Custom Flat Shipping Rates and Shipping Method Titles

I must be searching poorly since I can't find what seems kinda simple and obvious.

So, I want to charge flat rates on single items using just 3 methods: UPS Ground ($14), Fedex 2nd Day Air ($17), and Fedex Overnight ($30).

Is there a way to create custom options for shipping that offer these prices and method titles?

Both the UPS and Fedex modules seem to require accounts and need to do calculations based on the product. I don't need that. Only what's listed above as every item sold is similar in size and weight.

Is there some way to configure this dumbed-down approach to shipping so that the buyer just sees those 3 options and fees?

Ideally, I would also like to offer 50% off each shipping fees on 2 or more items when using UPS Ground or Fedex 2nd Day Air (e.g., $14 + $7 + $7 on three items purchased using UPS Ground).

Thanks for any help!

clifford:

I must be searching poorly since I can't find what seems kinda simple and obvious.

So, I want to charge flat rates on single items using just 3 methods: UPS Ground ($14), Fedex 2nd Day Air ($17), and Fedex Overnight ($30).

Is there a way to create custom options for shipping that offer these prices and method titles?

Both the UPS and Fedex modules seem to require accounts and need to do calculations based on the product. I don't need that. Only what's listed above as every item sold is similar in size and weight.

Is there some way to configure this dumbed-down approach to shipping so that the buyer just sees those 3 options and fees?

Ideally, I would also like to offer 50% off each shipping fees on 2 or more items when using UPS Ground or Fedex 2nd Day Air (e.g., $14 + $7 + $7 on three items purchased using UPS Ground).

Thanks for any help!

Absolutely. I am doing this for one client right now (using "UPS" as the method of shipping). To get it working I cloned the "flat rate" module (and all it's components) and create 3 new files. One was for UPS Ground (flat rate), another for UPS 2 Day (flat rate), and the third for UPS Overnight (flat rate).

They did not want to tie into the real time UPS shipping module provided by Zen.

So, what they do is now have 3 shipping methods (all flat rates via UPS), and ini their case, if a customer buys 2 or more of one item, they charge an additional $15.00 on top of the flat rate (heavy items).

So, yes, it can be done.

I would like to do the same and have a drop down menu (like on the slutclothing.co.uk shopping cart) with the shipping options and the total should update itself when the customer choose an option.

Then the data should be passed to the Google Checkout.

Any ideas? Is there any contribution for that?

carlozdre:

I would like to do the same and have a drop down menu (like on the slutclothing.co.uk shopping cart) with the shipping options and the total should update itself when the customer choose an option.

Then the data should be passed to the Google Checkout.

Any ideas? Is there any contribution for that?

To get the shipping into a drop down box would require some custom programming as it is not a native feature of Zen right now.

Once you get it into the proper dropdown, as long as it integrates with the cart as do all shipping now, it should pass to Google Checkout just fine.

Zen Cart has the ability thru a third Party module in the downloads section to let users checkout using Googel Checkout.

But if I just use radio buttons for my 3 shipping options with no update of the total after selecting a shipping method, Zen will send the price of the chosen product + shipping price selected to the Google Checkout?

If you have not messed with any of the checkout code, install the Google Checkout module, and activate the shipping module you want, it will send everything Google needs to them.

I did not mess anything. Just googlecheckout.php in my attempts to get rid of messages like:

Error: Shipping Methods not configured
item (ignored)
specialdelivery (ignored)
specialdelivery9am (ignored)

But I have a copy and I'll restore the file. The problem is that I don't really need a shipping modules but just 3 options the customer can choose from and that's it, the values should be passed to Google as they are and nothing more.

And I'm confused on how to install it and what to do.

Thanks for help.

carlozdre:

And I'm confused on how to install it and what to do.

So are you confused on how to install Google Checkout, or the Shipping part? (now you got me confused :unsure:)

To get it working I cloned the "flat rate" module (and all it's components) and create 3 new files. One was for UPS Ground (flat rate), another for UPS 2 Day (flat rate), and the third for UPS Overnight (flat rate).

May I ask how you 'cloned' these files? I need the same thing.

Thank You

studeo:

To get it working I cloned the "flat rate" module (and all it's components) and create 3 new files. One was for UPS Ground (flat rate), another for UPS 2 Day (flat rate), and the third for UPS Overnight (flat rate).

May I ask how you 'cloned' these files? I need the same thing.

Thank You

"cloning" means creatign a duplicate of the file. BUT, after you make that duplicate, you have to go into the code and edit it (so what you have in effect is a "new" shipping method that was created out of an existing method).

To clone a file you would need to open the file you are trying to clone and then save it as the new filename you choose. Do the same for the associated language file. Make sure you know the proper naming conventions of zen so that you do not use terms which may conflict with the workings (I've heard of this happening before).

In your new file (that you saved from the old one), find EVERY single reference to the CONSTANT file that reference the "old" shipping method and change it to your own (again, paying attention to the naming of the constants). Do this same thing for the language file and you're all set. :smile:

Thank I will give it a try. What might you suggest for a new constant name? something like flat_1d or what do you think is safe?

Thanks

Is the laguage file in the sub-folder called shipping under languages/mudules?

studeo:

Thank I will give it a try. What might you suggest for a new constant name? something like flat_1d or what do you think is safe?
Something NOT related to other items the cart does (things like FREE, SHIP, etc.. ) are not good ideas.

Maybe name your CONSTANTS something like

Ups Ground = "MODULE_SHIPPING_PROMOGROUND_[The rest of the constant here]"

UPS 2 Day = "MODULE_SHIPPING_PROM2ODAY_[The rest of the constant here]"

UPS Overnight = ""MODULE_SHIPPING_PROMOOVERNIGHT_[The rest of the constant here]"

You'll need to create 3 new cloned module for this (and include the language file for each as well)

studeo:

Is the laguage file in the sub-folder called shipping under languages/mudules?

The language files for shipping are found under
/includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/[THE NAME OF THE SHIPPING MOD HERE].php

I have created clones off the flat rate files myself.

The code file located in:
/includes/modules/shipping/flat.php

The language file located in:
/includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/flat.php

And made them flat, flatasia and flatworld. All seems to work great in the cart and they say (title & description) what they need too. But in the shipping module in admin they display as:
MODULE_SHIPPING_FLATASIA_TEXT_TITLE
MODULE_SHIPPING_FLATASIA_TEXT_DESCRIPTION

Can someone let me know if this can be fixed.

Scott

SGP:

I have created clones off the flat rate files myself.

The code file located in:
/includes/modules/shipping/flat.php

The language file located in:
/includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/flat.php

And made them flat, flatasia and flatworld. All seems to work great in the cart and they say (title & description) what they need too. But in the shipping module in admin they display as:
MODULE_SHIPPING_FLATASIA_TEXT_TITLE
MODULE_SHIPPING_FLATASIA_TEXT_DESCRIPTION

Can someone let me know if this can be fixed.

Scott

If that is displaying in the Admin, rather than the actual name (such as Flat Asia) then you either missed defining the constants you show above, or you have an error in your text for the define.

Make sure you actually did create some text for the defines.

Eric, Thanks for the quick reply.

When I added details to /includes/languages/english/modules/CUSTOM/shipping/flat.php it showed the new values in Admin/Modules/Shipping (eg. Padded Post Bag - Australia) However it has not done the same for flatasia.php and flatworld.php. I am not to sure what other details to add and where to add them without screwing around with the code. Do I add the actual constants definitions to the includes/modules/CUSTOM/shipping/flatasia.php page instead of /includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/CUSTOM/flatasia.php

Regards, Scott

Each new cloned shipping module needs to have its own unique language file. As well, you will need to make sure you define (and alter the constant accordingly) to the new "terminology" you want to use.

Basically, do the exact same thing you did for the first module (which you said worked), and duplicate that for the remaining two. It should do the trick. Make sure you are careful in naming and using the proper constants associated with each new mod you created.

Could you show a more specific example with code changed in one 'flatasia.php' file or similar as an example?

Changed everything including the function names but it still conflicts with the original flat.php and kicks errors when you '+Install'

Do you need to change the configuration install strings as well (beyond the variable names?)

I have been reading the different messages regarding cloning the shipping files. I have tried cloning, and I would see the clone in the admin of zen-cart, but when I pass the cart to Google Checkout V1.4.5, I would only see one option for flat rates instead of multiple.

Google Checkout permits Multiple Carrier Calculated Shipping, but will it allow me to do multiple flat rate shipping?