Multiple Shipping Issues

[janissaire]

Wow what a headache I have

Ok this might be more of a Canadian thing and most of it comes from the dude at my shipping outlet mailboxes etc./ ups store - here goes:

I have an artwork store (soon to be launched) and here's what I've found from my area - Toronto - anyone else run into the same or can ofer some help

UPS (with Zencart) - module doesn't work for Canada until you tweak it.

• should only be used for States or Overseas if shipping fm Cda
• should use standard - easiest option
• UPS packing tubes are express only
• size is used, not wieght - what the guy told me at the outlet - but my items are not that heavy, which is why he may have said it

Canada Post

• should only be used for Canadian orders - cheapest
• should NOT be used for outside of Canada do to the high loss rate (his words)
• Have a choice for Express or Priority
• size is used, not wieght - what the guy told me at the outlet - but my items are not that heavy, which is why he may have said it

CanPar

• should be used for Ontario/Quebec as they are fairly fast or faster than Cda Post
• standard option only
• prices about the same as Cda Post
• size is used, not wieght - what the guy told me at the outlet - but my items are not that heavy, which is why he may have said it

Fedex

• worldwide- excluding certain countries (those on the badboy's list)
• express only

Taxes

• Taxes apply to Canada only
• some provinces only get GST some get HST applied
• tax range ususally 6-20.00 CAD

Store pickup - my shipping outlet (mentioned above) can act as my store and clients can come there and pick items up but they charge a $3.00 fee for doing this.

So now that I have given you half of my headache, here's the other half - how do I get my Zencart Configured for shipping?

I was thinking that if/when client goes to shipping part of ZenCart then they could:

1] read the options available based upon some thing of the above, then
2] choose the option they want
3] have Zen do the approproate thing based on that selection.

So what do I do? And if store pickup is selceted how do they pay the $3.00 fee or should I just eat it?

Also what do I do about the different tax classifications for some areas that are GST only and HST. I also have to think ahead as Ontario will also be moving over to the HST system in the near future - how hard will it be to change Ontario (GST - current) to HST in the future?

Thanks.

[janissaire]

Ok, there weren't a lot of answers coming back so I started to play around a bit

I may have some answers for everyone soon

I think the answer to my issue is that I will use:

Cda Post for Canada (via their Purolator Courier)
and
UPS for the rest of the world

or at least that's the premise I'm going with.

Then based on the above, I'm setting up zones (for shipping) I am setting up Cda Zone or Cda - Ontario, Cda - Quebec, etc this way I should be able to designate different tax rates for the different provinces.

Then I will set up one for the States and one for the rest of the world.

Then I will test everything and get back to you all to tell you how it works out but I think that's the trick to it all.

Chat again soon

[rstevenson]

Canada Post

• ...
• should NOT be used for outside of Canada do to the high loss rate (his words)
  ...
• size is used, not wieght - what the guy told me at the outlet - but my items are not that heavy, which is why he may have said it

The first point above is utter nonsense. I've been shipping to the US for years through Canada Post and never lost anything yet. I've also shipped at least a few times overseas without problem through them.

The second point is also not correct. CP uses a combination of weight and size to determine the charge. CP can tell you the details if you ask. Why depend on a competitor's advice?

Rob

[janissaire]

Yep Rob, I think your right

I think the dude might make more money the other way but I've been able to do some more research.

For Canada, I'm going Cda Post.
For States, UPS or Cda Post - client decision.
For the rest of the world UPS.

Makes my life a little easier but still working on the confirguration.

I really appreciate your advice too.

If anyone else is reading this and your in Cda and going to be using Cda Post - sign up for their Venture Program (tag) you get a 5% discount on your shipping AND in some cases - it allows you to pic a rate for a faster shipment or the same one you would normally pick but at a cheaper price

[mingliangfeng]

Yep Rob, I think your right

I think the dude might make more money the other way but I've been able to do some more research.

For Canada, I'm going Cda Post.
For States, UPS or Cda Post - client decision.
For the rest of the world UPS.

Makes my life a little easier but still working on the confirguration.

I really appreciate your advice too.

If anyone else is reading this and your in Cda and going to be using Cda Post - sign up for their Venture Program (tag) you get a 5% discount on your shipping AND in some cases - it allows you to pic a rate for a faster shipment or the same one you would normally pick but at a cheaper price

Have similar problem, waiting for your exploration!

[janissaire]

Ok, I think I have one part of it figured out based upon where you are in Cda.

Re: Taxes

The tax rate is based on where your store IS not where you're shipping it to.

For Example, Ont > Maritimes - Only the 5% GST gets applied (at least until the HST comes in next year) becasue I'm shipping FROM Ont - however

So what I've done is to set up some zones

1. Cda
2. State
3. World

The 8% PST goes onto the sale price of the item - not the shipping price.

However, let's say you live in an area that charges 3 different tax rates - I'll use Cda for the example - don't know it there are plavces that have 3 tax or not.

1 - Set up Zone Cda - Once set up - click define taxes

in Define taxes,

1 - Set up Cda - GST @ 5%
2 - Set up Cda - PST @ 8%
3 - Set up Cda - VAT @ 1 %
etc - you keep adding in new rates as needed - try to do them altogether so it makes reading your list easier.

Zone 2 - States - only needs to have the GST configured
Zone 3 - World - only needs to have the GST configured

If anyone else knows this for sure re the tax please let me know if I have it right.

So far, I have got Cda Post, Flat Rate, Store Pickup, Best Way, in my table will look at the others - going for Fed Ex and UPS next.

[rstevenson]

No need to reinvent the wheel. From the Tutorials/FAQ (link at top of page) ...

How do I configure for Canadian Taxes?

You'll have to adjust the percentages shown in the FAQ, as they're no longer up to date.

Rob