Hazardous shipment customization

[rnet]

All

I understand there is a need, myself included, for a custom shipping module to limit shipping options for products such as aerosols, which must go ground.

The present shipping modules do not offer a method to limit shipments offered based upon a product classification. Example, I have 5 items in my cart, and one can’t go air, but I wish to ship USPS priority mail. Right now, either you have to manually alter and contact the customer or not offer anything other than ground.

Hence, the reason for my post. If others have a similar need we can together split the cost to develop this module. Post your interest here and once we have enough interest I will contact a Zen developer and advise the next step. I’ll PM you the expected cost at that time.

Once this is developed, I suggest this be made available for others as a free download and perhaps it will be included in a future release.

Please add your thoughts.

Regards,
Ken

[iWebGeek]

I am interested in this too because my phsyical store carries hazmat items and I would like to offer them online too, but ship them via ground or in-store pickup.

[Ajeh]

This can always be customized into the Shipping module using a new flag in the products table for what products are hazards or ground only such as adding a new field:
products_ship_ground_only

Or something of that nature ...

Then change the Admin files for adding/editing/copying ...

Then change the shipping module to manage the limitations ...

It would take some work to do, but it can be done ...

There are functions in the shopping_cart class to help determin what is in the cart based on field and number of hits ... you need to know when any products in the cart have been flagged or have this new field marked as true or on or whatever limitation you set ...

Then, the shipping module for USPS or UPS can be customized to address this kind of situation where if 1 product is ground only ... the whole thing is ground only or whatever limits you are trying to establish ...

[rnet]

Thanks Ajeh,

Once we get a few more interested folks I would like to move forward, and complete by year-end.

Regards,
Ken

[Justwade]

I know this is an old thread, but did anyone pursue a solution?
Ajeh outline sounds perfect, but I know little about coding such a task.

We have put warning everywhere, notices, shipping linked truck symbols and notices in the checkout process, yet the majority of orders pick priority shipping because its only a few dollars more, the same or cheaper.

We have very few complaints because we have them sign off on the terms with no shipping refunds, choose ground if its required, bla bla, but yet they still pick mostly the wrong one. Its often less than a dollar difference, but some people can get anal about it, especially the time it takes to go ground.

Probable would loose sales if they were forced into the slow shipment, so its a toss up, but we think it may best to be upfront by lack of shipping choice with what is required.
Justwade