Shipping Boxes Manager 2.2.0 - User Allowed To Choose Box Too Small

[smpaulsen]

Hello, all. I'm back with more questions about the Shipping Boxes Manager 2.2.0.

My customer chose two items, each with a length and width of 5.5", and a height of 1".

Shipping Boxes Manager shows in the debug that it properly calculates the sizes and chooses the 7" x 7" x 3" box for shippment:

Products (before nesting):

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

)
Products (after nesting):

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

)
Packages

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [box ID] => 6
            [length] => 7
            [width] => 7
            [height] => 3
            [weight] => 3.5
            [remaining_volume] => 86.5
        )

)

The problem comes that the shipping module is still showing the user a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Small box as an option. That box has dimensions of 8-5/8" x 5-3/8"x1-5/8".

My customer was able to choose the smaller box for shipment and pay a lower shipping price for it.

How can I prevent this from happening?

Thank you!
~ Steve

[g2ktcf]

Hello, all. I'm back with more questions about the Shipping Boxes Manager 2.2.0.

My customer chose two items, each with a length and width of 5.5", and a height of 1".

Shipping Boxes Manager shows in the debug that it properly calculates the sizes and chooses the 7" x 7" x 3" box for shippment:

Products (before nesting):

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

)
Products (after nesting):

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

    [1] => Array
        (
            [dimensions] => Array
                (
                    [length] => 5.50
                    [width] => 5.50
                    [height] => 1.00
                )

            [volume] => 30.25
            [weight] => 1.75
            [nestable] => 0
            [nestable_percentage] => 0
            [nestable_group_code] => 
        )

)
Packages

Array
(
    [0] => Array
        (
            [box ID] => 6
            [length] => 7
            [width] => 7
            [height] => 3
            [weight] => 3.5
            [remaining_volume] => 86.5
        )

)

The problem comes that the shipping module is still showing the user a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Small box as an option. That box has dimensions of 8-5/8" x 5-3/8"x1-5/8".

My customer was able to choose the smaller box for shipment and pay a lower shipping price for it.

How can I prevent this from happening?

Thank you!
~ Steve

Steve

This may be one of the holes in this module. There should be a small flat rate box in your shipping boxes list. But the field used for each box is only Domestic & International. I personally think that their should be a "class of service" for each box as well. This would allow the shipping manager to calculate if a small flat rate box would work..then get the proper quote for it.

There appears to be two other issues. 1) there is no max weight per box....in my business this is serious. Most 200# test boxes are limited to 65 pounds and even 250# test double wall are about 95 pounds. The economy 32# ECT boxes run in the 30# range. And 2) the packing algorithm appears to simply stack up the heights of the items and can give you a box that is way too big. Now if the orders have relatively small number of items, then this will never be an issue. But once again my orders can be quite large.

I am considering taking this module and working on adding these items and implementing a heuristic packing algorithm that I have been sketching out. Right this minute, its no big deal...but dimensional weight is coming. At that point, getting a box that is too big can inflate your shipping cost estimate so much that your customers walk away.

I also have the added problem that I have certain items that cannot be packed together. They can be combined with other like items but I cannot ship delicate electronics with a 30# spool of wire.

...I know this does not really answer you question but there is not a whole lot out here on this module...so I am tying to explore how it works.

Cheers
Chris