How to configure package tare?

[sopretty]

Ok, I've searched and searched and I am still not getting this, it seems that all the forum and Wiki answers just repeat what is said in the Admin.

I don't understand the percentage:weight ratio that I am supposed to enter in Configuration, Shipping/Packaging. And does it have to be a percentage? Is there anyway to make the packaging weight an absolute?

My figures are:

- Maximum package weight I will ship to - 10lbs

- Small to medium packages weigh 1lb or less including packaging
(without packaging, a maximum weight of .9375lb).
- Packaging for small to medium packages is an envelop weighing .0625lb.

- Larger packages are orders weighing more that 1lb.
- Packaging for larger orders is a box weighing .5lb.

So what do I enter in Configuration, Shipping/Packaging? I get that:
Enter the Maximum Package Weight you will ship
should be:
Enter the Maximum Package Weight you will ship - 10

But should:
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight
be:
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight - .0625:1
?

And Larger packages - added packaging percentage:weight, I have no clue at all what to enter here...

Any help is appreciated, thank you.

[Ajeh]

This setting:

Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight - .0625:1

Would add 0.625% and 1lb ...

The settings are:
Percentage:Weight

So if you only want to add 0.625 weight you would use:
0:0.625

Example: 10% + 1lb 10:1
10% + 0lbs would use 10:0
0% + 5lbs would use 0:5
0% + 0lbs would use 0:0

The same for large packages ...

[sopretty]

Thanks Ajeh!

I still don't get the larger packages, sorry! I have no clue how I would calculate the percentage of the larger package weight.

So, for larger packages, the box will weigh .5 lbs but the total package weight with products would range from more than 1lb to 10lbs (the max weight shipped in one order). So how do I calculate a percentage for that? And then, what would I put in as the ratio?

Thank you!

[sopretty]

Oh, wait! So you are saying that if I want to add .5lbs as the weight for larger packages, the ratio would be 0:.5, is that right?

So, for the figures I posted above, my configuration should be:
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 0:0.0625
(to add .0625lbs to a small to medium package)
Larger packages - added packaging percentage:weight 0:0.5
(to add .5lbs to a large package)

So, if a small package max weight is 1lb, it would be:
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 1:0.0625

Yes?

[sopretty]

So, if a small package max weight is 1lb, it would be:
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 1:0.0625

Ok, no, that doesn't make sense... so if the maximum weight for a small to medium package is 1lb including packaging, where do I define this?

[sopretty]

Sorry for all the posts! As you can tell, I am having a lot of trouble wrapping my head around this! :) Hopefully this post will ask the right question...

Ok, re-reading and understanding up to a point.

To add only the packaging weight:

Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 0:0.0625
(to add .0625lbs to a small to medium package)
Larger packages - added packaging percentage:weight 0:0.5
(to add .5lbs to a large package)

Got that. But where do I say what consitutes a small to medium package and a large package? Is that the percentage part of the ratio (percentage:weight)? If yes, what do I say in the percentage part of the ratio for small to medium packages (maximum weight of 1lb)? And for larger packages (any weight over 1lb)? If no, where do I define what constitues a small to medium and large package weights?

Thanks again. :)

[sopretty]

Ok, I think I found a thread that actually explains this!
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26576

I took a look at the code in includes/classes/shipping.php and here's what it looks like to me (if you can find any reasonable logic in it, you're mind is more twisted than mine):

The total order weight is compared to the setting for defined maximum box weight that you will ship (set in Admin > Configuration > Shipping). If it is greater than or equal to the defined maximum box weight, the cart adds the tare for large boxes. If it is smaller than the defined maximum weight, the tare for small/medium boxes is added.

Now comes the illogical bit - after adding the tare as above, the new total weight is again compared to the defined maximum box weight: if it exceeds that maximum, it is split into a number of boxes (each equal to the defined maximum box weight) plus an extra box for whatever is left over.

So, if my maximum weight is set to 10lbs, the larger package tare will not be applied until the order reaches that weight.

The problem with that in my instance would be that a larger package for me starts at over 1lb. If I set the maximum weight to 1lb and get an order that weighs two pounds, it would be bumped to two boxes. But I don't need it to be two boxes. What I need is orders under 1lb or under to be an envelope (small to medium package) and orders over 1lb up to 10lbs to be in one box (larger package). I don't see a way to do this but...

For my particular example, I have set my shipping rates by weight - in Modules, Shipping, Zone Rates - each zone has weights and shipping charges set up there. So, I've done away with the tare altogether, setting it to 0:0 for both small to medium and large packages and instead added my packaging weight directly to the Zone Rates for each weight class.

I still don't understand how you calculate the percentage part of percentage:weight but, since I seem to have found away around it for my particular example, I don't have to... :)

[sopretty]

I still don't understand how you calculate the percentage part of percentage:weight but, since I seem to have found away around it for my particular example, I don't have to... :)

Maybe someone would like to explain it for others like me who are math challenged? ;)

[Twizted]

Yes that would be much appreciated. I am not sure how this works....

I am coming from the old ways of OSCommerce and I am migrating to Zen as it just looks better than all the other half baked "Loaded" solutions for OSC...

So I need to know how this works... Please....

[smoke_007]

Same here... The information in the Admin section does not explain what this percent is, does, or how to calculate it?!

Can anyone explain without copy and pasting the info that's already in the Admin page?

Pretty please!!? :)

Thank you!
Smoke_007