UPS ONLINE TOOLS RATES

[ari1382]

We are using ups online tools setup with a daily pickup. The rate returned matches the ups rate chart exactly up to 70lbs. Once I hit 71lbs+ the rate returned exceeds the posted rate and only gets farther away from the posted rate as the package weight increses - and it is more than the combined price of a 70lbs package and a 1lbs package. Does anyone know why this is? Also, when we submit a weight to ups, does able commerce split up the weight into multiple packages at some cutoff? For example if I have a 200lbs shipment, will I get the rate for 1 pacgake at 200lbs or does either able or ups split it up somehow? I know that we can specify on the item level that it must ship separately, but is there a cutoff based on total weight?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Ari

[sohaib]

When weight of a shipment exceeds the maximum carrier weight supported for a shipment AbleCommerce splits the shipment into multiple packages. I think the maximum weight for a package for UPS Online tools is 150lbs.
There is no conclusive way of determining the actual package split that will take place physically. So when splitting packages a simple approach is used. A 160lb shipment will be split in two packages of 80lb each. Some might say that it should have been split in two shipments on of 150lb and the other of 10lb.

[ari1382]

Sohaib,

You are correct about the 150lbs maximum for ups, but I am having rate discrepancies when the weight is 71lbs or more. Up to 70lbs the returned weight is exactly what is on the rate chart, once I hit 71lbs I cannot figure out what is happening and the price returned is greater than any combination of a split of 70 and 1 (i.e. 70+1, or 35+36... all of those are cheaper than what I get back and the higher the weight, the more the discrepancy).

Any ideas?

[sohaib]

You can enable debug mode for UPS shipping provider... then in App_Data/Logs you will have a log file of communication that takes place between AC and UPS server. There in the log you might be able to figure out whether AC is splitting package after 70lbs or 150lbs.
Btw also check your store's weight unit. The product weights will be considered to be in the weight unit of your store. If your weight unit is Kgs then it seems correct to be splitting the packages at around 70Kgs

[ari1382]

Sohaib,

I looked at the log and it seems like there is a $7.50 surcharge for packages exceeding 70lbs. Is there a way to tell AC what the weight cutoff per box should be instead of it just sending the entire weight as one package? For example, if I have a 100lbs shipment, AC is currently sending it for rates as 1 100lb box...can I tell it to cut off a box at 30lbs and then I would end up with 4 boxes and get rates for that?

Thank you,
Ari

[sohaib]

In 7.0.3 you can configure the max package weight on gateway configuration page. The default for UPS is 150. You can set it to 70 or whatever you like.

[ari1382]

Is there any documentation or screen shots you have so that I can see how it will work before we go ahead with an upgrade? Also, wher can I find what t he upgraded features are from 7.0.2 to 7.0.3?

Thank you,
Ari

[mazhar]

UPS Config Screen Shot

[sohaib]

Updates in 7.0.2 http://help.ablecommerce.com/upgrades/a ... _7.0.2.htm

Updates in 7.0.3 http://help.ablecommerce.com/upgrades/a ... _7.0.3.htm

[ari1382]

Mazhar,

Thank you for the screen shot...It seem like it is exactly what I am looking to do. I would just like to clarify how the logic works. If I set the maximum package weight to 30lbs and I have a 40lbs order, what will happen? Do you send a request for a 30lbs & a 10lbs box or do you split it up to 20lbs & 20lbs?

Ari

[sohaib]

A 40lb shipment will be split in two packages of 20lb each.