Need some brainstorming ideas

[RubbersuitStudios]

OK, I pretty much have most of my shop set up calculated shipping, as thing renew I am converting them. Here is the issue I am having, specifically with international shipping.

The issue is with what I sell. Comic Books. A comic book with no packaging weighs about 4oz, with packaging 7oz. The problem with comics is even if I am shipping out 4 - 5 comics, there no extra packaging for that, just more comics. I have always been able to ship 4 - 5 comics 1st class. So for domestic shipping I keep each comic at 4oz and my package has $1.50 handling and that pretty much brings it inline for postage and handling.

The issue is with international. Because international jump so much between oz, I lose money shipping small orders. The difference between 4oz and 7oz in just about $3 to say the UK. So you can see my conundrum. If I raised the oz to 7oz to cover international my domestic shipping would end up way over priced, and I would end up doing a ton of refunds.

Any got any ideas?

[Former_Member]

Hi Matt, it's a good question. It has been requested that there be a way to charge one s/h fee for domestic and a different one for international. That might help, but admin has not responded on that.

Maybe someone else will have an idea.

[RubbersuitStudios]

Yeah mine might be a unique situation because of the product and the fact packing materials don't change much between 1 and 6 items.

[RubbersuitStudios]

The only thing I could come up with is to add two package preference handling fees, one for domestic and one for international. If I could add $4 - $5 to international, it would probably work, and just refund overage for like Canada.

[Former_Member]

Matt I don't know how you could determine which was domestic package and which was international package.

[CraftSupplyHouse]

I have the same problem with my wood parts. Some weigh less than the packaging, but I can put a lot in a package, so the weight is often over inflated and I'm still doing a lot of refunds. It's better than the old way, though.

[RubbersuitStudios]

Kathy it would be pretty easy, the Calculated shipping already determines that based on zip code. For example I have 1 comic that can be shipped First Class, Priority, Media Mail, Express, International First Class, and International Priority.

Customer is from the UK, the only options that appear for him are the last two, that being said, there must be a way that those purchase international get a higher handling fee to make up for the differences between Domestic and International purchases.

[Former_Member]

Matt, yes I understand - the problem is that there is only one s/h fee that you can apply - either at the item level or the box level - and that fee gets applied to every purchase - domestic and international.

This is what a member here has been asking for since CS started. Separate fees for domestic and international. But it does not exist at this time.

[RubbersuitStudios]

I don't mind eating the shipping on occasion, and I tend to have really high profit margins, so far International Calculated Shipping was fine for Canada, but shorted by about $3 to Spain. I would rather be able to cover all of international shipping and refund if needed, since international sales are only about 10% of my sales.

[RubbersuitStudios]

I think it would really help to have two different handling fees, one for domestic and one for international. I would set my international one at $5 a refund overages.

[MissMagpiesShoppe]

Matt, I would also like to see this because I am thinking about doing some international shipping again. I used to double box those orders when I did them in the past, so the shipping will be higher than domestic.

[toriska]

This is my biggest beef with calculated shipping. It doesn't affect this shop much, but it definitely affects my supply shop. I wish we could do a separate weight for the box and the product, that way if someone ordered multiples, they will only be charged for one box.

[Former_Member]

I did answer you up above Tori where you put this as well.

[custompetandtack]

Tori, I don't know the weights of what you sell but I can tweak my weights to where I am not overcharging on multiples and still have enough for single items on lightweight and heavier items both.

On my male dog diapers.
4 of my sizes weigh approx. 1.2 to 1.8 with a mailer.

If I put 2 oz for the weight, on multiple orders to much is calculated on the smaller sizes.

So what I do is put 1.5 oz to 1.75 oz. depending what size.

This has worked extremely well, for 1 item, the shipping is still based on 2 oz.

But for multi orders, the shipping costs are very accurate, most times exactly what it should be, no undercharging or overcharging way too much. It might figure up 25-30 cents to much s/h on 6-7 diapers but I use this little extra for supplies.

Same on my goat coats, I have to tweak the weights slightly to get multiples to work.

2 sizes I sell weigh approx. 1 lb. 10 oz with a box.

Problem is if someone buys 2 it calculates at a 3 lb. 4 oz rate overcharges shipping.

I can get 2 coats in a slightly bigger box for 2 lb. 12-14 oz.

So what I do for these sizes is I only put 1 lb. 6 to 7 oz.

When 2 are bought it calculates at the 2 lb 12-14 oz rate.

I have tested this adding, 3, 4 and even 5 to my cart.
And the shipping is exactly right everytime.

I also do this on other items, especially on items weighing between 1 lb. 1 oz and 2 lbs. you can often tweak that weight to where it will calculate multipes ok.

This is no different than CS on eBay, the box, item and packing are ALL figured in on that listing for shipping cost.

I've tweaked weights on my listings there for years to get it to work out for multiple orders.