Configuring your checkout
Configuring Shipping Charges
A Word About Shipping Charges
Some of our users have expressed a desire to integrate RealCart with UPS or FedEx so they can charge precise shipping amounts based on location, size of order and type of shipping. While this is understandable, keep in mind that even the “Big Boys” don’t do this. Currently there is no HTML-based integration method to connect RealCart directly to UPS.com or FedEx.com to calculate shipping in real time (as the order is placed). If this changes we will gladly integrate both companies, however, in the mean time you may want to take a cue from BarnesAndNoble.com and many other e-merchants that charge shipping based on a simple table.
We suggest defining shipping ranges based on size of order. You could do it based on the number of items ordered like BarnesAndNobel.com does. Here is the standard shipping table from BarnesAndNoble.com. Notice they charge a single shipping charge then an additional amount for each item.
BarnesAndNoble.com Standard Shipping
Delivery
Method |
Ship
Time |
Total Shipping Price
(add both columns) |
| Per Order |
Per Item |
| Standard Ground |
3 to 8 business days |
$3.00 per order
plus |
$0.99 per item |
| UPS Select |
2 to 5 business days |
$3.99 per order
plus |
$1.99 per item
(except Music and/or DVD: $0.99 per item) |
| 2nd Day Air |
2 to 3 business days |
$6.99 per order
plus |
$1.99 per item
(except Music and/or DVD: $0.99 per item) |
| Next Day Air |
1 to 2 business days |
$11.99 per order
plus |
$2.99 per item
(except Music and/or DVD: $0.99 per item) |
Domestic standard shipping table from the BarnesAndNoble.com web site.
To charge shipping the same way BarnesAndNoble.com does you would define shipping based on Quantity and you would define a “handling charge”. For example: To duplicate their Standard Ground shipping you would define a handling charge of $3.00 as well as defining shipping ranges as follows:
| From | To | Charge |
0
items | 1
items | 99¢ |
1
items | 2
items | $1.98 |
2
items | 3
items | $2.97 |
3
items | 4
items | $3.96 |
4
items | 5
items | $4.95 |
5
items | 6
items | $5.94 |
| etc. | etc. | etc. |
You can define as many or as few ranges as you like. The highest (last) range you define will be the maximum shipping charge that RealCart will add to the order. This concept is explained in greater detail in the following pages.
Four Ways to Charge Shipping
RealCart allows for four different shipping methods to be implemented in your on-line store:
- Shipping based on Weight. If you base your shipping on weight then you will be able to define several ranges of shipping charges for different weight ranges. Although you can be as specific as you want to with your shipping charges for testing purposes and just so you can get up and running it is best to charge for the zone or area code that is most expensive for you to ship to on all of your orders. Today’s internet shopping is well aware that shipping on the internet may be slightly higher than what they are used to paying.
No matter how detailed you get with your shopping charges you can always revisit the Shipping tab on the Checkout Wizard to tweak any of the values you define for shipping. Defining this type of shipping is the most popular choice among our users. Click here for instructions.
- Shipping based on Quantity. If desired you can base your shipping on how many products your shopper buys. BarnesAndNoble.com at one time (and still may) charged a set rate for the first book, say $5.00 and then an additional $1.00 for each additional book. Defining this type of shipping is easy, click here for instructions.
- Shipping based on Price. RealCart will let you charge shipping based on price. One desktop and workgroup site that uses RealCart charges a flat rate of $15.00 to ship any printer anywhere in the USA if the order total is less than $1,000.00 USD. If the order total is over $1,000.00 USD then there is no charge for shipping. This is extremely simple to set up as well, click here for instructions.
- Shipping based on Flat Rate. Another very simple way to charge for shipping. If your product line is baseball cards, for example, you may charge a flat $3.75 for Priority Mail shipping on every order regardless of weight, price, quantity etc. When you order from their site you pay $3.75 each time you order. This store also has an option defined as Express Overnight delivery for a flat $16.95. To see how to configure these options, click here.
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