VirtueMart Forum

VirtueMart Dev/Coding Central: VM1 (old version) => Feature requests => Shipping Modules => Topic started by: hgtseo on September 06, 2006, 21:58:05 PM

Title: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hgtseo on September 06, 2006, 21:58:05 PM
Trust is something that online sellers have to build with visitors via the web interface, communications, and through sound policies. Buyers are skeptical about purchasing until they know all their costs. I personally do not purchase from online sellers that require personal information prior to their disclosure of all the costs related to the transaction.

In other words: I suspect that requiring customer information prior to revealing shipping costs may be resulting in higher cart abandonment rates.

Allowing the visitor to enter the cart, add their zip code and select their shipping method without requiring any further info will put many visitors at ease.

Perhaps this is currently possible and I am not aware of how to do it. If so, I welcome your advice. If not, it is something that is worth considering.

Regards,

Greg
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: standby on March 21, 2007, 19:51:36 PM
Yes, I think the same.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on May 04, 2007, 05:04:02 AM
I totally agree!

If you check in joomla's backend:
-> components -> virtuemart -> admin -> configuration -> checkout

you will find the standard checkout process is selected:
* Standard :
1. Shipping address request
2. Shipping method request
3. Payment method request
4. Complete Order

If we want to change the order of the checkout process, we need to know which php file(s) are involved, so can some Virtuemart Guru give some hints to us?

Thanks for any kinds of help!
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on May 04, 2007, 10:43:02 AM
Hi all!

I find that this can be done by simply select Checkout Process 3 (instead of the "standard" one):
* Process 3:
1. Shipping method request
2. Payment method request
3. Complete Order

Rgds,
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on May 04, 2007, 11:23:22 AM
Quote from: hhtmp88 on May 04, 2007, 10:43:02 AM
Hi all!

I find that this can be done by simply select Checkout Process 3 (instead of the "standard" one):
* Process 3:
1. Shipping method request
2. Payment method request
3. Complete Order

Rgds,

Sorry that the above does not solve our problem!

It seems that we have to do some hacks, and the checkout process need to be something like:

1. Shipping method request
2. Payment method request + Shipping address request
3. Complete Order


That is, we need to embed the "Shipping address request" into "payment method request" page,

-> so can any checkout process guru give some hints on which php file(s) to work on?

Thanks for any kinds of help!
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Martin Tilma on May 04, 2007, 21:41:12 PM
I'am looking for the same thing and willing to program. I don't want to hack any VM core files. But I don't know if that is possible.

I looked at how the friends of osCommerice did the job: http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,1781/ (http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,1781/), well they just hacked it in. The osCommerce way, I believe.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Anthony C. on May 05, 2007, 00:28:29 AM
Hi,

I agree with all of you. However, it seems that there is no easy way to do this at front.

The file that you can try is:

checkout.index.php

P.S. I did a modification for our company website. However, it doesn't ask user to enter any information. They just need to add items into cart and the quote will be automatically generated. We have a simple way of calculating the shipping cost. (using standard_shipping module)

Anthony
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on May 05, 2007, 06:32:21 AM
Quote from: Anthony Chung on May 05, 2007, 00:28:29 AM
Hi,

I agree with all of you. However, it seems that there is no easy way to do this at front.

The file that you can try is:

checkout.index.php

P.S. I did a modification for our company website. However, it doesn't ask user to enter any information. They just need to add items into cart and the quote will be automatically generated. We have a simple way of calculating the shipping cost. (using standard_shipping module)

Anthony

Hi Anthony!

Thanks for your information!

I have just visited your site (http://www.natvd.com) and it looks nice!

It seems that you are using the "standard" (4-step) checkout process, I still need to be registered before I can go further to get the shipment cost, so do you know how to move it to the "payment method request" page?



It seems that "checkout.index.php" in:
<joomla directory>/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/html/

is the right file to work on, but how?

Sorry that I am not a programmer and it looks too difficult for me, so can you or any virtuemart Guru gives some hints?

Thanks
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Anthony C. on May 07, 2007, 22:16:58 PM
Hi hhtmp88,

In our website, you don't need to register to see the shipping charge. like I mentioned in the last post, you just need to add items in cart and move your mouse on the "Quick Quote" button. Then you will see a window shows the total with the shipping charge.

Yes, the checkout.index.php file is located in that fold. You can try to rearrange the checkout process there.
I am not the core programmer but I will definitely try from there.

Anthony
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on May 08, 2007, 03:27:12 AM
Quote from: Anthony Chung on May 07, 2007, 22:16:58 PM
Hi hhtmp88,

In our website, you don't need to register to see the shipping charge. like I mentioned in the last post, you just need to add items in cart and move your mouse on the "Quick Quote" button. Then you will see a window shows the total with the shipping charge.

Yes, the checkout.index.php file is located in that fold. You can try to rearrange the checkout process there.
I am not the core programmer but I will definitely try from there.

Anthony


Hi Anthony!

The quick quote module is great, would you mind share it with us?

Concerning "checkout.index.php", do you know which "function" or codes or line# should I work on?
-> so that the registration request is moved to and embedded with the payment page?


Thanks for any kinds of help!

Rgds,
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Mike C on May 11, 2007, 19:08:47 PM
Anthony, yes, that quick quote module is very nice - did you write it yourself, or buy it somewhere?
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Lance Thompson on July 03, 2007, 22:05:54 PM
I too would be VERY interested in how you accomplished the quick quote feature. Where did you get this?

Thanks in advance!

Lance
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Marcus on August 08, 2007, 13:21:26 PM
Erm hello, has this thread just gone dead...and we thought we were so close!
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Marco on September 05, 2007, 13:31:59 PM
Hi

Anybody interested in this could try and contact Joseph Kwan.
He did this for us. Very fast response time and for a good price.
He is active on this forum.

We use the standard shipping module also.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Marco on September 05, 2007, 14:33:24 PM
You're right, but if you want just to give a quote this is a nice option.
In my case the customers see all shipping options (national and international) and they don't have to go through the registration process.
Some of them quit when they see the price of the shipping costs.
This saves regsitration of the none buyers.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on June 01, 2008, 16:09:56 PM
Quote from: Marco on September 05, 2007, 14:33:24 PM
You're right, but if you want just to give a quote this is a nice option.
In my case the customers see all shipping options (national and international) and they don't have to go through the registration process.
Some of them quit when they see the price of the shipping costs.
This saves regsitration of the none buyers.

This is not my main reason for showing shipping costs before login or customer registration!
-> the main reason is that many visitors don't want to register before they can see the shipping cost (i.e. before they know the total cost) and decided to buy!

Rgds,
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: Luciano on July 07, 2008, 22:12:55 PM
can checkout have shipping simulator based in zip only?
sorry my english

thx
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: brickford5 on October 16, 2008, 05:51:14 AM
Has anyone found any answers to this?
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: hhtmp88 on December 01, 2008, 15:17:25 PM
Quote from: macallf on September 05, 2007, 14:22:49 PM
The reason you have to log in to see the shipping rates.
In some sales it depends on where you live as to what the shipping cost will be. The only way to get this info is for the user to log in, where the country, state, city, zipcode etc is available for the shipping module to get the correct info.
I know it is not the same in all cases, but in general this holds true.
Mark

Hi Mark!

Here is a live site
http://www.yogadirect.com/

that:
-> solve your question
-> and does do exactly what I want
-> just try an "add to cart" and you can see the shipping rate calculator

Any ideas on how to do this kind of shipping rate calculation before Checkout?

Thanks for any kind of help!
Rgds,
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: jvillegas on December 03, 2008, 14:41:16 PM
This is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm doing a site now for a client and this is one of the features he wants. Hope someone here can do this.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: topclass on February 16, 2009, 01:53:59 AM
anyone found a solution yet? shipping calculator? pleaseeeeeeeee
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: rfrazee on October 25, 2009, 16:01:49 PM
Yes, I am very interested in an international shipping calculator.  The one on www.yogadirect.com is perfect, but it doesn't look like it is using Virtuemart.  Any ideas?

There are a few more variables to take into consideration when doing international, which include who pays import taxes, etc.  To me, it makes the most sense to sell DDP where the shipping company (FedEx, DHL, etc) handles the import function for the purchaser.

Are there are any solutions at this point?  Thanks.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: smcka on August 16, 2010, 02:14:15 AM
I am also very interested in the quick quote module. Can any one here assist?
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: xmax on January 11, 2011, 01:46:58 AM
Hello... I am new on this. I have read search and almost everything.
I would like to export products to panama and south america. What can i do if countries like panama do not have ZIP codes for delivery? The country has 9 states or departments each one of them with diferent shipping rate. Can someone tell me how to edit the shipping rates in order that i can put the diferent rates according to each state or province for each country i prettend to supply??
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: iskye81 on March 18, 2011, 17:12:56 PM
I've just posted elsewhere about this, but this seems to be the main thread on the subject.  I'd echo what's been said above - this is something that's really lacking and should've been implemented ages ago.

I'm absolutely certain I've been getting cart abandonments on my site because there isn't a quick way to see shipping costs for a product(s) without registering, or at least filling in details first.

As with most things VirtueMart, decent replies/explanations are hard to come by. This thread typifies that - heading on for 4 years old and no solution. ::)
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: lindapowers on March 22, 2011, 11:02:52 AM
Like I said this is for me the greatest error in VM.

Joseph Kwan helped me a lot, pm him if you need help, and without him VM was useless for me aswell as for many other companies which need shipping cost shown on price pre-checkout.

Ill tell you even more, all the competitors of VM just use the same system VM started, so not one of them will solve this issue.

And yes, after 4 years theres no solution, I was as shocked as you when I realised VM couldn't make prices shown this way, however Joseph did it in a few days.

Let's hope they realise the importance of this issue and implement it in future versions.
Title: Re: Shipping Cost Calculation Before Checkout
Post by: lindapowers on March 22, 2011, 19:06:53 PM
He is an active user of the forum, Just send him a pm here, you have his profile here: http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?action=profile;u=19740, just click "send this user a personal message" at the bottom of his profile..