Add more zone selectors to USPS Module?

[jyc_nat]

Situation: I'm trying to figure out the best way to set up different handling fees for 2 more zones in the USPS module. The reason I'm not just using a different module with more zone options is that the store owner wants to charge the exact usps rate - which would seem most accurately calculated in the usps module given the potential for future rate increases (now, if I'm wrong about this, please let me know) - without handling fees for one zone, but with handling fees for 2 different zones.

Question: If this is even an advisable thing to do, how would I go about adding 2 more sets of zone options to the USPS module? I've looked at the code in shop / includes / modules / shipping / usps.php and it's just too much for my php-amateur brain. And maybe this isn't even the file I would need to edit. Or maybe I need to edit more than one file.

Or: Would it be simpler to make 2 copies of the USPS module for this, and if so, which files would I need to copy, and what edits would I need to make.

I appologize if this question has been asked before... I have searched the forums for 3 hours looking for one.

[jyc_nat]

I found intructions on cloning shipping modules here: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41751 while I was looking for something else, no less so I'll give that a shot.

Feel free to delete this thread.

[Ajeh]

Let us know how the cloning goes ...

[jyc_nat]

Working great. No problems so far.

Also used your All countries but the US zone (which for some reason is terribly difficult to find when your looking for it, so here's the link if anyone's looking for it here: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?&t=39978 ), and appears to be working great along side my "US 48", "Hawaii & Alaska", and "Everything in US but the states" zones (manually entered thru the admin zone definitions). Sounds overly complicated but he wanted a flat rate in the continental US, USPS everywhere else, but no handling fees to Hawaii and Alaska. There may have been a simpler way to pull it off, but this works.

A lengthy answer to a simple question, but if anyone needs to set up a similar shipping arrangement, it can be done :)

[Kayla]

I might be facing having to do this and am trying to determine if it's my best option.

My situation is that I have essentially two different kinds of products priced by attribute of the size. I have weights applied in the attributes so the USPS module calculated postage based on the weight.

I have it set so if the customer chooses walk-in they won't pay a shipping or handling charge.

However, product A requires a handling/packaging charge of $6.00 and product B is much larger and requires a charge of $10.00

Since the USPS module only allows for one handling charge, is my best option to clone the module like you're talking about?

What is my best method for applying the different handling charges to products A and B when they are being shipped vs. picked up?

Thanks!

[jyc_nat]

Off the top of my head, I would think the best way to do this would be with the tare for large and small/medium packages (in Configuration > Shipping/Packaging), and just adjust it so that the tare is equal to (taking the place of) your handling fees for the large and small products.

[makenoiz]

Can I safely clone USPS shipping without overwriting anything in the DB that I need for the original USPS? I need different handling fees.

Thanks

1.3.8a

[Ajeh]

Cloning USPS can be difficult ... but it can be done if you are careful ...

Look at how to clone Flat Rate flat shipping module to see how it is done on a simple module, then try it on the USPS shipping module ...

A search on:
clone flat
clone item

should show you examples of this ...