that some
of your products are only stocked in certain warehouses, use the
Product table's "warehouse" field to assign each product
to one or more warehouses (separated by commas, no spaces). During
shipping calculation, your store will calculate the most efficient
shipping schedule to minimize the number of warehouses you must ship
from. If the calculation determines that the order will have to be
shipped from more than one warehouse, it will add a base rate to
each shipping cost. The base rate you can define for each shipping
method in the "Shipping Methods" table. For example you
may set the base rate for UPS Ground to $10.00, while you will want
to set the base rate for UPS Overnight to a higher value such as $40.00.
The base rate should usually be equal to the cost to ship a 1 pound
item.
When processing an order, in the istration area, you will see
which warehouse each product has been assigned to. This assignment
is simply what was used when determining the shipping costs, and is
only for your reference. It is not used by your store in any other
way.
How to assign warehouses to your products:
1) From the home page of the area, click "View All Products", then click to edit an individual product.
2) In the field titled "Warehouse(s)" you can type a list of warehouse codes seperated by commas.
How do I know what the warehouse code is?
Unlike most feature of our store, there is not seperate table that store's warehouse information. What you'll do is simply make up codes for your warehouse. If you only have a few warehouses, you can simply name them "CA","NY","TX" and so on. The state has nothing to do with it, you can name them "1","2","3" if you'd like. This multiple warehouse system simply looks for how many different warehouses the order must be shipped from.
So if you type "CA,NY" (no quotes) into a product Warehouse(s) field, this means that the product can ship from warehouse CA or warehouse NY. So during checkout the system will check all products in the cart and determine if maybe all the products can ship from the CA warehouse, then there would be no split-shipping charge. However let's say your order contains a variety of products and it turns out that you'll have to ship them from 5 warehouses, then 4 base rate charges will be added to the cost of shipping.
NOTE: To use this warehouse feature, you must enable the configuration
variable "Config_EnableWarehouses". |
Optimizing your Drop-Shipping Shipping Calculation
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Using the following recommendations will ensure the most accurate shipping calculation for companies that have drop-ship suppliers distributed across the United States.
Set your store's ORIGIN shipping location to "Billings, MT 59107":
1) From the homepage of your area, click "Setup & Test Shipping Rates".
2) Under the section "Your Origin - For Shipping Rate calculation" fill in "Billings, MT 59107".
3) Click Save Changes.
This origin is the ideal origin because it is the most equal distance from everyone in the United States. The majority of the United States population is on the either the far west coast near California, or the east cost, or the southern states. See the following US Census Map of Population distribution in the US (2003): http://www.census.gov/popest/gallery/maps/perdis_s5.html
Billings is a city located in the southern center of Montana. Since we're using a location in MT, here's a drilldown map of the population distribution within the state of Montana: http://nris.state.mt.us/gis/gisdatalib/downloads/dens2000.gif
We also recommend to change your "ExtraShippingCost_Percentage" to 15 to add a minimal 15% extra cost to all calculations. This is due to the fact that choosing MT puts your origin closer to most locations.
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