Configuring UPS Online Tools with AC 7.0

[wendyc]

Is there a reference guide to setting up UPS Online Tools with AC 7.0 other than the limited information in the user guide? I have a site where I've set up several UPS Online shipping methods, but when I put something in my basket the shipping won't calculate. I've verified that the weight and dimensions are included on the product and that it is set up to ship "separately". I also verified that the shipping method is set up for "All" groups/zones/warehouses. I don't know what to try next.

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Please confirm that you have a proper address associated with your default warehouse, especially the zip code. This is the most common reason for lack of rates being returned.

[wendyc]

There is only 1 warehouse, and I verified the address on the usps.com site (even adding the +4 to the zip code). The message shown to the customer under "Shipping Estimate" when they are in their basket (Basket.aspx) is "No shipping methods are available for the current items and/or the given destination." We have several shipping methods set up and all but one of them applies to All groups. They all apply to all products and all warehouses. There is no minimum purchase or tax code on any of the methods. What else can I check?

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Did you confirm that your warehouse does in fact have a zip code associated with it? If it does are any shipping methods showing up in other situations and have you ever seen it return rates?

[wendyc]

Yes, I verified the address of the warehouse. Yes, there are other rates set up, but when you go into your basket there is no choice of which rate to use. It just shows "Shipping Estimate" and "To estimate shipping charges for this order, enter your information below." When you enter a city, state and zip and click "Go", the message that appears is "No shipping methods are available for the current items and/or the given destination."

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Have you ever seen it return rates? Does it return rates on the checkout page (is it just the quick calculator that's not working)?

Please post a URL to the store, so we can give it quick test.

[wendyc]

When I go through the buying process and get to the checkout/default.aspx page it does not show any shipping amounts. It just shows this:

Shipping MethodSelect Method:
There are no shipping methods available to the selected destination(s).

Here is the URL to the website: http://www.merrittsupply.com

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

I tested it and it returned rates for me: Perhaps some of your products are not marked shippable or don't have weights entered for them?

Method Rate
UPS Ground
$13.81
UPS 3-Day Select®
$33.86
UPS 2nd Day Air®
$50.81
UPS Next Day Air®
$96.13

the product:
AWLGRIP Awl-Fair Epoxy Trowelable Fairing Compound Base Gallon - SKU# D-8200-11
Item Added on 10/1/2008

[wendyc]

Mike,

I don't understand why, but it IS working now. I've put everything back the way it was before I made changes during troubleshooting, and it still works. Even changing the product back to "yes" instead of "separately" as the shipping option in the catalog doesn't make it break. Thanks for your time.

[wendyc]

Mike,

I'm sorry, the problem is more complex than just that the shipping wouldn't calculate. Apparently, the dimensions of the item are not being taken into account when the shipping is calculated. If you have the weight then that is being used. If you don't have the weight, but you have dimensions, you get the error I reported initially. This is what UPS tech support said:
"Dimensions are available to send for a rate quote, but not mandatory. The xml request must have those dimensions in it in order for ups to send back an accurate cost. They will need to have their web programmer update the rate and service selection tool to take dimensions in to account when rating a shipment."
Is this a problem with Able not sending the information to UPS? I have updated one of the products in the store to have no weight, only dimensions. You can test it if you like: SKU H-45PL-06 at http://www.merrittsupply.com. Thanks for your help.

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

I have updated one of the products in the store to have no weight, only dimensions.

I'm pretty certain weight is still a required attribute. Put the actual weight in along with the L/W/H and let me know what you find.

[wendyc]

When I put the weight in, the freight calculates to $8.80. However, my customer has a UPS desktop shipping calculator that he uses, and he says that a 63” x 50” x 1” 5lb. package to Key Largo, FL 33037 would be $75.18.

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Now make sure this product is marked as 'ships separately' and hopefully you should be good to go!

[wendyc]

Mike, It looks like you are right, although the amount it's estimating for shipping is higher than what the customer told me it should be. I'm going to run this past him, but it looks like this will work. Now, what happens if the customer adds another product to the order? How does the shipping calculate?

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Glad your closer. You can just goto the UPS website to run the tests yourself using their online calculator.

It will send both transactions to the gateway and combine the result, if I remember correctly.

[wendyc]

Mike,

Today the shipping is not calculating correctly. Yesterday it was. I've verified the product that I'm testing (H-45PL-12) has dimensions and weight and is set to ship "separately". I also verified that the shipping methods apply to all products in all warehouses for all groups. Why would this happen?

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Either something changed in your settings or in the way you were testing, as typically software isn't very original and will do the same thing given similar conditions each time. I've just re-installed AC7 SR1 build Build 10152 and will see what I find with UPS and dimensions.

[wendyc]

Mike, we're you able to install/test the software and check your UPS shipping charges? What's the verdict? It's still not working on my site.

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Sorry for the delay, I have just tested the UPS integration and it matches up to the penny with the UPS online numbers.

https://wwwapps.ups.com/ctc/request?loc ... vl=PNRO_L1

Test 1: 1LB package withing dimensions.

Test 2: 48x24x24 LWH package weighing 1 lb (Billing rate of 143lbs), NOT marked ships separately still worked properly. You shouldn't set it up this way I was just curious if a single package would include the dimensions, regardless of setting. Adding 2nd product and it doesn't work as expected.

Test 3: same as above, with the product properly market as ships separately on the product editing page, worked out to the penny again.

[wendyc]

Thanks for sending that link to the UPS online tools. I saw previously that you could get rates based on weight, but I never figured out how to be able to put in dimensions. Now there is a new wrinkle. When I put in the dimensions of the product we're having problems with, I get an error on the UPS website that says: >>> Package exceeds the maximum length constraint of 108 inches. Length is the longest side of a package. I tried the dimensions you used in your test, and I didn't get that message. So...now I'm wondering if this is a limitation of UPS online tools. What do you think?

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Sounds like the error message pretty much says what the likely issue is.

Package Size Limit
Currently, the UPS package size allowance is a total of 165 inches or 419 cm in length and girth combined. The maximum weight per package will remain at 150 lb. The maximum length will remain at 108 inches.

[wendyc]

I just tried a new comparison with different dimensions, and I'm not getting the same figure when I use the online calculator vs. the Shipping Estimate in the Able cart. My product is 51x34x2 and weighs 2.5 lbs. I'm shipping from POMPANO BEACH/33064 to KEY LARGO/33037. The cost of the product is $92.04. At UPS online I'm getting $17.22 for UPS ground same day and $56.60 for Next Day. In my cart I'm getting $14.85 (includes $2 handling fee in Able) for UPS ground and $53.52 (includes $2 handling fee in Able) for Next Day Air. The difference is slight, but why wouldn't I be getting the same rates (less the handling fees) online?

[Shopping Cart Admin]

Hello Wendy,

Make sure that the options are the same and it will be to the penny:

UPS Account with daily pickup (it defaults to retail on UPS), set in Able and selected on UPS rate site.
Business or residence delivery location same selected on both Able and UPS.