Shipping_and_Handling

In the Shipping and Handling screen, you create the formulas used to calculate shipping charges. You select the check boxes of the calculation methods or components (listed on the right side of the screen) that you want to include in the formula(s). The formula is displayed in the Formula box as you build it. For example, if you select the B = Base Charge and D = COD Surcharge check boxes, the Formula box displays "B+D".

Type a descriptive name for the S&H formula.

You don't need to type anything here, just watch your formula grow as you build it by making selections to the right.

Sounds like a no-brainer, but it's needed if you use a base charge or a minimum charge. An alternative is to create a "Free Shipping" formula with a base charge of $0.00 and no other check boxes selected.

Click this button to associate an S&H formula with a price category.

1 Create the formula

2 Click Save.

3 Click the Price Categories button.

4 Select the Price Category.

You can also create additional price categories by clicking .

5 Click in the S&H Formula To Use box.

6 Click the drop-down arrow and select the S&H formula to associate with the price category.

7 Click Close.

Could be used for the "handling" portion of your shipping and handling formula. Enter the minimum you would charge for shipping, or the surcharge added to whatever the other elements of the formula calculate. For example, if you wanted to charge the carrier’s actual rate and pad it by $3.00, you’d choose Base = $3.00 and then also check the box for C – Carrier’s Actual Rate.

The actual carrier shipping rate is calculated by CMS during order entry and added to any other selected components of the S&H formula.

These rates are determined by using the weights of your products, which are calculated during Order Entry. If you are going to use this method, make sure that the weight for each product is correctly entered in your product list.

The charge calculated during order entry will not change if the weight is later found to be different when shipping the package, so be sure sure your formulas are covering your costs or providing the desired profit margin.

You can apply a surcharge to the COD order as a whole. Alternatively, you can apply it to each package in the COD shipment by selecting the For Each COD Pkg check box.

You can use this method if you have entered a Per product S&H amount when setting up the product. See Price/Inventory tab - Pricing View in the CMS online help for more information. If this option is not checked, any Per product S&H amounts will be ignored.

You would use this option if you would like a surcharge added to some but not all shipping methods. Include option M in your formula and then add the surcharge amount on the relevant shipping methods .

If the surcharge applies to all shipping methods, it would be more efficient to use the Base charge (formula option B) field. You could also use the Replace field to enter a value to by-pass the formula for that particular shipping method.

To base shipping and handling charges on the amount spent, select this option and click Edit. Enter spending levels and associated S&H charges in the table.

Be sure to fill in the last cells "For any amount over." Here you’ll enter a flat rate. If you want to charge based on percentage for any amount over the table, you’ll still want to set the flat charge for the last cell in the spending table and then also select option O to charge X% over $Y, where Y would be the last cell of your spending table.

If you have products that have their own shipping charges, you may not want them included in this spending table calculation. If desired, select the check box to Exclude products with defined shipping charges from Spending Total. Click OK.