USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

[RixStix]

I know that Linda is the USPS guru but

Which filtering option of Marco's module were you using? Weight or Volume?

We were using the volume filtering extensively and it was sometimes tricky when using the 6th - 11th digits to the right of the decimal. We abandoned the Marco version for the J5 version last Sunday and had to make a few changes to our product weights and also the weight limits on the packages in an attempt to find a balance that we could live with and we're still tweaking things.

[ideasgirl]

I know that Linda is the USPS guru but

Which filtering option of Marco's module were you using? Weight or Volume?

We were using the volume filtering extensively and it was sometimes tricky when using the 6th - 11th digits to the right of the decimal. We abandoned the Marco version for the J5 version last Sunday and had to make a few changes to our product weights and also the weight limits on the packages in an attempt to find a balance that we could live with and we're still tweaking things.

If my mind doesn't trick me I was using weight. But I use it in a "dummy" weight because I will be using usually F/R box for all the shipping. Just for an example:
-All the solitaires and earrings are going to be free shipping but not the rest of the jewelry, so I use 1Lb. for all jewelry and the ones with free shipping, I mark them free shipping. I put a limit of 5# for the small box because they will fit in a small box and anyways anything more than $99 will be free shipping.
-So next 6# I have wallets, perfumes, which will fit without problem up to 3 in a medium box, so there's the max of 18#.
-Then I mark sandals and messenger bags as 10# because they will fit in a medium box but only 1, so any 2 of those will go to next level.
-Finally we have the large box for the bags and wedges. To those items I give a 20# to each.

Thanks for helping.

[RixStix]

Try these weights in your USPS settings

Small FlatRate 0 - 5 pounds
Med FlatRate 0 - 19 pounds
LG FlatRate 0- 30 pounds

and see if it helps.

If someone purchases a wallet and/or perfumes, the SmFR should be removed from the choices
If someone purchase a 1 messenger bags, the small should be removed from choices.
If someone purchases 2 messenger bags, the small and med should be removed from the choices.
If someone purchases wedge, small and med should be removed from choices.

You are using logic similar to what we have been using for volume filtering. We can get 5 widgets into a SmFR, 7 widgets into a LG video and 9 or more widgets into a Med FR, so our volume for the widgets was 13 cubic inches which is set into digits 6-11 of the weight field.

Attachment 12836

[ideasgirl]

Thanks for all the help RixStix...

Here are the result of my test based on your settings. At least we are getting somewhere...

If I do your settings they come as you say UNTIL I do 2 items of same product (very unlikely to happen but it had already). If I put in the cart 1 messenger bag and 2 sandals, I get:

United States Postal Service (Priority Mail™ Medium Flat Rate Box $24.70
United States Postal Service (Priority Mail™ Large Flat Rate Box $33.70
United States Postal Service (Priority Mail™ $36.30

So of course people will choose $24.70 and I will be short because I have to use 3 medium boxes (not 2). And even if they choose $33.70 I will be short.

At lease Priority is now coming up.

Do you think this has to do anything with the settings of boxes and pounds on Shipping/Packaging?

[RixStix]

Glad you have shipping choices being displayed. That's a step in the right direction.

Our shipping/packaging is default zencart setup except we have a tare on small packages of 0.1 pound.

I'd check the individual product weights just to be sure they are 10 pounds as you say.

I just tried an example in our store where:
My settings are
smFR 0-1.4 pounds
MdFR 0-7 pounds
LgFR 0-70 pounds

Product that fits into a MdFR = 4 pounds. Add one to cart & all ok. Change qty to 2 which would be 8 pounds and the MdFr is no longer an option.

My guess is that the product weights might need to be tweaked for the most commonly used combinations. Since changing from Marco to J5, I'm still tweaking some product weights to cause the smaller box to be removed.

Have you looked at any of the Regional Size boxes to see if you can add them to the selection mix. A RegionalA is a bit smaller than a Med FR and shipping cost is between small and med FR. Just a suggestion to give you a few more size options.

How would you ship a bag and 2 sandals? You can lower the LG FR max limit down so it will also be removed if that combination is used.

Since I have never had to consider multiple boxes being used in a single order, Linda or someone would have to enlighten us on how that is handled but I'd guess that's where edits to the SHIPPING/PACKAGING would come into play.

[RixStix]

I just realized that the total weight for the cart is displayed but I think that is independent of the Shipping module because it is displayed even when I remove the USPS module and leave the Fedex in place.

I never mentioned that I'm using V1.3.9H if that makes any difference

[ideasgirl]

Ok, so here's what is working better right now. First I worked on the USPS config, and the final is:


Then, I worked on the shipping config (which I really KNOW-NOTHING about, so I just guessed), here's what I ended with:


First to answer your question on how I will ship 1/messenger bag and 2/sandals? I will have to use 1 medium for the handbag and sometimes 2 boxes of sandals may fit into a Lg F/R box but not always, so I will have to use 2 Md. The store owner doesn't have a problem of loosing 2-3 bucks in the shipping but 2 x 20 is $40 so I will try to be as much accurate as I can. Anyway they usually offer many discount coupons and specials which are really good deal to shoppers.

Now back to this issue. With these settings if someone buys 2 sandals and one messenger bag, it will be 3Md boxes $37.05. If they order 1/1 it will calculate 1Lg box $16.85.

Now the problem is that if someone orders 3 perfumes (18#) it should calculate Md box, and is going to the large one.

So maybe if I understand better the Shipping/Packaging settings and the percentage:weight formula, I will pin this down.

[RixStix]

Ahah. Look at your Tare for small packages. It is adding 5 pounds to every box to account for box weight, packing materials, overhead, etc. That would explain 3 perfumes going to a Md box... 3 x 6 pounds plus 5 pounds = 23 pounds. Max package weight is probably limiting the LG FR to 25 pounds and I haven't a clue what the logic does when 25 pounds is exceeded. So 20 pounds fits a Md FR and 25 max for a LG but that actually limits the LG to 20 pounds product plus 5 pounds tare. If you only use FR boxes, tare weight may not be an issue and could be reduced significantly or possibly zeroed.

It can make you go cross-eyed trying to balance things out.