Multiple zone/flat rate and added cost per pound?

[AmyCapolupo]

Before I drive myself insane can one of the brilliant people here tell me if this is a reasonable configuration for any of the built in shipping modules and if not which module would be the right one?

The Client wants a flat charge for each item and an additional charge for each pound. He wants a slightly more expensive version of the same configuration for expedited shipping and he wants it for 3 zones.

I had a look at the ceon advanced shipping module and it might just be the thing but if I can do it with the pre-installed modules or one of the freebie modules, I'm game to figure out how.

We're using the latest release of Zen Cart. Thanks guys!
Amy Capolupo

[schoolboy]

Hi Amy

Complex shipping requirements are not easy to embed in existing modules. CEON's mod is probably your best bet.

What we do when clients ask for "unconventional" shipping calculators is take them back a few steps and ask them:

1. WHO is doing your shipping?
2. HOW do they calculate their rates?
2. What are the TOTAL COSTS involved?

And in most cases the answer is that the rates are calculated on the basis of two fundamental variables:

1. The weight (or volumetric weight) of the consignment.
2. The distance between the delivery and receipt addresses.

At the end of the day, getting the correct shipping rate is important so that the vendor is not "continually sponsoring" shipping (which is a direct cost to the bottom line). Vendors who try to use shipping prices as a means to add "profit" to the transaction risk raising the ire of their customers.

There may be additional packing costs, of course, but these can be factored either into the product's price, or by adding handling fees in the shipping module(s).