Need help with per unit shipping option

[cpk]

I am a bit stumped on how to configure the shipping for my client's site. He has several products that are drop shipped from his manufacturers/suppliers. In all cases his items are shipped UPS ground so we have set the shipping to be a set price per unit. This is fine for single item purchases. However, he has books and videos relating to his main product line that he sells and the shipping cost is different if you are purchasing more than one of these items. For example:

1 video - shipping $3.00
2 videos - 1st video $3.00, second video $1.00 (total: $4.00)
3 videos - 1st $3.00, 2nd $1.00, 3rd $1.00 (total: $5.00)
etc...

Currently, I have set the cart to use the Per Unit shipping module but I don't know how I would accomplish the variable shipping price for multiple items. Is there another way I might accomplish this?

Thanks,

cpk

[Ajeh]

Per item ...

Handling is 2.00
Per item is 1.00

1st is $3.00
2nd makes it $4.00
3rd makes it $5.00

[cpk]

Brilliant! I wish I thought of that.

How do I go about setting up handling and would ZC apply tax to handling in a taxable zone?

cpk

[Ajeh]

You would go to Modules ... Shipping ... and edit the Item shipping settings ...

[cpk]

sorry about that last one. I should have figured it out.

I have now set the handling but do not understand how to set the Tare on the per unit module. It indicates that the max should be high e.g 5000.00 and adjust the settings on the small and large packages. I get that the maximum is equivalent to the maximum I can charge for shipping as indicated by the amount put in the product weight text field.

What I don't understand is how the Package Tare small to medium and Larger packages ratios should be set and how they would reflect on the per unit price. Don't these refer to the amount of weight added by packaging? If so, are they ignored by the Per Unit shipping module or do they serve to alter that amount in a different way?

Thanks,

cpk

[Ajeh]

Per Unit can use the Tare but it is used based on the "weight" being the "cost" so it is a little harder to work with ... but the same idea where XX cost is used to figure in a factor for shipping ...

Usually, Per Unit would not be using the Tare at all as this does not have a strong relavance to shipping costs based on cost ...

[cpk]

I'm still a bit baffled then by the following note in the setup of the per units shipping module:

NOTE: When using this Shipping Module be sure to check the Tare settings in the Shipping/Packaging and set the Largest Weight high enough to handle the price, such as 5000.00 and the adjust the settings on Small and Large packages which will add to the price as well.

I think I am clear on the Largest Weight setting as a maximum value for shipping cost when using Per Unit shipping but I am not sure what is meant by adjusting the Small and Large packages options. If they have no direct bearing on the Per Unit shipping amount, why am I being urged to adjust their settings?

I my just be dense but I am not getting this one.

cpk

[Ajeh]

The note is referring to ... if you use a Tare charge to be aware that the Tare still computes off the order weight, which is the products_weight field which is the field the Per Unit uses for the cost per product ...

So if you are using the weight as the shipping cost ... and you are trying to add a Tare based on that shipping cost ... you need to understand that this is very different in comparrison for $50.00 shipping vs 50lbs ...

[raymasa]

Hi all,

I am trying to enter per item shipping information and have figured out how to do it for one country, but not for multiple ones.

So, for US, shipping charges are:

$7.50 for the first item
$2.50 for each addition items

Based on what Ajeh suggested (Thanks Ajeh for that), I did:

$5.00 handling fee
$2.50 per item charge

That works beautifully. But, I also need to do the following:

Canada: $10.00 flat rate for first item, $2.50 each additional item.

Europe: $12.50 flat rate for first item, $2.50 each additional item.

All other international shipping is $15.00 flat rate plus $2.50 for each additional item.

How do I make it so, based on the shipping address, appropriate fees are charged?

Thanks,

Ray

[Ajeh]

Clone the shipping module 3 times and set zones for them to control which addresses see which module ...

Copy the file /includes/modules/shipping/item.php

To the files:
itemcad.php
itemeurope.php
itemothers.php


Copy the file /includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/item.php

To the files:
itemcad.php
itemeurope.php
itemothers.php

example changes:
ITEM becomes ITEMCAD
item becomes itemcad

Then build your zones and add to each ...