Separate packaging for each unit

25 Jan 2016, 04:39

#1

New Zenner

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Separate packaging for each unit

Hi,

I just realized that when a customer orders multiples of a given product, I assume the weight is totaled and then passed to the USPS shipping module for pricing. This will not work for a number of my products in that each unit of the product must be shipped in its own soft pack (USPS First class parcel or USPS Priority small box). In other words if the customer orders 3 of product A, each of the three units of product A must be shipped individually. How do I set this up?

(I hope that made sense). The shipping module is the USPS module.

Regards,
Ron

25 Jan 2016, 05:19

#2

kobra

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

This will not work for a number of my products

Are all of these products in one category??

25 Jan 2016, 05:30

#3

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

Thanks,
Yes,

Regards,
Ron

25 Jan 2016, 20:06

#4

kobra

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

You might start here
https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?215152-Per-Item-shipping-for-1-category

31 Jan 2016, 12:51

#5

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

kobra:
You might start here
https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?215152-Per-Item-shipping-for-1-category

Hi,
I reviewed that thread and it is 8 pages long. I'm sure what the answer is. Let me refine the question a bit. The website has a list of products A,B,C,D. Product D needs a separate shipping charge added to the total shipping charge. The reason is, the actual order for item D is fulfilled by a third party. The third party fulfills the order and also ships the order for product D. Therefore, product has a separate and distinct shipping package apart from the parts of the order that I fulfill.
If the customer orders more than one of product D, the shipping charge may be the combined weight of product D (EX. QTY 2 x 0.125 = 0.25 = USPS $2.74). That is fine but again the shipping charge for item D needs to be added to the total shipping charge. So the total shipping charge for any single order maybe $4.50 (the total for the items I provide plus $2.74 the item(s) the third party supplies. I pay the third party to produce and ship the product.
The shipping module is USPS. The website is Omnia-sdr.com. The actual product name is "Omnia SDR Basic Coil Pack".

I really hope all this makes sense.
Regards,
Ron

31 Jan 2016, 13:02

#6

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

That should have read: I'm sure NOT what the answer is.

01 Feb 2016, 05:14

#7

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

Hi,

Any suggestions?
Regards,
Ron

01 Feb 2016, 06:08

#8

kobra

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

If only this one item then I suggest that you add an attribute pre selected for additional handling

Also alter your text description and add attributes for the "band Plan" options

to something like this HERE

02 Feb 2016, 05:28

#9

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

kobra:
If only this one item then I suggest that you add an attribute pre selected for additional handling

Also alter your text description and add attributes for the "band Plan" options

to something like this HERE

Hi,
I like the idea of the attribute for the band plan options. When I can find a few moments to learn how to do that I will implement that suggestion.
However on separate shipping charge for a given product, I can't image why Zen Cart does not have that as an option somewhere. Seems to me that is a fairly common occurrence. What happens if a product requires a really big box or something along that line? Something (anything) that makes the shipping of the product unique and requires some type of special handling (and consequently special shipping charges).

Regards,
Ron

02 Feb 2016, 06:57

#10

rodg

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

w4mmp:
I can't image why Zen Cart does not have that as an option somewhere.

Two words spring to mind. "User Interface".

Seriously, what you are seeking isn't going to be *particularly* hard to achieve with code edits that can be made to alter the program flow/behaviour based on specific products or categories, but because every Zencart installation will have different products/categories, what mechanism do *you* see that would not only allow the easy 'tagging' for these products/categories, but how or where would you define the actual actions needed when they are identified?

If you search these forums you will find *many* practical examples as to the type of edits needed for this kind of thing - but ultimately, they are all specific (or need to be customised) for any given store due to the way the individual stores are configured, and the customers own specific needs and requirements.

I imagine that any 'user interface' that could handle these needs would probably end up being more complex to use than the code editing method. I could be wrong, but my mind boggles at the thought of even attempting to create such an interface.

If this in itself wasn't hard enough, for your needs you are going to need a major rewrite of the entire way that zencart handles the shipping - because 'internally' there is no mechanism to sum the shipping totals of a cart that contains products that need alternative shipping methods. - and should someone actually make this possible, I then wonder how these quotes will be presented to the customer (and recorded in the database so the merchant knows how the quote was derived). Again, this comes down to a 'user interface' issue.

This is one of those things that appears trivial on the surface, but as you dig deeper into it you will (hopefully) realise involves a lot more than you've already imagined.

Cheers
RodG

03 Feb 2016, 23:16

#11

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

Hello,
Understood.

I think I have a solution by using attributes. The product may be set to "Yes, Always Free Shipping". Then the customer via attributes will need to pick a shipping method (USPS First class, USPS Flat Rate small box). Since I know the weight of the product and the shipping charge is fixed by USPS until they raise the rates again, the price via attribute will be added to the total price of the product. What I need to figure out is how to handle when the customer orders multiples of the product. I don't want to multiply the shipping charge by the number ordered as multiples will fit in one flat rate box.

I will figure this out when I have more time.

03 Feb 2016, 23:33

#12

w4mmp

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

kobra:
If only this one item then I suggest that you add an attribute pre selected for additional handling

Also alter your text description and add attributes for the "band Plan" options

to something like this HERE

Hi,

I like this idea a lot. I can also use to manage the shipping issue I have. Please point me to the correct primer on add attributes to products. I will take from there.
Regard,
Ron

04 Feb 2016, 05:18

#13

ajeh

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

You mentioned that the all of these products are in their own category ...

Is the shipping charge for them:
2.74 x item count

Then if other products are in the cart that get USPS charges, would shipping be the:
USPS charge for all other items + (2.74 x number of items in this 1 category)?

04 Feb 2016, 17:17

#14

kobra

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

Please point me to the correct primer on add attributes to products.

I did a quick search on the FAQ's for attributes - which you could have done

This is what turned up

https://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?99-how-do-i-add-attributes-to-my-products

04 Feb 2016, 23:50

#15

mc12345678

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Re: Separate packaging for each unit

w4mmp:
Hello,
Understood.

I think I have a solution by using attributes. The product may be set to "Yes, Always Free Shipping". Then the customer via attributes will need to pick a shipping method (USPS First class, USPS Flat Rate small box). Since I know the weight of the product and the shipping charge is fixed by USPS until they raise the rates again, the price via attribute will be added to the total price of the product. What I need to figure out is how to handle when the customer orders multiples of the product. I don't want to multiply the shipping charge by the number ordered as multiples will fit in one flat rate box.

I will figure this out when I have more time.

The thread is going in a lot of directions, but if the above is being used there is the possibility of using a single price on the attribute (one-time charge) rather than by multiples, but that too could end up being a problem if many multiples are purchased.

As to RodG's statement of shipping modules there is an advanced shipper module that is commercially available that on the surface seems to be able to handle all these different possibilities...