Delivery Charging Methods

In order to sell goods online you need to ensure that any delivery charges are included so that the price paid via the online payment facilities includes all charges. To do this shopping cart systems have to be programmed with details of how to charge delivery. Below are details of the 3 most common systems we use. If you require custom programmed delivery rules or a mixture of the following then this can be done at additional charge.

Fixed Order Charge
This is probably the most simple delivery charging method. Here you simply apply a fixed delivery charge to each delivery zone. The appropriate charge is then applied to each order depending of the point of delivery. The main drawback of this method is that it does not take into account the number of products ordered.

Delivery Bands
Using delivery bands you set delivery charges for each zone per band. You can have as many bands as you wish. Each product in your product tree is then assigned a delivery band. Delivery is then calculated by totaling up the number of products in each band and adding that number of delivery charges for the corresponding delivery zone.

E.G. If an order was going to the UK and had 5 products of which 3 are Band A (£1) and 2 Band B (£2) the following would be charged.

3 x Band A = 3 x £1 = £3
2 x Band B = 2 x £2 = £4
Delivery Total = £7

This method has the benefit of charging a delivery charge based on each product added to the order. The disadvantage is that you are unable to discount the delivery if multiple items are ordered.

Weight Bands
This is probably the most accurate method for charging delivery. Each item within the product tree is given a weight. A series of delivery charges per delivery zone are pre programmed into the shopping cart system based on weight ranges. The total weight of the order is calculated and the appropriate delivery charge applied. The only disadvantage with this method is that if your delivery carrier charges you per box then the shopping cart system has no way of knowing how many boxes you will use.

Each of the above methods have their own advantages and disadvantages. It us up to you to decided which is the best for your business.