Re: shipping confusion
This WebDNA talk-list message is from 2000
It keeps the original formatting.
numero = 33230
interpreted = N
texte = >> Hi all, >> >> I'm putting together a simple site and have run into a shipping costs >> quandary. Based on Smith Micro's tiny store example, how can I handle >> the following situation: >> >> we have two types of products: posters and books. There are 4 >> different posters and 1 book for sale. >> >> It costs $5/book for shipping, and shipping the container into which >> we put the posters also costs $5. The thing is, we can get many, many >> posters into that same container for the same $5. How do I keep >> people who order 2 copies of one poster or 3 copies each of three >> different posters from being charged, respectively, $10 and $45 for >> shipping when it should be $5? The way it works now, I would be >> charging people far too much. >> >> On the other hand, since the books are heavier and will be packaged >> individually, the way this setup works now is exactly what I want. >> >> And these seemingly independent setups need to work in one order!Hmmm... We run a mail order business here. The problem you describe is not unique to Webcatalog. The question simply put is, how do I accurately calculate shipping charges without a data link to our shipping system? The answer is, of course, you don't. What we have done is download the rate tables from the carriers web sites for the carriers we use, and build a shipping weight calc system built right into the order entry process. This was done in our SBT Accounting software. I have not done it for Webcatalog, although it's not a stretch to do so. The bugger here is international rates. Each carrier to maintain competetive rates uses a different method, and it can really make your head spin figuring out each one. If your shipping is all domestic, the problem is MUCH easier.Also you could use a simple weight range/carrier system which averages the costs for shipping within certain ranges for certain carriers. It is not a simple thing to do, and every time the rates change, your tables have to change as well.Another way is to have flat rate shipping charges based upon past sales. It's unfair to some and advantageous to others, but you would be surprised how many companies do this.You could also bundle shipping charges into the prices if your product is unique without competing similar products.But the ideal way is to have a shipping system which allows querying of the shipping databases to come up with the actual cost of shipping, after which you can mark it up using simple math.Now THIS would be a BIG money maker, if someone could develop Client Server software to do this which didn't cost an arm and a leg. Revenues could be obtained through a subscription system for updated rate tables provided throughout the year. Pitney Bowes has something like this for their shipping system, but they are WAY TOO expensive, and you have to buy/lease their entire shipping software system to get it. It's PC only too. -- Sincerely, Bob Sneidar Systems Manager The Word For Today ------------------------------------------------------------- This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list
. To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to Web Archive of this list is at: http://search.smithmicro.com/
Associated Messages, from the most recent to the oldest:
>> Hi all, >> >> I'm putting together a simple site and have run into a shipping costs >> quandary. Based on Smith Micro's tiny store example, how can I handle >> the following situation: >> >> we have two types of products: posters and books. There are 4 >> different posters and 1 book for sale. >> >> It costs $5/book for shipping, and shipping the container into which >> we put the posters also costs $5. The thing is, we can get many, many >> posters into that same container for the same $5. How do I keep >> people who order 2 copies of one poster or 3 copies each of three >> different posters from being charged, respectively, $10 and $45 for >> shipping when it should be $5? The way it works now, I would be >> charging people far too much. >> >> On the other hand, since the books are heavier and will be packaged >> individually, the way this setup works now is exactly what I want. >> >> And these seemingly independent setups need to work in one order!Hmmm... We run a mail order business here. The problem you describe is not unique to Webcatalog. The question simply put is, how do I accurately calculate shipping charges without a data link to our shipping system? The answer is, of course, you don't. What we have done is download the rate tables from the carriers web sites for the carriers we use, and build a shipping weight calc system built right into the order entry process. This was done in our SBT Accounting software. I have not done it for Webcatalog, although it's not a stretch to do so. The bugger here is international rates. Each carrier to maintain competetive rates uses a different method, and it can really make your head spin figuring out each one. If your shipping is all domestic, the problem is MUCH easier.Also you could use a simple weight range/carrier system which averages the costs for shipping within certain ranges for certain carriers. It is not a simple thing to do, and every time the rates change, your tables have to change as well.Another way is to have flat rate shipping charges based upon past sales. It's unfair to some and advantageous to others, but you would be surprised how many companies do this.You could also bundle shipping charges into the prices if your product is unique without competing similar products.But the ideal way is to have a shipping system which allows querying of the shipping databases to come up with the actual cost of shipping, after which you can mark it up using simple math.Now THIS would be a BIG money maker, if someone could develop Client Server software to do this which didn't cost an arm and a leg. Revenues could be obtained through a subscription system for updated rate tables provided throughout the year. Pitney Bowes has something like this for their shipping system, but they are WAY TOO expensive, and you have to buy/lease their entire shipping software system to get it. It's PC only too. -- Sincerely, Bob Sneidar Systems Manager The Word For Today ------------------------------------------------------------- This message is sent to you because you are subscribed to the mailing list . To unsubscribe, E-mail to: To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to Web Archive of this list is at: http://search.smithmicro.com/
Bob Sneidar
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