Setting max weight for USPS

[ronlee67]

I need to restrict shipments via the USPS shipping module to less than 8 ounces per package.

The reason for this request has to do with some restricted (hazardous) items I ship. The postal service will only accept one bottle (flammable liquid container) per package. Since this product is only available in four ounce bottles that means I can only ship one four ounce bottle per package. The only USPS service option I will be using for my store is Parcel Post. All other products I sell in this store exceed the volume limits of/and are prohibited in the postal service.

Simply stated:
Maximum weight per package, USPS, is 8 ounces (this will be the product weight plus tare weight).
No effect on other shipping modules (UPS, FEDEX)

There are a couple of approaches I have considered:

1. Add functionality to /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php that would compute how many packages would be needed to ship x number of bottles and then multiply the quote by that number (similar to admin-> configuration-> Shipping/Packaging-> "Enter the Maximum Package Weight you will ship". This coding is likely to be extensive and the benefit of such resolution may not warrant that amount of work. For orders of 2 or more bottles, UPS pricing is more competitive. Having said that, this approach would take care of multi bottle orders to Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Alaska where USPS is the only option. (UPS Ground Service flies to these areas and air transport of these products is prohibited.)
2. A simpler method would be to simply place a limit on the maximum weight (8 ounces) to be shipped via the usps module. If a person orders more than 1 bottle, the weight will exceed this limit and the USPS quote will not be displayed, however UPS will still be displayed.

Currently I offer only UPS ground service for all products. Providing for USPS Parcel service for single bottle orders will lower the shipping costs for these customers.

I'm hoping someone can help me figure where to place the code within the usps.php file. This file configures admin, posts configurations in the mysql database, obtains quotes from usps and probably a number of other functions. I can come up with an if..else statement for approach #2 above, but I get lost within the usps.php file and can't figure where to place it.

Any help would be appreciated.

[NickJRE]

We are in the same boat as well, any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Ajeh]

You can edit the module at the function quote in the code something similar to:

  function quote($method = '') {
    // BOF: UPS USPS
    global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $transittime;

if ($shipping_weight <= 10) {
  echo 'I SEE just right ' . $shipping_weight;
} else {
  echo 'I SEE too much ' . $shipping_weight;
  return false;
}

[ronlee67]

You can edit the module at the function quote in the code something similar to:

  function quote($method = '') {
    // BOF: UPS USPS
    global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $transittime;
 
if ($shipping_weight <= 10) {
  echo 'I SEE just right ' . $shipping_weight;
} else {
  echo 'I SEE too much ' . $shipping_weight;
  return false;
}

Thanks Linda. I tried something similar but it didn't work. We need to disable the usps module earlier in the code. I have a solution and will post it here shortly.

Ron

[ronlee67]

RESOLVED
Goal:
To set a maximum shipping weight limit beyond which the usps module is disabled.
Problem:
Special situation where USPS regulations limit how much flammable liquid may be shipped in a package. Specifically, USPS limit is 16 ounces. Furthermore, only one container may be shipped in a package.
We sell 4 oz and 32 oz bottles of a flammable liquid. Obviously, 32 ounces cannot be shipped via USPS. In our case we can only use USPS to ship one 4 ounce bottle per package via Parcel Post. We used the weight of one bottle to determine when the customer has ordered more than one bottle.
To limit a USPS shipment to only one 4 oz bottle, we need to weigh the bottle (a bit over 4 ounces when you include the container). In our case it came to 0.26 lbs. Since two bottles would be 0.52 lbs we set the limit in between these two numbers.
Comments:
This solution has very limited application. If you have a variety of products with differing shipping limitations this solution may not be flexible enough to handle all cases. We only had one product that could go USPS and that product was limited to one bottle per package. Everything else we sell on this site must go UPS or FEDEX ground because they exceed the 16 ounce USPS limit and they are all flammable liquids.
Code changes:
/includes/modules/shipping/usps.php:
around line 58 find:

  function usps() {
    global $order, $db, $template;
    $this->code = 'usps';

change to:

  function usps() {
    global $order, $db, $template, $shipping_weight; 
    $this->code = 'usps';

around line 69 find:

 
// disable only when entire cart is free shipping
    if (zen_get_shipping_enabled($this->code)) {
      $this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false);
    }
    if ( ($this->enabled == true) && ((int)MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_ZONE > 0) ) {
      $check_flag = false;

change to:

 
// disable only when entire cart is free shipping or shipping weight exceeds store set limit
if (zen_get_shipping_enabled($this->code)) {
$this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false);
}
if ($shipping_weight >0.3){
$this->enabled = false;
}
if ( ($this->enabled == true) && ((int)MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_ZONE > 0) ) {
$check_flag = false;

If you wish to explain the limitation to your customers during checkout this can be done here:
/includes/languages/english/php; or
/includes/languages/[yourtemplatename]/english.php:
around line 545 find:

 
define('CART_SHIPPING_OPTIONS', 'Estimate Shipping Costs');

change to:

 define('CART_SHIPPING_OPTIONS', 'Estimate Shipping Costs - [add your text here]');

Example:
define('CART_SHIPPING_OPTIONS', 'Estimate Shipping Costs <div> <font size="1">ALASKA, HAWAII, PUERTO RICO ONLY PLEASE NOTE: Your only option is Parcel Post. USPS regulations limit shipments to one 4 ounce bottle per package. Create a separate order for each additional 4 ounce bottle. Other states are offered UPS Ground service for larger orders.</font><br /><br /></div>');
Ron

[ronlee67]

Well, looks like this is only partly resolved.

This mod sets $this->enabled to false within function usps in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php if the shipping weight exceeds the maximum hard coded within the mod.

The Shipping Estimator reacts accordingly, however the mod seems to have no effect on shipping options listed on the Shipping Checkout page. The checkout page continues to display usps rates for items that exceed the shipping weight limit set by this mod.

I expected that usps rates would not show up anywhere when the shipping weight exceeded the max set. Looks like a little more work is needed to accomplish the goal. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

The goal, again, is to enable the USPS shipping module only when the shipping weight falls within certain limits set by the store owner.

Ron

RESOLVED
Goal:
To set a maximum shipping weight limit beyond which the usps module is disabled.
Problem:
Special situation where USPS regulations limit how much flammable liquid may be shipped in a package. Specifically, USPS limit is 16 ounces. Furthermore, only one container may be shipped in a package.
We sell 4 oz and 32 oz bottles of a flammable liquid. Obviously, 32 ounces cannot be shipped via USPS. In our case we can only use USPS to ship one 4 ounce bottle per package via Parcel Post. We used the weight of one bottle to determine when the customer has ordered more than one bottle.
To limit a USPS shipment to only one 4 oz bottle, we need to weigh the bottle (a bit over 4 ounces when you include the container). In our case it came to 0.26 lbs. Since two bottles would be 0.52 lbs we set the limit in between these two numbers.
Comments:
This solution has very limited application. If you have a variety of products with differing shipping limitations this solution may not be flexible enough to handle all cases. We only had one product that could go USPS and that product was limited to one bottle per package. Everything else we sell on this site must go UPS or FEDEX ground because they exceed the 16 ounce USPS limit and they are all flammable liquids.
Code changes:
/includes/modules/shipping/usps.php:
around line 58 find:

  function usps() {
    global $order, $db, $template;
    $this->code = 'usps';

change to:

  function usps() {
    global $order, $db, $template, $shipping_weight; 
    $this->code = 'usps';

around line 69 find:

 
// disable only when entire cart is free shipping
    if (zen_get_shipping_enabled($this->code)) {
      $this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false);
    }
    if ( ($this->enabled == true) && ((int)MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_ZONE > 0) ) {
      $check_flag = false;

change to:

 
// disable only when entire cart is free shipping or shipping weight exceeds store set limit
if (zen_get_shipping_enabled($this->code)) {
$this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false);
}
if ($shipping_weight >0.3){
$this->enabled = false;
}
if ( ($this->enabled == true) && ((int)MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_ZONE > 0) ) {
$check_flag = false;

If you wish to explain the limitation to your customers during checkout this can be done here:
/includes/languages/english/php; or
/includes/languages/[yourtemplatename]/english.php:
around line 545 find:

 
define('CART_SHIPPING_OPTIONS', 'Estimate Shipping Costs');

change to:

 define('CART_SHIPPING_OPTIONS', 'Estimate Shipping Costs - [add your text here]');

Example:
define('CART_SHIPPING_OPTIONS', 'Estimate Shipping Costs <div> <font size="1"> These are flammable liquids. Postal regulations limit shipments to one 4 ounce bottle per package. (AK, HA, PR: Create a separate order for each additional 4 ounce bottle.) Shipments to states other than AK, HA, PR have the option to use UPS Ground service for orders of any quantity. </font><br /><br /></div>');
Ron

[ronlee67]

My apologies to Linda (Ajeh). She provided the total solution in some very simple, concise code and I failed to recognize it.

See her solution in post #3.

To implement in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php find around line 128:

 
  function quote($method = '') {
    // BOF: UPS USPS
    global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $transittime;
    if ( zen_not_null($method) && (isset($this->types[$method]) || in_array($method, $this->intl_types)) ) {
      $this->_setService($method);
    }

change to:

 
  function quote($method = '') {
    // BOF: UPS USPS
    global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $transittime;
 
if ($shipping_weight <= 10) {
 } else {
 return false;
}
    if ( zen_not_null($method) && (isset($this->types[$method]) || in_array($method, $this->intl_types)) ) {
      $this->_setService($method);

Change the "10" to whatever your max postal weight will b

Thanks to Ajeh for this solution.

[Ajeh]

You are most welcome ... glad that solution worked for you ...

[riosouza]

My apologies to Linda (Ajeh). She provided the total solution in some very simple, concise code and I failed to recognize it.

See her solution in post #3.

To implement in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php find around line 128:

 
  function quote($method = '') {
    // BOF: UPS USPS
    global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $transittime;
    if ( zen_not_null($method) && (isset($this->types[$method]) || in_array($method, $this->intl_types)) ) {
      $this->_setService($method);
    }

change to:

 
  function quote($method = '') {
    // BOF: UPS USPS
    global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $transittime;
 
if ($shipping_weight <= 10) {
 } else {
 return false;
}
    if ( zen_not_null($method) && (isset($this->types[$method]) || in_array($method, $this->intl_types)) ) {
      $this->_setService($method);

Change the "10" to whatever your max postal weight will b

Thanks to Ajeh for this solution.

You guys are so Awesome
I have no knowledge about PHP at all, but I have so much done to my cart by just learning from you guys.
I have paid Heritage Web Sol...(Beware) for a custom shopping cart and I was told they were going to "design a custom cart" (that's what they call it until they take you credit card number), making a long story short, after more than 2 months waiting and more than $1,500.00 charged on my card I found out they sold me a free Zen Cart with a colour changed template. (I just googled the company reputation after I felt robbed, and the results for the search were nasty)
Now if I ask them to do this USPS code changed for me it would cost me a lots of $$. By the way they told me to use Authorize.net as gateway because after days working on installed Cybersource module they were not able to make it work, but I did thanks to you guys at this forum!!!

BTW do you thing I can apply this code to USPS flat rate as well?

Thank you guys again

[Ajeh]

Glad that this was able to help you on customizing the shipping module ...

However, you lost me a bit on what you mean by USPS Flat Rate ...

If you mean one of the other shipping modules, then yes, the code is similar in all of the shipping modules ... if you change the value of the $this->enabled based on some condition then it will change when it shows or does not show in the checkout ...