Flat Rate per item that does not adjust with # of items

ZC 1.3.8

Shipping Issue #1:
I have a client that wants to charge a flat rate per each item, that does not change with the number of that item purchased (whether 1 or 5000000 is ordered). Yes, I understand this could end up with them only getting, say $10 shipping, even if someone orders 1,000 quantity... but the customer wants what they want, and the customer's always right!

So, for example:
Item #1 (any qty): $10 flat rate shipping
Item #2 (any qty): $15 flat rate shipping
Item #3 (any qty): $5 flat rate shipping

Shipping Issue #2:
To complicate things, I also need to be able to add an additional flat shipping charge if a customer decides to add a particular attribute option.

For example:
Item #3 AND customer selects a particular attribute (any qty): $5 + $10 flat rate shipping

Your help is greatly appreciated!
:lamo:

So, for example:
Item #1 (any qty): $10 flat rate shipping
Item #2 (any qty): $15 flat rate shipping
Item #3 (any qty): $5 flat rate shipping
So how are you going to filter what gets 5, 10 , or 15 rate?
Shipping Issue #2:
To complicate things, I also need to be able to add an additional flat shipping charge if a customer decides to add a particular attribute option.
One can add an attribute or up scale the cost of that attribute
Or you might be able to use a module that allows a "hidden attribute"
See hidden attribute http: //www.customcartmods.com/modshop/
Remove space

Thanks for your reply.

kobra:

So how are you going to filter what gets 5, 10 , or 15 rate?

Well, I guess that's what I need to figure out. I'm hoping there's some add-on that can detect what product is being purchased and add flat shipping rate there. OR i could assign a weight to the products and use the perweightunit option, but somehow keep it from multiplying by the item quantity?

Also, these shipping charges need to be added together. So if the customer orders both Item #1 and Item #2, they will pay both the shipping charges ($10 + $15)

kobra:

One can add an attribute or up scale the cost of that attribute Or you might be able to use a module that allows a "hidden attribute"

Adding the cost to the actual price of the attribute is a great idea, however it will result in a higher up-front price. My client doesn't want customers seeing the same thing on another website for cheaper and in turn deciding not to order from his site. He'd rather have the lower up-front cost then add the shipping down the road...

The hidden attribute probably won't work for this cause the customer needs to be able to select the attribute and it will change based on that; I assume the hidden attribute stays the same amount always?

Example of the attribute:
Would you like to add a stand to your purchase?

• No thanks
• Basic Stand $5
• Deluxe Stand $15

MAN this is complicated! I wouldn't be surprised if this needs some serious custom work.... I understand why Zen Cart doesn't have this built in - I mean why charge the same flat rate regardless of quantity? That can result in a serious profit loss, am i right? If it was my store, I would use the standard built-in rates that zen cart has; adding shipping cost based on weight just makes sense...

Thanks for bearing with me and helping me out with my client's needs.

This would have to be customized ...

You could use the products_weight field but you would need to build a customized shipping module that is not using the "total weight" of the order, but rather the individual weight of the Products in the cart without regard to quantity ...

It is not so much a difficult shipping module to write, but it is time consuming ...

Have you got your coder's hat on? :smartalec:

Thanks, Ajeh

I figured it would be a pretty custom thing... that's what I was afraid of.

Well, here I go...

...

Oh, one more question... If I do a per item cost that DOES multiply per product, just as the perweight module works... Can I put a minimum shipping cost on that?

For example:
Item #1 = $1 shipping per item, but a minimum $10 shipping
(even if just 1 is ordered - w/o them having to order a minimum # of that product)

For example:
Item #1 = $1 shipping per item, but a minimum $10 shipping
(even if just 1 is ordered - w/o them having to order a minimum # of that product)
I believe there is a handling fee that you could utilize but if your example is close to real - -
Why would I pay $10 shipping for a product that I suppose weighs very little????

Hello Kobra - Good question. The client is selling large signs that weigh very little, but fit in strangely sized packaging... So if there's no minimum shipping someone could order a sign and pay only $1 shipping, which is nowhere near what it really takes to ship one sign. However, if you add 15 signs to that, it's not much more to ship, as they all flatten together to ship - that's why my client wants this kind of shipping setup...

However, if you add 15 signs to that, it's not much more to ship, as they all flatten together to ship - that's why my client wants this kind of shipping setup...
Check in the shipping module setup for the handling fee

You can customize the shipping module so that the lowest charge is $10.00 which might work better than to have a Handling Fee of $10.00 added to all orders ...

You are going to have to project your shipping costs to decide if the $10.00 Handling Fee handles all circumstances or if you really need to be more specific and only worry about the $10.00 minimum ...

As kobra pointed out, the $10.00 Handling Fee is the simplest solution ...

But if a calculated $10.00 shipping plus the $10.00 Handling Fee makes the order $20.00 shipping, is this going to be a problem? If so, then you want to look at customizing the code for the minimum cost ...

Ajeh:

You can customize the shipping module so that the lowest charge is $10.00 which might work better than to have a Handling Fee of $10.00 added to all orders ...
Have you been doing this long??

You always have a better way to state the issue!!!

Ajeh,

Yes you have stated my concerns precisely. I cannot have a $10 handling fee added onto the shipping cost; it needs to be a minimum shipping, at which point is no longer relevant when the calculated shipping exceeds $10.

I think I saw another post of yours which changes the following code. Is this what I should implement in the shipping module?

Ajeh:

Customize the code from:

    $methods[] = array('id' => $type,
                       'title' => $this->types[$type],
                       'cost' => ($cost + MODULE_SHIPPING_UPS_HANDLING) * $shipping_num_boxes);

> 
> to now force the amount ...
> ```
if ($cost < 7.95) {
        $methods[] = array('id' => $type,
                           'title' => $this->types[$type],
                           'cost' => (7.95 + MODULE_SHIPPING_UPS_HANDLING) * $shipping_num_boxes);
} else {
        $methods[] = array('id' => $type,
                           'title' => $this->types[$type],
                           'cost' => ($cost + MODULE_SHIPPING_UPS_HANDLING) * $shipping_num_boxes);
}

Thanks!!!

That is what you are looking to do ... :smile:

NOTE: be sure to adapt that code to the shipping module that you are using ...

I've modified the perweightunit module, but it just doesn't seem to be able to detect the "$cost" to run the proper code. If I add enough products to go above $15 shipping, the module still returns a $15 cost.

Here's the code I used:

if ($cost < 15) {
    $this->quotes = array('id' => $this->code,
                          'module' => MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_TEXT_TITLE,
                          'methods' => array(array('id' => $this->code,
                                                   'title' => MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_TEXT_WAY,
                                                   'cost' => 15)));
} else {	
    $this->quotes = array('id' => $this->code,
                          'module' => MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_TEXT_TITLE,
                          'methods' => array(array('id' => $this->code,
                                                   'title' => MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_TEXT_WAY,
                                                   'cost' => (MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_COST * $total_weight_units)
                                                              + MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_HANDLING)));
}

Thanks!

Wrong variable ... :eek:

In the Per Unit perweightunit module, the "weight" which is now the "cost" is:

    $total_weight_units = $shipping_weight;

So you want to know if the:
$total_weight_units

is < 15 and if so then set the cost as you have it to 15.00 ...

NOTE: check if you are testing the $total_weight_units or do you mean to test the calculated value of:

((MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_COST * $total_weight_units)
+ MODULE_SHIPPING_PERWEIGHTUNIT_HANDLING)

as being < 15 ...

Ah-ha! I knew I had a feeling that might be it... but for some reason I thought "but i don't care about the weight, I want to know the cost!" same thing, duh! lol

Thanks for your help!
Happily zenning now :)

You are most welcome ... let us know how it ends up working for you ... :smile: