The Shipping Charges Maintenance screen lets you define global shipping charges for the inventory subsystem according to the following calculation methods:
· Simple by Weight: This allows you to charge a flat amount per order in addition to some amount based on the weight of the product.
· Simple by Price: This allows you to charge an optional flat amount per order plus some amount based on the price of the product. The Simple by Price shipping charges are based on the list price alone for the shipping of one unit.
· Flat Rate: This allows you to add a specific amount per order as a shipping charge.
· By Schedule by Price: This allows you to charge a flat amount or percentage per order with charges based on a pricing range of the product.
· By Schedule by Weight: This allows you to charge a flat amount or percentage per order plus some amount based on the weight range of the product.
The screens all include value-added tax information for overseas orders and ship via information. To calculate the shipping charges, the system compares the effective date(s) of the charges to the order date.
The calculation process can be slow if you have a great number of shipping definition records in the various tables. A best practice approach is to define only what you need and take advantage of the All feature. It is not necessary to define specific shipping records for every country in the system.
The calculation process is defined in the Product_Shipping table based on the Shipping_Calculation_Code. If there is a base amount specified for the calculation method, this amount is added per line in addition to the shipping amount determined for the line.
Shipping charges are distributed across multiple lines for matching customers, ship-via codes, and shipping calculation methods. For example, if the Flat Rate is $5 and the customer on lines 1 and line 2 are the same, the system charges $2.50 per line. If lines 1 and 2 have different customers, then both lines are charged a flat rate of $5.
You can define shipping charges by a specific country or by the “All Countries” option. Selecting this option will define the SAME shipping charges for all countries that do not otherwise have shipping charges defined.
In this section:
· Creating a New Shipping Method
o Defining Shipping Charges by Weight
o Defining Shipping Charges by Price
o Defining Shipping Charges by Flat Rate
o Defining Shipping Charges by Schedule by Price
o Defining Shipping Charges by Schedule by Weight