Canada Post Shipping Quotes for Ubercart

TR - February 18, 2009 - 02:33

This module is used to obtain Canada Post shipping quotes for Ubercart. It interfaces with Canada Post's "SellOnline" service (http://sellonline.canadapost.ca) to quotes directly from the Canada Post server. Works for both domestic and international shipments.

Orders are automatically divided into packages of 30kg or less. 30kg is the Canada Post weight limit for a package. This module will calculate how many packages need to be sent, calculate the cost of shipping each package, and display the total number of packages and the total shipping cost to the customer.

For simplicity, this module uses a package size of 1x1x1 cm. Shipping rates (for all carriers, not just Canada Post) are based entirely on weight except in cases where the package is exceptionally light for its size - then the rate is based on the expected weight, known as "dimensional rate". (Canada Post's term is volumetric rate). If your package is not exceptionally light for its size, then choosing a small package size like this is the correct strategy, and indeed this is exactly what the carriers do on their own web sites when you get a "quick quote" (i.e., when you just type in origin, destination, and weight). The only time this is a problem is when a dimensional rate should be charged. The implication of this is that for large but light objects, you'll have to enter the product weight a bit higher than actual - i.e. you'll have to enter the dimensional weight on the product page rather than the actual weight in order to receive accurate quotes. This module also allows the admin to inflate the weight of an order with a "weight markup", and/or inflate the quoted rate with a "rate markup", to account for weight of packaging.

Originally created by gregmac and hosted on Ubercart.org, this module has been updated and is now maintained by TR.