Priority Mail Flat Rate and Regional Rate Packages

Introduction

This tutorial will cover the configuration of flat rate and regional rate packages for USPS shipping. These special package types carry a rate that is fixed based upon geographical area instead of weight. You can read more about these services at the USPS website:

Priority Mail Flat Rate

Priority Mail Regional Rate

Adding Methods

The first step is to make sure that we have added USPS: Priority Mail to the account. To do this navigate to:

Click the add method button as shown below.

Select USPS: Priority Mail from the drop down box and click Add as shown below.

The new method will appear on the package with real-time calculation as the default calculation method. Go ahead and click the save button as shown below. This will take you back to the methods list.

Adding Packages

The next step is to add the packages to your configuration for the flat rate boxes. To do this navigate to:

Click the Add USPS Flat Rate Packages button as shown below.

Check the boxes for the different type of boxes that you want to use for shipping as shown below and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click Continue. This will add all the packages to your account and automatically associate them with the USPS: Priority Mail method.

Package Selection Logic

UltraCart will select the package to use by selecting the smallest package that will fit the items. The items may very well fit in the regional rate box because it is smaller, but if the shipment is going coast to coast then the regional rate box will be more expensive than the flat rate box. To prevent this from happening you can edit the package and set the maximum distance from the origin that the box can be shipped. Navigate to:

Click the edit button for the appropriate package. Set the maximum distance to whatever limitation you want (250 miles for example).  Click Save.

Endicia Dazzle / Express1

Most merchants print their USPS postage labels with Endicia Dazzle and/or Express1.com. When a flat rate or regional rate box is used, UltraCart will send the appropriate identifier to their system to generate the appropriate label.

UltraShip Overrides

If you're an UltraShip user you can manually select which type of package you are packing the order into from the drop down list as shown below.