How does the USPS module determine shipping rates?

I have searched, and did find this in the FAQ's, but haven't found a lot more.

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=327

Can someone point me to any threads or tutorials about this module?

I am trying to understand how it works, but I need help with that. I cannot wrap my head around how I weigh everything, including the boxes, and how it determines shipping at checkout.

Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks and HUGz! Jules

The USPS takes the total weight of the order, plus any Tare Rate in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ... and breaks it into the Maximum weight of the box and gets the rate quote for the weight based on current weight settings on the Live USPS server ...

You can either add the Tare Rate for the Boxes or increase the weight on each of the Products to get the quotes ...

Ajeh:

The USPS takes the total weight of the order, plus any Tare Rate in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ... and breaks it into the Maximum weight of the box and gets the rate quote for the weight based on current weight settings on the Live USPS server ...

You can either add the Tare Rate for the Boxes or increase the weight on each of the Products to get the quotes ...

Okay, as you can imagine, that doesn't make a lot of sense to me. :unsure:

Are there any tutorials on this module?

Thanks bunches! Jules

Zen Cart isn't measuring your boxes or dimensions, nor magically calculating what size box you use. It's ONLY calculating the total weight based on the weights you enter for the products. Then it splits that into however many boxes are required so that the weight-per-box doesn't go over 50 lbs (or whatever number you set). That's it.

Maybe you might have an order that actually fits in 1 box but Zen Cart calculated 2 boxes. Or vice-versa. That's outside the control of this module's logic.

What exactly is it you don't understand?

DrByte:

Zen Cart isn't measuring your boxes or dimensions, nor magically calculating what size box you use. It's ONLY calculating the total weight based on the weights you enter for the products. Then it splits that into however many boxes are required so that the weight-per-box doesn't go over 50 lbs (or whatever number you set). That's it.

Maybe you might have an order that actually fits in 1 box but Zen Cart calculated 2 boxes. Or vice-versa. That's outside the control of this module's logic.

What exactly is it you don't understand?

I'm sorry if I seem slow, or dense. :blush:

I had just planned on using the USPS flat-rate shipping boxes. Sounded easy enough to me. However, I've now added larger items to my store, and I've run into issues when someone buys 2 or more items ... and I need to combine those items into a bigger box, to save them on shipping.

So ... someone suggested using the built-in USPS module, which I know nothing about, but am trying to understand.

My subcontractor will install and set it up for me, and I bought a scale to weigh everything ... but I still can't wrap my head around how it will work. That's why I came here looking for a tutorial.

So, I'm not sure if I'll still be using the flat-rate boxes, or not. I don't know if they work into how the USPS module works. :cry:

Jules

Okay. So your question is about how flat-rate boxes work and how they can be incorporated with the quotes Zen Cart generates on shipping.

As always, the more detail you provide about what business problem you're ultimately trying to solve, the better. When you give the big picture, you get much better answers.

Ironically, as it turns out, I'm not the one with the answers about USPS and how their flat-rate boxes work, etc. We don't have USPS where I live. :)

Here's hoping someone more in-the-know about USPS boxes will chime in with insights for you.

DrByte:

Okay. So your question is about how flat-rate boxes work and how they can be incorporated with the quotes Zen Cart generates on shipping.

As always, the more detail you provide about what business problem you're ultimately trying to solve, the better. When you give the big picture, you get much better answers.

Ironically, as it turns out, I'm not the one with the answers about USPS and how their flat-rate boxes work, etc. We don't have USPS where I live. :)

Here's hoping someone more in-the-know about USPS boxes will chime in with insights for you.

Okay, I'll try and be as detailed as possible.

I started out just selling custom dog garments for male toy breed dogs. They are little vests, and one can fit into the small flat rate box. So, I thought I was okay.

But, I have now started making other items ... such as dresses for little girl toy breed dogs. One, or even two of those would fit into a medium flat rate box.

Let's say someone ordered a girls dress and a vest, those items would fit into a medium flat rate box.

Now, I also do embroidered grooming towels. One, or two of those can fit into a medium flat rate box.

But ... what happens if someone orders a grooming towel, a dress, and a vest? Well, those three items would have to go into a large flat rate box.

So ... I am trying to understand how the USPS module figures all of that out?

I hope that makes sense. :lookaroun

HUGz! Jules

Jules,

Unfortunately, it can't figure out a pound of feathers from a pound of lead, but it's maybe time for you to think outside the box.

Instead of trying to worry about the box, just let the module figure out what the post office will charge for that total weight and then put it in any box and send it.

Adding the standard 10% tare weight will turn one pound into 1.1 pounds and tell you how much the postage should be.

If you find that the packing (box, filler, etc) is greater than 10% of the total, just adjust the tare to cover it.

You can get 11 pounds in any box for less than the cost of a medium flat rate. I don't think you could get 11 pounds of dog clothes in a medium flat rate.

Using your own boxes can save your customer money and maybe get you some more sales from the savvy customers out there who know what it should cost to ship an item. Also, the estimator will allow them to choose the method that they want. Maybe they don't care if it takes three to five days to get there.

If you find that you occasionally can save with a flat rate box, surprise the customer with faster shipping or a discount.:yes:

Hi Jules,

I don't want to ruffle any feathers but there is an alternate USPS mod that may help with your question. We had a similar problem with customer always choosing the least expensive option and expecting 10 pounds of stuff to be shipped in a 2 pound box.

USPS Shipping Module Update - RateV4 - IntlRateV2

It will allow you to filter by volume or weight. The volumes of each flatrate box is coded within the module.

My realworld example:

Product A: qty 5 will fit within a small FR box
Product A: qty 7 will fit within a LRG Video Priority Mail (O-1096L box)
Product A: qty 8 or more will fit within the Regional A flatrate or larger boxes.

Small FR box volume is 70 cubic inches.
I set the volume of Product A to be 13 cubic inches. As long as a customer has 5 or less in their cart, the USPS SM flatrate and larger boxes will be presented as shipping options to the customer.

If the customer places a 6th product A into their cart, the SM flatrate box is removed from the options presented. They can choose Priority Mail which for me is an O-1096L box or larger.

If the customer places a total of 8 Product A, then the SM FR and O-1096L boxes are removed, then only showing the Regional A flatrate box and larger.

It is a fine juggling act getting the volumes of all the products configured so that the boxes are removed from the customer's choices when various combinations are added to the cart. There is no volume field, so the 8th through 13th digit to the right of the decimal in the weight field is used to store product volume. SQL patch required to be installed to allow that.

The ReadMe and install instructions offer better explanation.

Additionally, you can select to automatically add insurance and/or other USPS options to the shipping quote.

dbltoe:

Jules,

Unfortunately, it can't figure out a pound of feathers from a pound of lead, but it's maybe time for you to think outside the box.

Instead of trying to worry about the box, just let the module figure out what the post office will charge for that total weight and then put it in any box and send it.

Adding the standard 10% tare weight will turn one pound into 1.1 pounds and tell you how much the postage should be.

If you find that the packing (box, filler, etc) is greater than 10% of the total, just adjust the tare to cover it.

You can get 11 pounds in any box for less than the cost of a medium flat rate. I don't think you could get 11 pounds of dog clothes in a medium flat rate.

Using your own boxes can save your customer money and maybe get you some more sales from the savvy customers out there who know what it should cost to ship an item. Also, the estimator will allow them to choose the method that they want. Maybe they don't care if it takes three to five days to get there.

If you find that you occasionally can save with a flat rate box, surprise the customer with faster shipping or a discount.:yes:

Okay, now you're speaking a language I can understand ... and this makes total sense to me. So, I need to go shopping for boxes! :wink:

Now, here's probably a weird question. Some of the girl dresses will need to go into a larger box, so they don't arrive all squished and looking horrible. Here's an example of one of the dresses, so you understand. http://pawsomedogclothes.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=20

That dress, if folded tightly, could fit into a small box. But, I don't want it to arrive to the customer all wadded up and wrinkled.

In the USPS module, is there something to set for an item like this, so it allows for a little bigger box?

Thanks so much for the great explanation!!

HUGz! Jules

@RixStix,
No ruffled feathers. Options are good. Relying on box size has never worked for us though as we always wound up with the system requiring too many boxes.
I'm not sure how that mod will fair in the upcoming price changes or with version 1.5.0. It may work just fine. The USPS module built by the Zen Cart Team is specifically designed for the requirements of PCI and PHP compliance.

@NekkidFish,
We try to reuse every box that we can get our hands on. A box of any size that's free then only matters as far as its weight.
If it takes a box that weighs 2 more ounces to mail a product, we just add 2 ounces to the product.
You know better than any of us what the "average" order would be. You'll just need to "guestimate" what you need to make off each order to pay for postage, packing, and boxes.
You'll probably have to make several adjustments over a period of time to get the figures where you want them.

I've heard it plays well with v1.5. If it doesn't play well with the upcoming USPS changes, then I'm gonna be hurting.

That has allowed us to offer less expensive 1st class insured packages while not allowing customers to choose 1st class for items that either will not fit or arrive intact. There's the occasional hiccup but for the most part it steps the box sizes to fit our needs. The trend has been less expensive is better based on shipping choices since being able to offer 1st class.

Regional A being priced between SM flatrate and Med flatrate also helps.

I would just like to thank you guys for the conversation and educating me. I still don't understand it all ... but as I get to working with it with my subcontractor, hopefully it will start making sense.

Keep talking about if there are other things you think of that I might benefit from. :smartalec:

HUGz! Jules