UPS xml Mod vs ZC UPS Mod

[wysiwygmn]

Hi all,

I began searching the forum about cost discrepancies between the UPS's site shipping cost estimator vs when our ZC estimates price. ZC always seems to be about $4 more for customers, with the same zip and weight.

We do have a ups acct. I just got an access key for the online tools.

Question - will installing the UPS xml mod give more consistant price quotes compared to the ZC UPS Mod? In newbie-terms, what are the benefits of using the xml mod?

I ship from Minnesota.

Thanks for your suggestions inadvance.

Andy

[DrByte]

I began searching the forum about cost discrepancies between the UPS's site shipping cost estimator vs when our ZC estimates price. ZC always seems to be about $4 more for customers, with the same zip and weight.

You can alter your tare settings in Admin->Configuration->Shipping/Packaging.
Zen Cart automatically calculates tare increases based on your settings there.

[wysiwygmn]

Thankyou for the reply DrByte...

I have doubled checked the weights of the products to be accurate. for test purposes I have set both tare values to 0:0, the handling fee to no, tax on the shipping to no...

The realtime quotes are still dramtically different compared to the UPS site.

Any thoughts?

Andy

[Ajeh]

You will also want to look into:
UPS Pickup Method
How do you give packages to UPS? CC - Customer Counter, RDP - Daily Pickup, OTP - One Time Pickup, LC - Letter Center, OCA - On Call Air

UPS Packaging?
CP - Your Packaging, ULE - UPS Letter, UT - UPS Tube, UBE - UPS Express Box

Residential Delivery?
Quote for Residential (RES) or Commercial Delivery (COM)

[DrByte]

The realtime quotes are still dramtically different compared to the UPS site.

And your tests are using the same "from" zip code as you've entered in Admin->Configuration->Shipping/Packaging->Postal Code, as well as "to" the same zip as you're testing in Zen Cart ?

(sorry, have to ask what may appear obvious)

[wysiwygmn]

Thank you both. (I apologize that I have been vague)

Both the "from" and "to" are the same zips.

Other settings:

OTP
CP
RES
Handling fee: 0
Tax basis: shipping

both tare wts: 0:0
weight of test product: 0.13 lbs

Price for Ground service:
UPS site - $8.05
ZC Price - $12.22

Andy

[Ajeh]

Zen Cart using United Sates Ohio 44026

United Parcel Service (1 x 0.13lbs) (Next Day Air Early AM) $61.90
United Parcel Service (1 x 0.13lbs) (Next Day Air) $29.41
United Parcel Service (1 x 0.13lbs) (Next Day Air Saver) $26.45
United Parcel Service (1 x 0.13lbs) (2nd Day Air) $15.39
United Parcel Service (1 x 0.13lbs) (3 Day Select) $11.06
United Parcel Service (1 x 0.13lbs) (Ground) $8.17

Try using instead of OTP the CC ... the rates drop significantly ...

[wysiwygmn]

Thank you SO much. What a difference!

I appreciate all the help,

Andy

[DrByte]

Yes ... OTP (One-Time-Pickup) carries a pickup fee; whereas the CC (Customer Counter Drop Off) carries no additional fee.