I need a custom shipping API or whatever I need to get more accurate rates on my webstores.

I have been working on this problem this for a while(6 years), but I really need to solve it.

Unfortunately, beyond going and look at ECT & UPS API info I don’t really understand what I have to do.
I just don’t have a grasp of whats required.
Are there only so many data sets going to UPS? etc.

Can you steer me where I can learn , because I am going to find a contractor to do it.

Here are 3 off my latest UPS Bill.

1. 1 qty 34x25x18, 44 lbs. site charged $89.75 -actual UPS charge $56.84 - $32.91 overcharge
2. 2 qty. 29x28x15, 35 lbs. site- $49.50 each / actual $33.83 each - $15.67 overcharge
3. 2 qty 37x22x21, 31 lbs. site $77.92 each / actual $57.27 each - $20.65 overcharge

I will be looking at some other bills utilizing some larger cases and compiling more data.

But this is a good snapshot.
The larger cases are overcharged by much more.

Please don't suggest I fudge the weights and dimensions to get the correct results, i did that for years and now UPS utilizes dimensional weights.
all my product dimensions & weights are correct.

Hi Merritt

For the first one can you let us know the zip codes you are using and which UPS methods you have enabled. Also let us know if you have any UPS related settings in includes.php.

Andy

Please feel free to review / rate our software

Here are 3 off my latest UPS Bill.

1. 1 qty 34x25x18, 44 lbs. site charged $89.75 -actual UPS charge $56.84 - $32.91 overcharge - Zips: 95457 to 30294
2. 2 qty. 29x28x15, 35 lbs. site- $49.50 each / actual $33.83 each - $15.67 overcharge - Zips: 95457 to 98004
3. 2 qty 37x22x21, 31 lbs. site $77.92 each / actual $57.27 each - $20.65 overcharge - Zips: 95457 to 91504

UPS Shipping across the board

VSADMIN/Includes:

$upspickuptype 01
$estimate shipping True
$taxshipping 0

I just tested this first one...

1. 1 qty 34x25x18, 44 lbs. site charged $89.75 -actual UPS charge $56.84 - $32.91 overcharge - Zips: 95457 to 30294

...on the UPS site and my demo store, and get nowhere near $56.84 on either. You can try it yourself at ups.com as it shows around $100 for UPS Ground. Let me know what you see there.

Andy

Please feel free to review / rate our software

Are you pulling your negotiated rates into your store?
That may explain things. Perhaps you are showing retail rates on your site?
Are all of your shipments calculated over? These examples you have are all close to 30% high.

If they are all calculated high, BY ABOUT 30%, just add $discountshippingusps=-30; to your includes and call it a day.



David
ECT Power User

I have my own discounted Rate/acct# in the main settings.

I don't really care what UPS retail is because i have an account.

The data I gave you is the exact charges on my store vs. my actual UPS Bill.
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I would like to have a full understanding of whats happening.

The includes fix may be OK for me, ie; $discount shipping ups 25% ( can I show said discount in cart "20% shipping discount")

But i don't understand why:
1. all weights & dimensions are correct
2. I have an account# in main settings to pull from

what is the disconnect??

You didn't mention you had discounted rates or I wouldn't have checked my demo store and the UPS site for you.

What you can do is set this in includes.php $debugxmlemails=TRUE; and that will send you an email with the XML generated by the store for the shipment. You can then pass that file onto your UPS rep who can check that the rates returned are correct or not.

If you use the parameter $discountshippingups=-25; there would be no mention of the discount on the store, the shipping price would be reduced by 25%, that's all.

Andy

Please feel free to review / rate our software

OK, thanks Andy/Dave.

I am going to go with the includes fix for now.