Real-Time Shipping Methods

Modified on Sun, 24 Sep, 2023 at 4:48 PM

How do I set up real-time shipping rates?

In the top menu bar, click on Settings.
Click on UPS, USPS, FedEx or DHL Online Shipping.
Select the check box next to the shipping options you wish to offer.

The following (optional) settings display next to each shipping option.

Offset: Use an offset to adjust shipping rates. For example, enter 10% to increase the rate by 10% or enter -0.50 to decrease the rate by $0.50.

Handling: A handling charge will be added to shipping rates. For example, enter 10% to increase the rate by 10% or enter 2.50 to add $2.50 to the rate.

Display Name: You can override the default shipping option name. For example, if you want your customers to see "3-5 Day Shipping" instead of "Ground."

Discountable: If you have applied a Promotional Discount to shipping charges, check this box to allow the shipping option to be discounted.
Complete the settings regarding packaging as instructed.

You will also need to assign a weight value to each of your products. You do this in the Products area when editing or creating a new product.

Can I use more than one real-time shipper at once?

Yes. Please note, if you combine USPS with other real-time shippers, set the "packages measurement of weight" to "pounds" in the USPS section. UPS, FedEx and DHL view order weight in pounds, so you will want to use the same unit of measurement across all shippers.

What is the best way to set up UPS Online Shipping?

UPS computers provide the most accurate and complete set of shipping rates when "I drop off packages at a UPS service center" is selected for "How are the packages you ship received by UPS?" and "I use my own type of packaging." is selected for "What type of packaging do you use for packages?". Also, we recommend selecting all shipping options in the UPS Online Shipping area. This prevents the problem where, for some orders, your customers are not given any shipping options and cannot complete the ordering process.

Why don't all of the shipping methods I selected display in the shopping cart?

UPS, USPS and FedEx computers will only provide the shopping cart with shipping options that are available to the current shopper (based on "ship to" country, postal code, order weight, etc.). When you select a shipping method, it simply means that you are making that shipping option available. However, it may not actually display for each shopper.

The items I sell only weigh a few ounces. Should I use real-time shipping rates?

The UPS, USPS, FedEx and DHL shipping tools are designed to work with packages only. If your products weigh less than a pound, you can still use real-time shipping rates but you may find that shipping rates are too high. You would get better results setting up your own custom shipping method.

Some of the shipping charges are not perfectly accurate? What should I do?

UPS, USPS, FedEx and DHL make their online shipping tools available for estimates only. If it seems that shipping charges are too high or too low, add an offset value or handling charge to shipping options or adjust the weight of your products to compensate for the discrepancy.