Shipping Bands by Zip Code

[Alec]

I am trying to use US Postal Service tables that rely on zip codes. For the life of me I cannot figure out how to incorporate them into the Shipping bands either by zone or class. Has someone already created such tables that could be downloaded or something?

I can see how I can select states, but that doesn't help.

All the best,
Alec

[cdicken]

I'm afraid there is no way to supply these as a set of files to download (we have looked at this) as the cost of shipping all depends on your zip code as well as the destination zip code.

We have, however, provided an interface with UPS Online Tools , which will work out your customers' shipping charges online - based on where your customer is in relation to where you are.

Hope this helps.

[Alec]

Thanks

Thanks! I am already using the UPS Online software, but I need to provide USPS as well because it is far more cost effective for certain classes of postage. I think I have found a way around it, but it is a bit of a jury rig. Perhaps you should consider adding the Zone system that the USPS uses. Clearly they have an algorithm for it and that should be more than half the battle for you folks.

All the best,
Alec

[BPJSURF]

Alec,

I have implemented a simple system for USPS in Actinic version 5 and version 6 for Priority mail and express mail.

contact me directly if you need advicxe on how to configure.

Brian

[Alec]

Priority mail is the same across the US if the parcel weighs less than 1lb. Otherwise zone-based charges apply. Express mail does seem to be zone independent, however.

All the best,
Alec

[Alec]

On a related note, the USPS website has a feature that will calculate zones for you, based on whatever zip code you happen to be shipping from. This is clearly done via some software application, which suggests that there is an underlying algorithm at work. Since the USPS is fairly public and the US government routinely falls over itself to give things away to the private sector, perhaps someone in your company should consider approaching the USPS and seeing if you can't add this to your product to enhance your shipping table options. This would, for sure, be a significant improvement for Actinic.

All the best,
Alec

[cdicken]

Thanks for that Alec, I'll add it to the wish list.

[BPJSURF]

Alec,
I did download the USPS tools and we investigated building an interface to Actinic Business and Developer similar to the shipping providers UPS Online tools. Problem arose from the start with USPS using XML tools to integrate and it also requires a Secure call to route the data to and from the USPS server.

After reviewing the tools I decided it was not worth the expense to build a full integration too the USPS tools. In general people do not like paying for add on modules so I would have struggled to recoup the cost to develop.

You can fairly easily use the standard Actinic Shipping bands and classes to produce very similar results without any additional expense. The truth be told Actinic did a very good job 6 years ago whne they set up the shipping method. Its not perfect but it works 90% of the time for most small business.

Brian

[chrisbrown]

Not just for US

My client currently uses UPS for shipping within the EU. This is fine for most countries which only have one zone but gives a problem when a country has multiple zones.

The price differences are large so we don't want overcharge by taking the higher tariff, but picking the lower tariff leads to a loss on a number of sales.

UPS divides up France and Germany by postcodes and the resulting zones don't have natural names. For example: Lille, Nancy, Orleans, Paris, Reims, Rouen and Strasbourg in France and Archen, Bremen, Dusseldorf, Flensberg, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Hannover, Cologne, Kiel and Lubeck in Germany are in zone 3. Everywhere else is in zone 4.

The UK has surcharges for certain remote places and Northern Ireland falls into the same zone as the Republic.

What we really need is a postcode/zipcode based shipping cost option in addition to the current zones. I think that a generic solution that would suit many is possible. Can that be added to the wishlist?

[cdicken]

Will do.

[chrisbrown]

Thanks Chris. I have a suggestion for when/if this ever gets to be implemented.

Postcodes should be specified either by giving the "exact" code or a "beginning with" syntax. The latter would cover most European postcode usage and is exactly how UPS specifies its zones.