Before beginning the Shipping configuration, ensure the needed shipping plugins are installed by referencing the Managing Shipping Process Plugins documentation and navigating to System Settings > Plugins > Installed Plugins.
The Shipping section allows Administrators to add and manage Shipping Methods for all their webstores from a single, central location. By default, Znode includes shipping plugins for FedEx, UPS, and also accommodates "Custom" shipping types.
Shipping can be restricted at the User Profile or Region level.
- To configure profile specific shipping Methods, visit How to set User Profile-specific Shipping Methods.
- To restrict a Shipping Method by Region, see the Shipping Method Destination Country, State, and Postal Code configurations.
A Shipping Rate is determined based on a Product's Shipping Settings and the Shipping Methods associated with the Store.
View a Shipping Method
To view a specific shipping method configuration, click on the “Shipping Name” link or the “Edit” action. The Edit Shipping screen opens displaying the general shipping configuration details and offers a left-hand navigation to view more detailed configuration information.
Managing Shipping
The “Manage Shipping” tab is the default view when viewing a shipping method. This tab is split into two sections - General Settings and Shipping Display Settings. The following table describes the settings in these sections.
| Detail | Description |
| Shipping Method | Identifies the party providing the shipping service. Shipping method options are enabled by installing shipping plugins available for Znode. |
| Shipping Name | A unique name to reference the shipping method and service within the Znode admin. |
| Display Name | Name displayed for the configured shipping method. Recommendation: enter a delivery time in the name (e.g. Overnight Delivery) to be displayed to the customer while selecting the shipping service. |
| Delivery Time Frame | Details about the delivery timeframe for the shipping method. Visible during checkout on the webstore. |
| Internal Code | Value is a unique code for a Custom shipping service configuration. This field is only used when the Shipping Method is “Custom”. |
| Shipping Service Code | Selected value identifies what shipping service (provided by the shipping method party) the shipping method configuration applies to. Drop-down values change based on the Shipping Method selected. This field is used when the Shipping Method is not “Custom”. |
| Handling Charge | Add a Handling Charge to the Shipping Cost. Handling Charge can be a flat-rate amount, a percentage of the order subtotal, or a percentage of the shipping rate.
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| Destination Country | Restricts the shipping method and service to a specific destination country. |
| State | Restricts the shipping method and service to a specific state within the destination country. |
| Shipping Destination Postal Code | Restricts the shipping method and service to a specific set of postal codes within the destination country. |
| Tracking URL | URL for parcel tracking |
| Enable | Toggle to enable the shipping method configuration during Checkout. Checked enables the shipping method; unchecked disables the shipping method. |
| Display Order | Controls the order in which the shipping methods appear when more than one shipping method is available. Shipping methods with a lower number are displayed first. |
Associated Rules
Associated Rules are present for the “Custom” Shipping Method only.
When the Shipping Method is Custom, shipping rates are calculated based on the shipping rules associated with a particular Product.
There are four different types of custom shipping rules:
- Weight-Based Rate - If the weight of a product is between the defined range (i.e. Lower Limit and Upper Limit), the shipping rate is calculated by using the associated Per Unit/Item Cost and Base Cost.
Example: Product A weighs 8 pounds and has a weight-based rate product shipping configuration. The webstore is configured to charge $1 for a weight-based product plus $0.25 for each pound up to 10 pounds; there is no handling charge configured. The shipping rate for a quantity of 1 of Product A is calculated by:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $1 + (Per Unit Cost $0.25 * 8) = $3
To ship a quantity of 3 of Product A, the shipping rate would be:
Product A 8 Pounds * Quantity 3 = Total 24 Pounds for Product A
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $0 + (Per Unit Cost $0.25 * 0) = $0
(The shipping rule does not apply since the total line weight of 24 pounds is outside the 0-10 pound weight range.) - Quantity-Based Rate - If a product is purchased in large quantities then the shipping rate can be calculated based on the Quantity-Based shipping rule. If the product quantity purchased falls within the quantity range defined (i.e. Lower Limit and Upper Limit), the shipping rate is calculated using the associated Per Unit/Item Cost and Base Cost.
Example: Product B has a quantity-based rate product shipping configuration. The webstore is configured to charge $2 for a quantity-based product plus $0.50 for each quantity up to 10 items; there is no handling charge configured. The shipping rate for a quantity of 1 of Product B is calculated by:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $2 + (Per Item Cost $0.50 * 1) = $2.50
To ship a quantity of 3 of Product B, the shipping rate would be:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $2 + (Per Item Cost $0.50 * 3) = $3.50
To ship a quantity of 12 of Product B, the shipping rate would be:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $0 + (Per Item Cost $0.50 * 0) = $0.00 (The shipping rule does not apply since the quantity ordered exceeds the upper limit of the shipping rule.) - Flat Rate Per Item - A product can be configured to charge a flat rate for shipping with an additional charge per quantity of the product. With this rule type, the shipping rate is calculated using the associated Per Unit/Item Cost and Base Cost.
Example: Product C has a flat rate per item product shipping configuration. The webstore is configured to charge $3 to ship a quantity of 1 of product C plus $1 for each additional quantity; there is no handling charge configured. The shipping rate for a quantity of 1 of Product C is calculated by:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $3 + (Per Item Cost $1 * 1) = $4.00
To ship a quantity of 3 of Product C, the shipping rate would be:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $3 + (Per Item Cost $1 * 3) = $6.00 - Fixed Rate Per Item - A product can be configured to charge a fixed rate for shipping regardless of product weight or quantity purchased. With this rule type, the shipping rate is calculated using the associated Base Cost.
Example: Product D has a fixed rate per item product shipping configuration. The webstore is configured to charge $4 to ship product D; there is no handling charge configured. The shipping rate for a quantity of 1 of Product D is calculated by:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $4 = $4.00
To ship a quantity of 3 of Product D, the shipping rate would be:
Handling Charge $0 + Base Cost $4 = $4.00
Additional Attributes
The content of the Additional Attributes tab will be specific to a shipping method. Please see the specific shipping method configuration reference for more information.
Add a Shipping Method
Navigate to: System Settings > Shipping > "Add New" action
- Select the shipping method to be added. Some fields may change depending on the selection made.
- Input information into the required fields.
- Save progress with the “Save” button. The page reloads with action confirmation.
- The Shipping Method has now been added.
- If a “Custom” Shipping Method was added, the “Associated Rules” is now visible and can be used to associate shipping rules with the shipping method. Administrators will need to associate shipping rules before the shipping method is complete.
Edit a Shipping Method
Navigate to: System Settings > Shipping > "Edit" action
- Select the shipping method to be edited by clicking the Shipping Name link or selecting the pencil icon under Action.
- Select the tab in the left-hand navigation that contains the configurations to be updated.
- Edit the configuration values that are not read-only.
- Save the updates using the “Save” action. The page reloads with the updates and with an action confirmation.
- The shipping method configuration is now updated.
Note: Administrators associate Products directly with Shipping Methods via navigating to the Products > "Edit" action > Product Info > Shipping Settings section.
Delete a Shipping Method
Navigate to: System Settings > Shipping > "Delete" action
- Select the shipping method to be deleted by checking the box to the left of the record in the grid.
- Select the delete icon (i.e. trash can) under Action.
- The user is prompted to confirm the delete.
- If the user confirms the delete, the page reloads with the updates and with a delete confirmation.
- The shipping method is now deleted and the shipping method grid is refreshed.
Note: A shipping method cannot be deleted if it is used in a webstore configuration or has been used during order placement.
How are Shipping Rates Determined?
When the Shipping Method is Fedex or UPS, Znode will request shipping rates directly from FedEx or UPS (via API) based on the shipping methods available to a Customer in the cart and selected by a Customer during checkout. Administrators can configure Znode to add an additional fee, named "Handling Charge", to these shipping rates provided by Fedex or UPS.
When the Shipping Method is Custom, there are three factors which determine the Shipping Rate:
Shipping Rate = Handling Charge + Associated Rule + Additional Shipping Cost per Item*
- At the Store level, only Shipping Methods associated with the Store will be used during checkout.
- At the Product level, the Shipping Setting detail, called "Shipping Cost", determines which Shipping Rule assigned to a Shipping Method is used.
* Note, the “Additional Shipping Cost per Item” is available for configuration only through the API; it is not yet configurable in the Znode Admin.