Hide USPS International Large Envelope option if products don't fit

[Herbert Hoover]

Is it possible to limit subcategories of USPS First Class based on product category?

I have two categories of products that fit in a Large Envelope, and one category that must go in a First Class Package. My customers, obviously, choose the cheapest option, even though the 3x3x2 box from the third category will not fit in a Large Envelope (They don't know that). Changing the weight skews the rates for other calculations and discourages quantity orders. Shipping all three categories in a box adds unnecessary cost.

The main problem for me is that having the Large Envelope option incorrectly available reduces the international shipping I collect by as much as half, leaving me to pay the difference.

I've also added a tare weight of 3oz to cover a box, but that affects the Large Envelope rate as well.

Seems possible to disallow Large Envelope if a product from the category that doesn't fit in an envelope is added to the cart. Am I on the right track? I've read that passing dimensions to the USPS calculator through attributes would disqualify a product thicker that a half inch from displaying the Large Envelope option.

Thanks for your help

Herb
EverythingTiny.com
ZC 151
Numinix Google Merchant
Numinix Fast Easy Checkout
Cross Sell Plus

[RixStix]

We ship items that I would say are in that dimensional size, both domestic and International in size 2 or size 3 bubble mailer envelopes without a problem.

Large envelope (1/4" - 3/4" thick) rates are the same as Thick envelope ( > 3/4") rates. The minimum rate is for 3 ounces, $1.69 domestic. We add 0.1 pound to account for the weight of the padded envelope, packing slip, label and a tiny bit to spare.

Is there something that I'm not seeing with this picture?

[Herbert Hoover]

Thanks for your prompt answer RixStix.

The real problem (rather than speaking abstractly) is that I have a matchbook sized product. Several fit in a First Class Large Envelope and cost $6.55 to most of the world. I have an add-on product for that item which is 3"x3"x2" and glass. It cannot go in an envelope. However, my clients complain if they are charged the First Class Package rate (about $13) if they only order the matchbook sized product without the add-on that only fits in a box.

The USPS international rate for Large Envelope is half that of a box. A box that is 4 ounces is $3 cheaper than a box that is 4.1 ounces. A box to Australia with an item from the category that doesn't fit in a Large Envelope costs me around $13 plus box/packing/tape/etc. while the customer pays $6.55 for Large Envelope because that option is available.

Seems like it would be pretty easy to code something that negates the Large Envelope option when a customer puts the item in their cart, rather than adding tare weight and incorrect additional product weight, or adding expense to the customer by shipping a $9 quarter ounce item in a $13 box. I was reading a thread about golf shoes where there was an exception for that product getting First Class shipping. My custom code, if I knew how and where, would split that distinction into First Class Large Envelope and First Class Package.

[Ajeh]

If you can control this based on the master_catgegories_id for the Products then you could customize the USPS shipping module in:
/includes/modules/shipping/usps.php

and add the code in RED:

// *** Customizations once per display ***
// bof: skip for cat 10 or 15 if First-Class Mail Large Envelope or First-Class MailRM International Large Envelope**
      $chk_cats = 0;
      $chk_cats += $_SESSION['cart']->in_cart_check('master_categories_id','10');
      $chk_cats += $_SESSION['cart']->in_cart_check('master_categories_id','15');
// eof: skip for cat 10 or 15 if First-Class Mail Large Envelope or First-Class MailRM International Large Envelope**

      for ($i=0; $i<$PackageSize; $i++) {

// bof: skip for cat 10 or 15 if First-Class Mail Large Envelope or First-Class MailRM International Large Envelope**
//echo 'USPS $type_rebuilt: ' . $type_rebuilt . ' $chk_cats: ' . $chk_cats . (preg_match('#Large Envelope#i',$type_rebuilt) ? ' MATCH' : ' NO MATCH') . '<br>';
            if (preg_match('#Large Envelope#i',$type_rebuilt) && $chk_cats > 0) {
              continue;
            }
// eof: skip for cat 10 or 15 if First-Class Mail Large Envelope or First-Class MailRM International Large Envelope**

          $methods[] = array('id' => $type_rebuilt,
                             'title' => $title,
                             'cost' => $cost,
                            );

where the Categories that have the Products to test for are 10 and 15 ... just change those values to match your categories ...

[Herbert Hoover]

That's pretty amazing! (...and not very simple for a non-PHP person). Thank you!

It works great for international, but the whole First Class price tier is removed when an item from Category 10 or 15 (Category 3 in my cart) is added domestically, so the First Class Parcel is not available. I could get away with making it Priority Mail, but if it's an easy fix, I'll buy you 2 coffees. :)

[Ajeh]

What weight are you using on that test?