Shipping Method Configuration

Managing how products are shipped is a critical component of any e-commerce operation. UltraCart provides a robust and flexible system for configuring shipping methods, allowing merchants to precisely control costs, delivery expectations, and availability based on a wide range of criteria. This configuration is broken down into seven distinct pages, each dedicated to a specific set of options. By understanding and utilizing these settings, merchants can optimize their shipping strategy to meet customer expectations, manage expenses, and comply with various shipping regulations.

Tab Overviews

The UltraCart shipping method configuration is logically segmented into several tabs, each dedicated to a specific aspect of how a shipping method behaves. This modular approach allows for comprehensive control over every detail, from the base cost of a shipment to highly specific restrictions and delivery nuances. Understanding the purpose of each tab is the first step in effectively setting up your shipping options to align with your business rules and customer needs.

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• Cost: Controls the cost calculation for shipping methods.

• Estimated Delivery: Manages the estimated delivery dates displayed to customers.

• Handling Charge: Provides various ways to mark up carrier shipping costs to cover handling expenses.

• Insurance: Determines when and how packages are insured.

• Other: Contains miscellaneous options, such as the display name of the method.

• Packages: Controls which boxes the system uses for calculating packing solutions for this method.

• Restrictions: Restricts when the shipping method is available to the customer.

• Tax Codes: Used for UltraBooks-Quickbooks integration.

Cost

The "Cost" tab is arguably the most fundamental section when configuring a shipping method, as it dictates how UltraCart determines the price a customer pays for shipping. This tab offers a variety of calculation methods, from real-time carrier quotes to static rates based on order attributes like weight or subtotal. Choosing the appropriate cost calculation method is crucial for ensuring profitability while offering competitive shipping rates to your customers. Additionally, this section provides robust options for configuring various free shipping scenarios, allowing you to implement promotional strategies or reward loyal customers.

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Cost Calculation Methods

• Real-Time Calculation: UltraCart calculates the cost by using a real-time connection to the shipper's system.

• Order Weight: Determines the shipping cost based on the weight of the order. You enter the Minimum Order Weight (selecting LB or KG) and the Shipping Charge for each weight increment. The screen provides for 5 initial entries and can be increased by 5 each time you click the "Add More" button. You cannot add lines until you have completed the previous 5. Click the "Save" button when finished.

• Order Subtotal: Determines the shipping cost based on the subtotal of the order. You 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 the "Add More" button. Click the "Save" button when finished.

• Order Percentage: Determines the shipping cost as a percentage of the order subtotal.

• Store Item: Shipping cost based on each item. This option is limited to stores with 500 or fewer store items. Once you click the button, this field will display your store items alphabetically. Simply enter the Shipping Charge for each specific item. Click the "Save" button when finished.

Free Shipping

UltraCart offers several ways to configure free shipping. Below is one method configurable within the shipping method itself.

• Qualifies for: If checked, this tells 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 this field is exceeded, the customer receives free shipping for this method.

• Order Subtotal - Continental US: This option provides free shipping only 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, the customer receives free shipping.

  Note: If 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 true, it becomes free shipping.

• Free shipping if any subscription item: If the customer has any subscription (auto order) item in their order, this shipping method will be free. This also applies to the rebills of that subscription.

Estimated Delivery

Providing accurate estimated delivery dates is a key factor in enhancing customer satisfaction and setting clear expectations. The "Estimated Delivery" tab allows you to configure how UltraCart displays these estimates during the checkout process. Whether you rely on real-time carrier data or set fixed timeframes, clearly communicating delivery timelines helps reduce customer inquiries and improves the overall shopping experience.

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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

Beyond the basic carrier shipping costs, merchants often incur additional expenses related to packaging, special handling, or specific delivery scenarios. The "Handling Charges" tab in UltraCart provides comprehensive options to add these additional fees or even apply discounts to your shipping methods. This allows for precise cost recovery and the flexibility to adjust pricing based on various factors, ensuring that all associated shipping costs are accounted for and passed on appropriately to the customer.

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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.

• 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.

  Note: UltraCart advises against charging this fee.

• 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.

• Lift Gate Fee: The fee to charge the customer if they select a lift gate.

• Saturday Fee: If you would like to assess an additional fee for deliveries on Saturday, you can configure it in this field. Please note that if you're doing real-time estimation, the carrier may already impose their fee.

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 a Percentage discount by Weight. Enter your 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 by Country/State

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. A new 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 shown 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.

Insurance

The "Insurance" tab provides the necessary controls for managing how shipping insurance costs are calculated and applied to orders. Depending on the chosen shipping carrier and method, UltraCart offers various options to determine insurance fees, from real-time carrier calculations to fixed rates based on order value. Properly configuring insurance is essential for protecting your shipments and managing potential losses, ensuring that valuable goods are adequately covered during transit.

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

Calculation Types

• 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.

Other

The "Other" tab serves as a comprehensive collection of miscellaneous yet important settings that don't fit neatly into the other, more specific categories. These options allow for fine-tuning the behavior and display of each shipping method, covering aspects like maximum order weight or package count, display names, accounting codes, and specialized delivery flags. This tab ensures that every nuanced requirement for a shipping method can be configured, contributing to a seamless checkout experience and efficient backend processing.

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• 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, for FedEx Home Delivery shipments, you would want to set this to 70 lbs.

• Comment: Displayed to the right of the shipping method name during checkout.

• Display Name: Changes the way the method is displayed to the customer during 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, 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.

• Lift Gate Option: Checking this box will allow the customer to specify during 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.

Least Cost Routing

Least cost routing allows you to adjust a shipping method to another method based upon the actual costs. For instance, if you have a method called "Standard Shipping" that is $4.95 at checkout, but before you transfer the order to the fulfillment house, you need to determine the actual shipping method that should be used. Least cost shipping allows you to configure which methods should be rated to change the order to. Keep in mind that it selects the least costly method, but the customer does not see a cost change on their order.

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 packages are defined…" message. Defining packages is covered later in this chapter.

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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, these countries are previously established at: Main Menu → Configuration → Checkout → Allowed Countries. This is usually only necessary for large packages to international countries via USPS. Enter the Maximum Length and set either inches (IN) or centimeters (CM) from the drop-down list.

Restrictions

The "Restrictions" tab is a powerful tool for controlling the availability of specific shipping methods to your customers. This tab allows you to define a multitude of conditions based on geographic location, payment methods, order attributes, and even specific items in the cart. By carefully configuring restrictions, merchants can ensure that customers are only presented with valid shipping options, preventing errors, reducing customer service inquiries, and adhering to regional or product-specific shipping limitations. This tab is essential for precise control over the shipping options offered during checkout.

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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, for example. The first section of the Destination Restrictions determines valid/invalid generalized delivery destinations, which includes geographical regions of the world, but also includes delivery types: APO/FPO, Post Office Boxes, and Residential/Business address designations. The second section to the destination restrictions is the Countries list, these countries are previously established at: Main Menu → Configuration → Checkout → Allowed Countries.

Local Delivery / Pickup

If you are creating a shipping method for local customers, you can use one of the following restrictions to ensure 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, check the box provided.

Payment Method Restrictions

This section allows you to specify the payment method restrictions 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 who have configured Pricing Tiers can restrict said pricing tiers per shipping method.

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 you configure based 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

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

Delivery Day of Week Restrictions

If a delivery can only be made on a specific day of the week, check the box below. Leaving all of the boxes unchecked will not enforce any delivery day of week restrictions.

Screen Branding Theme Restrictions

This allows a shipping method to be displayed if 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.

Force To Distribution Center

If you need to force an order to route to a particular distribution center when this shipping method is selected, pick the distribution center code from the list below. Please note this will not cause the cost of shipping to recalculate since this routing takes place after the shipping method has been selected. This option is primarily used with customer pickup methods.

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.

Tax Codes

The “Tax Codes” tab provides a configuration area for tax related services like Avalara and Sovos. A message will display if these services are not current enabled on your account.

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