What is the best shipping module to use in this case?

[HippieMama]

I am starting a new business. Many of the items we sell are fragile so they are well packed for shipping. Sometimes items can be combined in a box, sometimes they can't. Some items are heavy, but can easily go in a flat rate priority. Other items are light, but will take their own priority box.

Is there a way to take the shipping off the total calculations and still collect the payment information (we have an offline terminal to process transactions)? Like a way to say price doesn't include shipping, you will receive an email with the exact shipping total. Of course, we would post that shipping is done via priority mail using the fewest number of boxes while still allowing proper packaging of items.

[Webskipper]

Sounds like you want insurance right?

UPS will be your best choice.

UPS will also refund an unused label where as USPS will take 2 weeks to refund.

[HippieMama]

I'm wanting to be able to add the shipping charges after the order is placed. I don't want it to calculate the shipping costs at all. Of course, product descriptions would state the we use priority mail/ups for delivery.

There are too many variables other than just weight that will determine how many boxes, etc there will be in each order. I can't really set it up by weight nor can I just do a flat rate because of the number of boxes some orders may take.