All about Standard Shipping
Q1: I need the cart to calculate my shipping charges for me. How can I set that up?
A1: Americart currently supports seven "calculated" methods for determining shipping costs. Those seven are in addition to our "Multi-Method Lookup Table" and UPS/FedEx Calculators. All are detailed in the configuration form which can be found by logging into your account Login Here
Just make your selections during account configuration.
Q2: I want to offer my customers both UPS ground and FedEx overnight. How can I do that?
A2: We offer a convenient method for allowing customers to choose whatever shipping methods you care to offer, along with cost adjustments for them. We use a system of "default" and "premium" shipping.
"Default" shipping is the carrier and cost you set up during account configuration. It is usually your least expensive method, although it does not have to be. A simple example would be UPS ground at a flat fee of $5.00 per order.
"Premium" shipping methods are other ways your customers can elect to receive their order. An example would be FedEx Overnight at the default rate plus a surcharge. The surcharge can be calculated in various ways:
<form action=http://www.cartserver.com/sc/cart.cgi method=POST>
<select name=item>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 1^base+0">Method 1</option>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 2^base+5.25">Method 2</option>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 3^base+-3.00">Method 3</option>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 4^base*1.3">Method 4</option>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 5^base*1.5+4.25">Method 5</option>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 6^flat12.25">Method 6</option>
<option value="a-1358^=shipping=^Method 7^subtotal*.09+10.00">Method 7</option>
</select>
<input type=image name=add src=addtocart.gif>
</form>
To use this, make a "shipping" page on your site with the above code on it. Obviously you'd set the methods to what they really were, be it FedEx, UPS, 2ND Day, UPS to Tazmania, whatever. And don’t forget to use your own cart ID!
The first five of the six take your "default" shipping rate and do something to it. The sixth one ignores the default and sets the rate exactly.
The seventh may be the most powerful of all, since it ignores what you have as the default and calculates a % of the item subtotal as the rate and will also add an amount to it. This gives you a lot of power to offer second shipping methods totally independent from the default.
To see alternate shipping methods in action, visit Wayne's Widget World at sc/asdemo.php, put an item into your cart, then follow the link at the top of the widget page to the "Need your widget in a hurry?" shipping page. You can then select from several alternate methods. Notice that the cart display then shows the new shipping method and cost.
Q3: Some of the things I sell are services which don't have a shipping cost. I can't just turn shipping off since I need to charge for my tangible products. What can I do?
A3: You can "exempt" any item you wish from shipping.
In the product "item" variable, add the prefix =SF= to your partnumber field. Old number: xyz-1 New number: =SF=xyz-1
This is the companion exemption to =TF= which is used to exempt a product from sales tax.
Q4: I charge a percent of the order cost as a shipping charge, and this works well for me, but one of my items is very bulky and expensive to ship. Is there any way to tack on a little extra to the shipping charge for this?
A4: Yes. Use the =AS= tag similarly to to =SF= tag above. When the cart sees this tag, it looks in the shipping field of the "item" variable (field six) for a cost, and adds that to the shipping total:
<input type=hidden name=item name=item value="a-1358^=AS=pn1^Bulky Item Desc^28.32^1^5.00">
The above example charges an EXTRA $5.00.
Another tag is =SS= which will substitute the value listed for the usual charge. For instance, you charge $1.00 shipping for each item ordered. If you use the =SS= tag for a certain item, it won't count against the $1.00 per item, but will be charged the amount in the shipping field of the "item" variable (field six).
Note: =SF= and =SS= are equivalent if you have the shipping field of the item variable blank or set to 0. =SF= ignores that field and sets zero always.
Q5: Most of my items are shipped under a flat $5.00 fee, but I have a few heavy items that I need to charge $10.00 to ship. The problem is, if they order just a heavy item, their shipping works out to $15.00, which is too much. How can I get the cart to NOT apply the flat fee in such a case?
A5: Just mark it with the =SS= tag and put 10.00 into the shipping field of the item variable (field six). When you order the item by itself, only the $10.00 will be applied. If you get that item along with any of the "normal" items, it will apply the $5.00 flat fee also.
Q6: I'm confused by all the shipping options. Should I give up?
A6: Of course not. Americart is a powerful program with many features, but you don't have to use all of them right away. You can just set a flat fee and then display the "shipping cost is estimated" message in the cart display. Later, you can go back and tune things up as you please. It's easy to reconfigure your account. The important thing is to get things functional, then build from there.
Q7: The calculation methods are great, but I also need to set a minimum and a maximum shipping fee amount. Can I?
A7: These shipping switches can be set in the cart configuration form:
Minimum Shipping Fee: to be applied if your chosen method results in too low a charge for small orders.
Maximum Shipping Fee: to be applied if your chosen method results in too high a charge for large orders.
Free Shipping over x: the threshold you set over which shipping is free. This is a great sales tool.
Q8: I have free shipping with my orders. How do I turn shipping off?
A8: When configuring your account, just ignore the section on shipping. No mention of shipping will be made in the cart display.
You may also want to put the message: FREE shipping with all orders!" in the "merchant message" section of the configuration form.
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