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Shipping Estimates

Shipping Estimates allows you to get shipping rate estimates from multiple carriers before creating an order or processing a shipment. Simply enter destination information, dimensions, and package weight, and the system will show all available shipping options with their prices.

This tool is useful for comparing rates between different carriers and shipping methods, helping you make informed decisions about the best shipping method for your needs.

Shipping Estimates Main View

Why Use Shipping Estimates?

Section titled “Why Use Shipping Estimates?”

Compare Rates

View all available shipping options from multiple carriers in a single view, sorted by price for easy comparison.

Accurate Planning

Get accurate cost estimates before creating orders, helping you set correct expectations with your customers.

Multiple Options

Explore different shipping methods including standard, express, and Saturday delivery services to find the best option.

Complete Information

View detailed information including carrier, shipping method, method code, and final price with applied discounts.

Accessing Shipping Estimates

Section titled “Accessing Shipping Estimates”

  1. Navigate to Menu

    From the main menu, go to Account.

  2. Select Shipping Estimates

    In the dropdown menu, click “Shipping Estimates”.

  3. View the Form

    The “Shipping Estimates” page will open with a form to enter shipping information.

Get Rate Estimates

Section titled “Get Rate Estimates”

  1. Complete Address Information

    In the top section of the form, enter:

    • Address1: Primary destination address
    • Address2: Secondary address (optional)
    • Country: Select the destination country from the dropdown menu
    • City: Destination city
    • Zip: Destination zip code
    • Residential: Check this box if the address is residential
    • Saturday: Check this box if you need Saturday delivery

  2. Enter Package Dimensions

    In the dimensions section, enter:

    • Length: Package length (in inches)
    • Width: Package width (in inches)
    • Height: Package height (in inches)

  3. Specify Weight and Value

    Complete the following fields:

    • Weight: Package weight (in pounds)
    • Value: Declared package value (optional, for insurance)

  4. Search Rates

    Click the “Estimate Rates” button.

  5. View Results

    The system will display a table with all available shipping options, including:

    • Price: Final price with applied discounts
    • Carrier: Carrier name (UPS, FedEx, USPS, etc.)
    • Method: Shipping method code and name

Understanding Results

Section titled “Understanding Results”

Shipping Rate Results

Rates Table

Section titled “Rates Table”

The table shows all available shipping options sorted by price (lowest to highest). Each row includes:

  • Price: Final price that will be charged to the customer (includes configured discounts and margins)
  • Carrier: Shipping carrier name
  • Method: Shipping method code and full description

Filter Results

Section titled “Filter Results”

You can filter results using the global search field at the top of the table:

  • Search by specific price
  • Filter by carrier
  • Filter by shipping method

Sort Results

Section titled “Sort Results”

Results are automatically sorted by price from lowest to highest, but you can click column headers to change the order.

💡 Best Practices

Section titled “💡 Best Practices”

Enter Accurate Dimensions

Always enter package dimensions to get more accurate estimates. The system uses dimensional weight when dimensions are large.

Verify Residential Addresses

Correctly mark whether the address is residential or commercial, as some carriers have different rates for each type.

Compare Multiple Options

Review all available options before deciding. Sometimes a faster method can be more economical than a standard one.

Use Declared Values

If you’re shipping valuable items, enter the declared value to see how it affects insurance cost.

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”

No Rates Are Displayed

Section titled “No Rates Are Displayed”

Problem: You click “Estimate Rates” but no results appear.

Solution:

  • Verify that you’ve entered at least the zip code (Zip) and weight (Weight)
  • Ensure you’ve selected a valid country
  • Verify that you have shipping methods configured and active in the system
  • Check the browser console for error messages

Rates Seem Incorrect

Section titled “Rates Seem Incorrect”

Problem: The displayed rates don’t match what’s expected.

Solution:

  • Verify that dimensions and weight are correct
  • Ensure the address is valid and complete
  • Review if there are configured discounts or margins affecting the price
  • Verify that carriers are correctly configured with their credentials

Error Loading Page

Section titled “Error Loading Page”

Problem: The page doesn’t load or shows errors.

Solution:

  • Reload the page
  • Check your internet connection
  • Ensure you have permissions to access Shipping Estimates
  • Contact the system administrator if the problem persists

Not All Carriers Appear

Section titled “Not All Carriers Appear”

Problem: You only see some carriers but expected to see more options.

Solution:

  • Verify that carriers are configured and active in the system
  • Some carriers may not have methods available for certain destinations
  • Review shipping method configuration to ensure they’re marked as visible (rates_visible = 'show-all')
Section titled “Related Information”

Next Step: Rate Shopping - Compare rates and find the best option