Shipping Method Configuration

Shipping method configuration is broken down into seven different pages of options:

Tab	Description
Cost	Controls the cost of the shipping methods
Restrictions	Restricts when the shipping method is available to the customer.
Insurance	Determines when and how packages are insured
Estimated Delivery	Controls the estimated delivery dates displayed to customers.
Handling Charge	Provides all the various ways of marking up the carriers shipping costs to cost handling costs
Packages	Controls which boxes the system will use with calculating a packing solution for this method
Other	Various other options such as the display name of the method

Cost

The Cost tab allows you to set the shipping calculation method for this shipper. You can select one of the five methods shown below.

Cost Calculation Methods

Below is a list of the different method types along with a short description of each.

Method Type	Description
Real-Time Calculation	UltraCart has the ability to calculate the cost by using a real-time connection to the shippers system.
Order Weight	Determines the shipping cost based upon the weight of the order. Enter the Minimum Order Weight (select LB or KG), and enter the Shipping Charge for each. The screen provides for 5 initial entries but can be increased by 5 each time you click on the "Add More" button. You cannot add lines until you have completed the previous 5. Click on the "Save" button when finished.
Order Subtotal	Determines the shipping cost based upon the subtotal of the order. Enter the subtotal amount of the order and the shipping charge at that subtotal level. Again, you have five rows but can add 5 additional (at a time) by clicking on the "Add More" button. Click on the "Save" button when finished.
Order Percentage	Determines the shipping cost as a percentage of the order subtotal.
Store Item	Shipping cost based upon each item. This option is limited to stores with 500 store items or less. Once you click on the button to the left, this field will display your store items alphabetically. Simply enter the Shipping Charge for each specific item. Click on the "Save" button when finished. If the cost for an item is left blank, shipping will default to $0.00!

Free Shipping

There are a number of was to configure free shipping within UltraCart, below is one way this can be done within the shipping method itself.

Below is a list of the different options and a description of each.

Field Name	Description
Qualifies for	If checked this is telling the system that this method can be used to provide free shipping to the customer. Optional: if weight - If configured the method can only provide free shipping if the weight condition is met.
Order Subtotal	If the amount provided in the field is exceeded then the customer is given free shipping for this method.
Order Subtotal - Continental US	This option will only provide free shipping if both the amount provided is exceeded and the customer is also within the continental United States.
Item Count	If the item count within the cart exceeds the number provided then the customer is given free shipping. If the a 0 is entered into the field, shipping is always free.
Cheapest Method	If checked the system will look to see if this is the cheapest method provided to the customer. If this is true then it becomes free shipping.

If you decide to DISCONTINUE use these features keep in mind that the fields should be returned to blank fields and not 0's as this will provide multiple conditions for free shipping.

Restrictions

There are 14 configurable restrictions under this tab:

Destination Restrictions
Local Delivery / Pickup
Back End Order Entry
Payment Method Restrictions
Pricing Tier Restrictions (if configured)
Weight Restrictions
Value Restrictions
Shipment Cut-off Times
Delivery Day of Week Restrictions
Screen branding Theme Restrictions
Ship on Day of Week Restrictions
Distribution Center Restrictions
Force to Distribution Center
Item Restrictions

Destination Restrictions

The Destination Restrictions tab allows you to specify to which locations and location types the specified shipping method services. Many merchants use these methods to allow for USPS only when shipping to APO/FPO addresses.

Restriction Type	Description
Invalid For	If the address matches this restriction then the shipping method will be invalid.
Valid For	If the address matches this restriction then the shipping method will be valid.
Valid Only For	If any restriction is marked as valid only for then the address must match these restrictions.

Setting your restrictions can be a little confusing at first, but UltraCart support is available to help you properly dial in your desired business rules

Local Delivery / Pickup

If you are creating a shipping method for local customers you can use one of the following restrictions to make sure customers out of the area do not see the method.

Back End Order Entry

If you want this shipping method to only appear in the back-end order entry application then check the box below.

Payment Method Restrictions

This section allows you to specify the payment method restrictions that you desire to have placed on this shipping method. Similar to the Destination Restrictions, you can select Invalid For, Valid For, and Valid Only For options.

Pricing Tier Restrictions

Again, similar to the previous restriction settings, merchants that have configured Pricing Tiers they can restrict said pricing tiers per shipping method.

This section will not appear on your page unless you have configured one or more pricing tiers under:

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Weight Restrictions

Some shippers have Weight Restrictions for some shipping methods. Therefore, this option will allow a merchant to have a shipping method available only when certain weight criteria are met. By setting weight restrictions, UltraCart will not recommend those not meeting the criteria that you configure base on the total weight of the items in the cart. Keep in mind that this setting is for a particular shipping method.

There are three fields to be completed for both the Total Shipment and the Individual Package. Select the applicable Quality Operator (less than, more than, etc.) from the first drop down list. Then enter the applicable amount. Lastly, select LB, OZ, or KG. in the last drop-down list.

Value Restriction

Some shipping methods may not be suitable for high value shipments due to their tracking and inability to insure. If you would like to restrict this shipping method under certain high value scenarios enter maximum values below.

Shipment Cut-off Times

Time each day that this method will no longer be valid after. This restriction is useful when configuring time sensitive local courier methods.

Delivery Day of Week Restrictions

If a delivery can only BE MADE a specific day of the week then check the box below. Leaving all of the boxes unchecked will not enforce any delivery day of week restrictions.

Screen Branding Theme Restrictions

This can allow for a shipping method to be displayed in the selected screen branding theme is selected.

Ship on Day of Week Restrictions

This section offers the ability to restrict shipping to occur on a certain day of the week. Click on the check box to the right of the day of the week that you DO NOT want shipping to occur.

Distribution Center Restrictions

This section offers the ability to restrict this shipping method from appearing if the shipment is originating from a specific distribution center. This is a good restriction to use if one of your distribution centers does not support a particular shipping method.

Item Restrictions

This section offers the ability to restrict shipping methods when certain items are present in an order. Only the first 500 items will appear in this list.

Insurance

Click on the Insurance Tab to configure the way UltraCart calculates insurance costs. The settings vary depending on the shipping carrier or method. The three options are:

Real-time calculation by [method] (appears only if the shipper offers it)
Based upon the order subtotal
None

Calculation Type	Description
Real-Time Calculation	Allows the carrier to determine the cost of the insurance. An additional (optional) field will appear that allows you to set a minimum package value. Calculation will not occur until the package value is under this amount.
Based upon the order subtotal	This option allows you to enter the Insurance Cost (dollar amount), Increment (per dollar amount) and minimum quantity (dollar amount).
None	Click the radio button to the left of the "None" option to have no insurance costs calculated.

Estimated Delivery

You can provide your customer with an estimation of the delivery date. There are five different ways to specify the information:

Real-Time
Specific number of business days
Range of business days
Specific number of weeks.
Range of weeks.

Simply click the radio button to the left of your choice and enter the information in the boxes provided. Select the radio button to the left of "None" if no Estimated Delivery time is desired.

Handling Charges

There are various charges that merchants encounter when shipping some products. For example, some countries require special shipping documents or other handling considerations that increase shipping costs. UltraCart provides the ability to add additional shipping (handling) charges and discounts per shipping method.

There you will find 5 sections of handling charges:

Markups
Pricing Tier Markups
Markup By Zip Code
Discount
Handling Charge by Country/State

Each one is discussed below.

Markup

In the top portion of this screen you can establish Markup fees to be passed on to the customer.

Markup	Description
Flat	Flat fee markup on the shipment
Percentage	Markup of the cost of shipping by a specific percentage
First Item	Markup for the first item
Each Additional Item	Markup for each additional item in the package
Residential Delivery	Fee charged if the shipment goes to a residence
APO/FPO	Fee charged if the shipment goes to military personnel. Unpatriotic of you to charge this.
P.O. Box	Fee charged if the shipment goes to a post office box.
Hazardous Materials Fee (per package)	Fee charged if the package is hazardous.
Hazardous Materials Fee (per shipment)	Fee charged if the shipment contains anything hazardous.
Minimum Order Fee	A fee charged if the customer does not order a certain amount of product.

Pricing Tier Markups

The same markups as above, but charged based upon the pricing tier(s) that the customer has on their order.

Markup by Zip Code

This markup allows you to increase the price of the shipping by a percentage based upon the destination zip code (US shipments only)

There are three ways of specifying zip codes:

Single Zip Code: 12345
Range of Zip Codes: 12340-12349
Range of Prefixes: 123-456

Discount

Merchants can provide a percentage discount for Commercial and/or Residential. Additionally, you can offer a percentage Discount based on minimum weight also for Commercial and/or Residential delivery. Enter your percentages in the appropriate fields.

You can offer Percentage discount by Weight. Enter you minimum weight in the field provided. Then select LB, OZ or KG from the drop-down list. Then enter the Commercial or Residential percentage discount in the fields to the right.

Handling Charge

This section displays all of the countries from which you allow orders

Enter the dollar amount you want to charge in the field for each Country. To apply a state level handling charge click [edit] next to the country. The following screen will appear.

Enter the handling charge associated with each state/province. For the United States, use the two letter abbreviation. For APO/FPO destinations, use the two letter abbreviations show on this screen. 10 blank fields are initially provided. Click the "Add More" button if additional fields are needed. Click the "Save" button when finished.

Packages

This section allows you to select packages (if previously defined) for a particular shipping method. If you haven't previously defined packages, you will see the familiar "No packaged are defined..." message. Defining packages is covered later in this chapter.

Configured packages will be listed on the left of this screen. Click in the check box for each package desired.

You can also set a Maximum Package Length (optional) for a particular country. Again, those countries previously established at:

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This is usually only necessary for large packages to international countries via USPS. Enter the Maximum Length and the set either inches (IN) or centimeters (CM) from the drop-down list.

Other

The other tab contains all the other miscellaneous options related to shipping method configuration as shown below.

Option	Description
Maximum Package Count	If the shipment is over this number, then this method will be removed from the selection list presented to the user.
Maximum Weight	If the shipment is over this weight, then this method will be removed from the selection list presented to the user.
Limit Package Weight	This restricts the package weight. For example FedEx: Home Delivery shipments you would want to set to 70Lbs.
Comment	Displayed to the right of the shipping method name during the checkout.
Display Name	Changes the way the method is displayed to the customer during the checkout.
QuickBooks Code	The accounting code used when downloading orders that use this method into your QuickBooks
Allow 3rd Party Billing	If checked, allows the customer to enter their shipping account number. The approved customers only box is provided to restrict access to this feature to certain wholesale customers.
Filter other methods when this one is available	If this method is available, no other methods will be presented to the customer.
No real-time charge	If this box is checked, then any order that uses this method will drop into Accounts Receivable for review. This option is typically used for LTL Freight shipments that require detailed estimation after the order is placed.
Suppress buySAFE	Turns off buySAFE on the order automatically if this shipping method is used.
Lift Gate Option	Checking this box will allow the customer to specify during the checkout if a lift gate is needed to make the delivery. This is typically for LTL freight shipments to residential customers or businesses without dock doors