[wDollar]

We ship large items that typically only fit one per box. Our issue is that the UPS shipping module just factors the weight and returns the cost assuming all the weight will go into one box. Is there a way to force each item to be shipped separate from one another?

As it is, when customers order multiple items, their shipping total may come to $38 where, because it requires multiple boxes, we are incurring costs upwards of $80.

Thanks for the help.

[Aleksey]

Hi!

This is not supported at the moment, but we added the task to our internal list.

Thank you

[wDollar]

Aleksey, on 02 February 2012 - 04:33 PM, said:

Hi!

This is not supported at the moment, but we added the task to our internal list.

Thank you

Has any progress been made regarding this topic? We are losing a significant amount of money as a result.

[Aleksey]

Hi,

It is likely that we will start working on this task in 2 weeks or so.

Thank you

[wDollar]

Hi Aleksey,

I am just checking on the status of this. My client at this point is ready to behead me. He has contact UPS in regards to the API handling multiple piece shipments and asked that I pass the following along:

Quote

Dear Jim,

Thank you for your inquiry. I am so sorry you are loosing money on multiple piece shipments. UPS has always allow multiple piece shipments but it is up to the shopping cart to integrate the proper technology for this type of request. Here is the information that you requested:

The UPS Rating APIs and the UPS Shipping APIs will process multi-piece shipments up to two hundred packages. To submit a multiple-piece shipment request, you will need to include multiple entries of the ***/Shipment/Package element. Each entry for "Package" must contain the elements for the packages for which you are requesting rates. You will then receive a rate for each package, and a shipment rate or you will receive multiple shipping labels if you are using the Shipping APIs.

The information below is for the XML format but the exact same information applies to Web Services and works in the same way.

There is a limitation in the Rating API. If you use the Request Option of “Shop” you are limited to requesting a multi-piece shipment of 50 packages.

Here is a code snippet of the <Package> container:
<Package>
<PackagingType>
<Code>04</Code>
<Description>UPS 25KG Box</Description>
</PackagingType>
<Description>Rate</Description>
<PackageWeight>
<UnitOfMeasurement>
<Code>KGS</Code>
</UnitOfMeasurement>
<Weight>23</Weight>
</PackageWeight> <Dimensions> <UnitOfMeasurement> <Code>IN</Code> </UnitOfMeasurement> <Length>40</Length> <Width>12</Width> <Height>12</Width> </Dimensions> </Package> <Package>
<PackagingType>
<Code>04</Code>
<Description>UPS 25KG Box</Description>
</PackagingType>
<Description>Rate</Description>
<PackageWeight>
<UnitOfMeasurement>
<Code>KGS</Code>
</UnitOfMeasurement>
<Weight>23</Weight>
</PackageWeight> <Dimensions> <UnitOfMeasurement> <Code>IN</Code> </UnitOfMeasurement> <Length>40</Length> <Width>12</Width> <Height>12</Width> </Dimensions>
</Package>

Continue this pattern for up to 50 packages if you are using the Shop Request Option or 200 packages if you are using the Rate Request Option and a specific UPS Service such as code 03

Please contact us if you need any additional assistance.

[Aleksey]

Hi,

I'm sorry for the delay. I already replied by email to your customer. We cannot delver features by request, unfortunately, and we cannot guarantee any ETAs, because we always have a changing load. We were very busy during the last 2 weeks.

Although the implementation could seem simple from UPS response, it is quite complex if you try to develop a general solution which would satisfy everybody. That's why I suggested your client to develop a custom solution. It shouldn't take much time. You can start with cloning the existing UPS module and renaming it. You should rename the file name, the class name and the module directory. After that, in the request_doc.xml you should iterate through order items and create a separate package node for each item. You may also need to update the response processing code, if UPS returns shipping cost for each package separately, but it is easy. As you are going to clone an existing shipping module, you don't need to know much about shipping module development, but anyways, this article could be helpful for you: http://lemonstandapp...ipping_modules/

Let me know if you have questions.

Thank you