Keeping same dimensions for more than one item amount.

[Dave_FTD]

Hello everyone,

I have a chart from a client with the size and weight of the bottles of his product he sells. In the chart for example 2 bottles weighs more than one bottle but the dimensions are the same because of the boxes he ships them in. My problem is that because I entered the dimensions to the product in Zen-Cart it calculates shipping incorrectly. When a customer orders two it doubles the dimensions which overcharges them for shipping. I was hoping someone could explain how I could implement the chart below and rectify my shipping woes.

Thanks so much!

Amount of bottles Weight in Grams Dimensions
-----------------------------------------------------------------
1 bottle 56 g’s 13 x 23 cm’s
2 bottles 94 g’s 13 x 23 cm’s
------------------------------------------------------------------
3 bottles 190 g’s 21 x 28 cm’s
4 bottles 240 g’s 21 x 28 cm’s
5 bottles 285 g’s 21 x 28 cm’s
6 bottles 325 g’s 21 x 28 cm’s
------------------------------------------------------------------
7 bottles 385 g’s 27 x 37 cm’s
8 bottles 425 g’s 27 x 37 cm’s
9 bottles 510 g’s 27 x 37 cm’s
10 bottles 570 g’s 27 x 37 cm’s
11 bottles 620 g’s 27 x 37 cm’s
12 bottles 670 g’s 27 x 37 cm’s

[RodG]

My problem is that because I entered the dimensions to the product in Zen-Cart it calculates shipping incorrectly.

First things first. It seems to me that you are confusing 'incorrectly' with 'what the client requires'.

Secondly, a stock standard zencart doesn't support product dimension data, which means you are probably using either the Ozpost or the Canadian post shipping module.

I can't comment on the Canadian post module, so my next comments relate to the ozpost module.

When a customer orders two it doubles the dimensions

This is in keeping with the laws of physics. Two items cannot occupy the same space at the same time. The ozpost module obeys these laws (mostly).

which overcharges them for shipping.

I don't see how this could be unless the dimensions of the single product are also twice what they should be, which means the client is forcing an overcharge by artificially increasing the products actual size.

I was hoping someone could explain how I could implement the chart below and rectify my shipping woes.

There is no way possible for the ozpost module to behave in the manner you require. I seriously doubt that the Canadian Post module has the ability to cater to this requirement either... As stated, it goes against the laws of physics.

One thing *does* concern me though and that is, based on the chart that you provided, a person should be able to order at least a dozen of these bottles and NOT be charged by the cubing rules because the total weight is under 1kg. Again, I can't speak for Canada Post, but Australia Post (and all Australian couriers) aren't subject to the cubing rules unless the weight is at least 1kg. In other words no matter whether 1 bottle is added to the cart, or 12 bottles, the shipping quotes *should* be based on weight alone.

Furthermore, 13 x 23 cm’s seems abnormally large for an item that weighs only 56 g’s. If the Canada post module is anything like the ozpost module it has been designed to produce *accurate* quotes based on weights & dimensions, and the only way this can possibly work is if you provide accurate data for the products.

If you are finding that the dimensional data is inflating the shipping quotes it will only be because the cubing rules are being applied. If you know your items will never be subject to the cubing rules you can 'fix' the issue by using really small dimensions for the products and this will effectively negate the cubing considerations and you'll be quoted based on weight alone.

I'm not sure if this response is going to be of any help to you or not, but hopefully it has given a few more things for you to think about.

Cheers
Rod

[Dave_FTD]

Thanks so much for your thorough response. I am indeed using Canada Post Plugin, a important bit of information I left out.
You have given much to consider and maybe I should make the dimensions really small to negate size and base it on weight alone. That makes sense and may be the way to do it. I am out of the office but I will post again what I end up doing.Thanks again