Different Shipping Options for Different Customer Types

[scottmcclean]

Hi all,

I have a problem with shipping that I am struggling to fix.
I have a need to have separate shipping requirements for different customer types.

We have 2 types of customer: the main customers hold accounts with our business and as such are set up as "invoice only", and we calculate their carriage charges when we ship the goods internally - the charges are reflected on their invoice. To do this we activated the "free shipper" and marked all products as "always free shipping". This works great!

The second set of customers are non-account holding and as such we would like them to pay by credit card/Paypal. I set up Flat Rate shipping and created the necessary clones for each flate rate that I need.

I also used a “test” from Ajeh to determine the customer discount pricing group which works. The problem I have now is that for invoice only customers I get a message at the shipping stage which is: “Sorry, we are not shipping to your region at this time.”
I would welcome any thoughts about how I could fix this so that my Invoice only customers get free shipping and my non-invoice customers get the flat rate options.
Many thanks

[Ajeh]

You could install the Free Shipping Options freeoptions and set Total to >= 0.00 ... then customize the module so only the main customers, however you identify these, are allowed to see this module ...

[scottmcclean]

Hi Ajeh,
Thanks for your reply. I have to say this is driving me nuts!

Its seems I am so close yet so far. I wondered if there was anything else that could be added to the lines of code you kindly did for me ages ago.

As soon as I set Order Free Shipping 0 weight to "No" and "Allow free shipping" in the order total area to "No" my Invoice only customers cannot purchase.

I change them to yes and only my paypal (non-invoice users) can shop.

I am not a PHP coder so any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Ajeh]

You lost me ... where are you setting these things?

[scottmcclean]

In Admin/Configuration/Shipping and Packaging there is an option for the "Order Free Shipping 0 weight"

and in Modules/Order Total is where I set the "Allow Free Shipping"

[Ajeh]

You do not want the Modules ... Order Total .... Shipping ot_shipping to have a Free Shipping setting ...

You want the Modules ... Shipping ... Free Shipping Options freeoptions turned on with the Total set to >=0 ...

Then you need to customize the file:
/includes/modules/shipping/freeoptions.php

if you have a limited number of customers that is Free Shipping ...

[scottmcclean]

Hi Ajeh,
You say I will then have to customise the file: Then you need to customize the file: /includes/modules/shipping/freeoptions.php....

Is this actually within the code? If so I wouldnt know where to start. Also - I have about 200 invoice customers (and growing) if that make a difference.

I will install the module and see what it entails.

many thanks for your time.

[Ajeh]

How are you identifying the Invoice Customers?

[scottmcclean]

Hi Ajeh,
I use the Customers area in admin and then select the relevant option (Invoice Only) from the Discount Pricing Group drop down.

[Ajeh]

For example, let's say the Discount Group ID is 2 ... you can customize the code for:
/includes/modules/shipping/freeoptions.php

with the code in RED:

      // disable only when entire cart is free shipping
      if (zen_get_shipping_enabled($this->code)) {
          $this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_FREEOPTIONS_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false);
      }

// bof: Only for Discount Group 2
      if (!IS_ADMIN_FLAG) {
        $chk_discount_group_sql = "SELECT customers_group_pricing FROM " . TABLE_CUSTOMERS . " WHERE customers_id = '" . $_SESSION['customer_id'] . "'";
        $chk_discount_group = $db->Execute($chk_discount_group_sql);
        if ($chk_discount_group->fields['customers_group_pricing'] != 2) {
          $this->enabled = false;
        }
      }
// eof: Only for Discount Group 2

      if ( ($this->enabled == true) && ((int)MODULE_SHIPPING_FREEOPTIONS_ZONE > 0) ) {

Now only those in Discount Group ID 2 can use this shipping module ...