Block zones from completing order payment?

[Crunch]

I am setting up the table rate shipping module for customers in the United States only but, I need to prevent International customers from being automatically charged.

Is there a way to allow United States zone orders to go through the automatic payment while at the same time block International zone orders until we can figure out the shipping costs and notify the customer of the updated total?

Thanks.

[fairestcape]

When you set up your shipping, apply it to a specific zone (that is exclusive to the USA).

Visitors from outside the zone will be unable to progress through checkout.

[Crunch]

I thought about that but, I thought that an order would still go through automatic payment and they would only not get charged shipping and instead get a message like, "No shipping available to the selected country".

[Crunch]

I am not at a point where I can test billing yet.

You said that setting shipping to a specific zone will block all others from progressing through checkout. What exactly does that mean? Does that mean they can't put an order through? I still need them to be able to send in the order.

Maybe I didn't word the original post right.

Is there a way to allow United States zone orders to go through the automatic payment while at the same time allow International zone orders to come through but not be charged until we can figure out the shipping costs and notify the customer of the updated total?

[fairestcape]

By limiting certain shipping modules to specified zones, customers not in those zones cannot proceed to checkout. ZC will keep telling them that "We are not shipping to your zone at this time" (or similar).

Shipping functionality works in tandem with the customer's personal data - ie: the address(es) the customer has specified when registering.

If ZC sees that the customer's chosen address (zone) is inapplicable to a shipping option, it does not present'allow that option.

What you may consider is creating a CLONE of your module (there are other posts I've made on how to do this)...

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=115687

... and then set the shipping of that cloned module to 0.00, and apply international zones to that mod, excluding the US. So it will not allow US addresses, but WILL allow all others.

The 0.00 rates will mean the module works (thus allowing checkout), but you will have to have some system to tell your foreign customers that they will be contacted regarding shipping costs.

[Crunch]

OK. Thanks Fairestcape. I worry about hacking around in code and duplicating things due to upgrades down the road but, apparently this is the only way to accomplish this. Thanks for the input.

BTW, I am assuming they would still get charged for the product but, without shipping and then we would have to do another charge on their account after shipping is figured out right?