modessitt
Volunteer: Encyclopedia Submission Moderator
Setting up a WebStore. Need Opinions on Shipping Payment...
I am finally getting around to adding a WebStore to my website so I can start thinning out the multitude of Manuals, PCBs, artwork, misc parts, etc that I trip over every day. It has already been tested by a member here. It takes PayPal automatically so I don't have to be online for someone to purchase, and has a rate calculator for shipping via USPS. It sends out receipts and shipping confirmation e-mails, etc.
My biggest problem before going live seems to be in the shipping calculation. The USPS calculator should give a fairly accurate amount as long as I give accurate size and weight info (with adjustments for packaging) in my product listings, but I'm not sure whether those prices will be Priority shipping (or whether I even should worry about shipping priority), whether multiple items would be shipped cheaper in a Flat Rate box, whether multiple items could be packaged to ship cheaper than they might calculate as separate pieces, etc.
I'm beginning to understand why Bob Roberts charges a set rate for certain items regardless as to the actual shipping.
My current thought it to just let it charge what it does, then refund any differences if the shipping is less than what is charged. I guess I can adjust up certain future items if the actual shipping comes out as more than what is calculated.
Or I could just set the shipping price at "Free", and adjust all the prices per item up to a "shipped" price, although that would mean that a $1 item would end up being priced at $6.
While it may be nice to just let someone order, then figure out the shipping before they pay (like Bob does), my checkout system won't do that.
So - what does everyone think? What would you be happy with? If the postal calculator is for Parcel post instead of Priority, is that okay? Can you wait for it to get there?
thanks...
I am finally getting around to adding a WebStore to my website so I can start thinning out the multitude of Manuals, PCBs, artwork, misc parts, etc that I trip over every day. It has already been tested by a member here. It takes PayPal automatically so I don't have to be online for someone to purchase, and has a rate calculator for shipping via USPS. It sends out receipts and shipping confirmation e-mails, etc.
My biggest problem before going live seems to be in the shipping calculation. The USPS calculator should give a fairly accurate amount as long as I give accurate size and weight info (with adjustments for packaging) in my product listings, but I'm not sure whether those prices will be Priority shipping (or whether I even should worry about shipping priority), whether multiple items would be shipped cheaper in a Flat Rate box, whether multiple items could be packaged to ship cheaper than they might calculate as separate pieces, etc.
I'm beginning to understand why Bob Roberts charges a set rate for certain items regardless as to the actual shipping.
My current thought it to just let it charge what it does, then refund any differences if the shipping is less than what is charged. I guess I can adjust up certain future items if the actual shipping comes out as more than what is calculated.
Or I could just set the shipping price at "Free", and adjust all the prices per item up to a "shipped" price, although that would mean that a $1 item would end up being priced at $6.
While it may be nice to just let someone order, then figure out the shipping before they pay (like Bob does), my checkout system won't do that.
So - what does everyone think? What would you be happy with? If the postal calculator is for Parcel post instead of Priority, is that okay? Can you wait for it to get there?
thanks...