Shipping Estimator - Possible bug?

[mwolf]

When using the Shipping Estimator with FedEx, I noticed the rates are all over the place. I add the 1st item to my basket and it returns $24.78 for the estimated shipping cost, and when I add a 2nd product to my basket, the estimator returns $17.44 for the total estimated shipping cost. Why is shipping going down when adding more than one product to my basket?

Has anyone else experienced this problem?

[kastnerd]

What are the weights of the products? If I know the weights I can test it my self.

[mwolf]

The first product weighs 24 pounds & the second is 10 pounds. Let me know what you find in your testing. Thanks!

[Logan Rhodehamel]

If you can reproduce the problem, then go access the FedEx configuration page and enable the debug option. This will produce a file in the "logs" folder that details the communication between your store and FedEx. It would be hugely valuable in answering the question.

[mwolf]

Which file will this debug information be stored in?

[combra]

Which file will this debug information be stored in?

Probably AppData>Logs.

-Brandon

[mwolf]

Here is the info from the FedEx log:

Code: Select all

Send: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><FDXRateAvailableServicesRequest xmlns:api="http://www.fedex.com/fsmapi" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="FDXRateAvailableServicesRequest.xsd"><RequestHeader><AccountNumber>265585280</AccountNumber><MeterNumber>8484448</MeterNumber></RequestHeader><ShipDate>2009-08-13</ShipDate><DropoffType>REGULARPICKUP</DropoffType><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><WeightUnits>LBS</WeightUnits><Weight>25.0</Weight><OriginAddress><StateOrProvinceCode>IA</StateOrProvinceCode><PostalCode>50129</PostalCode><CountryCode>US</CountryCode></OriginAddress><DestinationAddress><StateOrProvinceCode>IL</StateOrProvinceCode><PostalCode>60613</PostalCode><CountryCode>US</CountryCode></DestinationAddress><Payment><PayorType>SENDER</PayorType></Payment><Dimensions><Length>60</Length><Width>24</Width><Height>8</Height><Units>IN</Units></Dimensions><DeclaredValue><Value>253.00</Value><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode></DeclaredValue><PackageCount>1</PackageCount></FDXRateAvailableServicesRequest>

Receive: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><FDXRateAvailableServicesReply xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><ReplyHeader></ReplyHeader><Entry><Service>PRIORITYOVERNIGHT</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-14</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>FRI</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>01508</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>60.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>126.75</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>39.29</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>7.63</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>95.09</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FEDEX2DAY</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-17</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>MON</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>06002</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>60.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>58.80</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>18.23</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>4.59</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>45.16</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FIRSTOVERNIGHT</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-14</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>FRI</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>00008</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>60.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>151.75</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>0.00</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>11.81</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>163.56</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>STANDARDOVERNIGHT</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-14</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>FRI</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>01305</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>60.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>103.80</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>32.18</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>6.61</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>78.23</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FEDEXEXPRESSSAVER</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-18</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>TUE</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>07169</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>60.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>53.95</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>16.72</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>4.37</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>41.60</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>GROUNDHOMEDELIVERY</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><TimeInTransit>1</TimeInTransit><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>17.14</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>1.71</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>4.61</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>20.04</NetCharge><EarnedDiscount>0.00</EarnedDiscount></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FEDEXGROUND</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><TimeInTransit>1</TimeInTransit><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>17.14</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>1.71</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>2.49</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>17.92</NetCharge><EarnedDiscount>0.00</EarnedDiscount></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry></FDXRateAvailableServicesReply>

Send: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><FDXRateAvailableServicesRequest xmlns:api="http://www.fedex.com/fsmapi" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="FDXRateAvailableServicesRequest.xsd"><RequestHeader><AccountNumber>265585280</AccountNumber><MeterNumber>8484448</MeterNumber></RequestHeader><ShipDate>2009-08-13</ShipDate><DropoffType>REGULARPICKUP</DropoffType><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><WeightUnits>LBS</WeightUnits><Weight>35.0</Weight><OriginAddress><StateOrProvinceCode>IA</StateOrProvinceCode><PostalCode>50129</PostalCode><CountryCode>US</CountryCode></OriginAddress><DestinationAddress><StateOrProvinceCode>IL</StateOrProvinceCode><PostalCode>60613</PostalCode><CountryCode>US</CountryCode></DestinationAddress><Payment><PayorType>SENDER</PayorType></Payment><DeclaredValue><Value>369.00</Value><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode></DeclaredValue><PackageCount>1</PackageCount></FDXRateAvailableServicesRequest>

Receive: <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><FDXRateAvailableServicesReply xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"><ReplyHeader></ReplyHeader><Entry><Service>PRIORITYOVERNIGHT</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-14</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>FRI</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>01508</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>0.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>78.60</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>24.37</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>6.12</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>60.35</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FEDEX2DAY</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-17</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>MON</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>06002</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>0.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>37.75</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>11.70</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>4.29</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>30.34</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FIRSTOVERNIGHT</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-14</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>FRI</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>00008</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>0.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>103.60</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>0.00</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>9.33</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>112.93</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>STANDARDOVERNIGHT</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-14</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>FRI</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>01305</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>0.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>64.10</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>19.87</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>5.47</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>49.70</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FEDEXEXPRESSSAVER</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><DeliveryDate>2009-08-18</DeliveryDate><DeliveryDay>TUE</DeliveryDay><DestinationStationID>ORD</DestinationStationID><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateScale>07169</RateScale><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DimWeight>0.0</DimWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>34.55</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>10.71</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>4.15</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>27.99</NetCharge><TotalRebate>0.00</TotalRebate></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>GROUNDHOMEDELIVERY</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><TimeInTransit>1</TimeInTransit><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>12.23</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>1.22</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>5.11</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>16.12</NetCharge><EarnedDiscount>0.00</EarnedDiscount></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry><Entry><Service>FEDEXGROUND</Service><Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging><TimeInTransit>1</TimeInTransit><EstimatedCharges><DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed><RateZone>3</RateZone><CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode><BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight><DiscountedCharges><BaseCharge>12.23</BaseCharge><TotalDiscount>1.22</TotalDiscount><TotalSurcharge>2.99</TotalSurcharge><NetCharge>14.00</NetCharge><EarnedDiscount>0.00</EarnedDiscount></DiscountedCharges></EstimatedCharges><SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption></Entry></FDXRateAvailableServicesReply>

[mwolf]

If you can reproduce the problem, then go access the FedEx configuration page and enable the debug option. This will produce a file in the "logs" folder that details the communication between your store and FedEx. It would be hugely valuable in answering the question.

Logan, Is there any update on this?

[gjaros]

Mike,

This looks like it is due to dimensional weights.

If you look in your first request AC is sending the following information to FedEx (note that dimensions are included, probably because there is a single item in the order):

Code: Select all

<Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging>
<WeightUnits>LBS</WeightUnits>
<Weight>25.0</Weight>
<Dimensions>
	<Length>60</Length>
	<Width>24</Width>
	<Height>8</Height>
	<Units>IN</Units>
</Dimensions>
<DeclaredValue>
	<Value>253.00</Value>
	<CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode>
</DeclaredValue>

And this is the section of the response for Fed Ex Ground:

Code: Select all

<Entry>
	<Service>FEDEXGROUND</Service>
	<Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging>
	<TimeInTransit>1</TimeInTransit>
	<EstimatedCharges>
		<DimWeightUsed>true</DimWeightUsed>
		<RateZone>3</RateZone>
		<CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode>
		<BilledWeight>60.0</BilledWeight>
		<DiscountedCharges>
			<BaseCharge>17.14</BaseCharge>
			<TotalDiscount>1.71</TotalDiscount>
			<TotalSurcharge>2.49</TotalSurcharge>
			<NetCharge>17.92</NetCharge>
			<EarnedDiscount>0.00</EarnedDiscount>
		</DiscountedCharges>
	</EstimatedCharges>
	<SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption>
</Entry>

Note that it is using a dimensional weight of 60 lbs even though the package itself is 25 lbs.

Now for the second request you have two items so the actual dimensions can't be calculated, so they're not sent:

Code: Select all

<Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging>
<WeightUnits>LBS</WeightUnits>
<Weight>35.0</Weight>
<DeclaredValue>
	<Value>369.00</Value>
	<CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode>
</DeclaredValue>

So the rates are based on 35 lbs:

Code: Select all

<Entry>
	<Service>FEDEXGROUND</Service>
	<Packaging>YOURPACKAGING</Packaging>
	<TimeInTransit>1</TimeInTransit>
	<EstimatedCharges>
		<DimWeightUsed>false</DimWeightUsed>
		<RateZone>3</RateZone>
		<CurrencyCode>USD</CurrencyCode>
		<BilledWeight>35.0</BilledWeight>
		<DiscountedCharges>
			<BaseCharge>12.23</BaseCharge>
			<TotalDiscount>1.22</TotalDiscount>
			<TotalSurcharge>2.99</TotalSurcharge>
			<NetCharge>14.00</NetCharge>
			<EarnedDiscount>0.00</EarnedDiscount>
		</DiscountedCharges>
	</EstimatedCharges>
	<SignatureOption>NONE</SignatureOption>
</Entry>

[mwolf]

Thanks George, that made perfect sense.

[kastnerd]

Hopefully some day pack dimensions can be calculated for people who order more then 1 item.