Use "weight" attribute to determine shipping? But basing shipping on size of object?

[rdesignista]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to read up a lot on shipping for Zencart, but I can't really make too much sense of the threads I've read.

My shipping plan: flat rates, but specific for each item. Will have both domestic and international shipping rates.

I've been thinking about table rates and zone shipping, but does not make sense to me. Our United States Postal Services offers many shipment options based on size, not weight, so I plan to use "weight" as more of a measure of size. Let me explain:

...If domestic shipping boxes are $12, I will say that a total of 4 weight can fit in a $12 shipping box.
...If 4 DVDs can fit in one shipping box, then each DVD will have a weight of 1.
...If 2 T-shirts can fit in one shipping box, then a T-shirt will have a weight of 2.
...If someone orders 2 T-shirts and 2 DVDs, that's a total of 6 weight, so it will take up 2 boxes, so the cost will be $24.
...If something is free shipping, then it will simply have a 0 weight.
...And of course, box cost would simply be increased for international shipping, since similar shipping sizes are offered for international shipping by USPS.

What do you guys think? Makes sense for Zencart?

-R

[rdesignista]

Okay,

I realized that this is the best way to go. The goal is to best match shipping charges in the shopping cart shipping costs at the post office. Of course, we can get a USPS shipping module or API shipping estimator/calculator, but we want to be able to automate things and keep things simple.

With Zencart, basis for shipping rates are:
1. Unit
2. Cost
3. Weight

Unit-basis is good for stores with items that are uniform in shape. For example: T-shirt stores. Shipping rates, however, becoming terribly inaccurate if you have items of varying sizes. This won't work for me because the store I am making sells pins, as well as sparring gear.

Cost-basis won't be accurate in general, but is extremely easy to setup. Furthermore, with this basis method, you can offer free shipping at $x, to encourage higher dollar amount orders. This will not work for my store though, because DVDs cost the same as some of the bulkier items.

Weight-basis is the most accurate, but most time-consuming as well. This is because weight attributes must be added for every product. Again, in my situation, I am using USPS priority mail, which does not regard weight, but prices based on size (and the size box the items that will fit). If you have items of varying sizes, this method is really your best choice. I recommend using the Excel Populate for quick editing of weights.

-R

[lindasdd]

Use this mod:
http://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=1267

It can offer customers the regional and flat rates. You can also input product dimensions and it will calculate whether the ordered items will fit in the regional/flat rate boxes.