Shipping from 2 facilities - Canada and US

[Autoegocrat]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice as to the best route to take if I have 2 facilites - One within Canada, and one in Illinois. They both will sell the exact same product but we wish to use CanadaPost within Canada and UPS within the US. I know you can set up the zones to only offer certain shipping methods, but how can I set it up to ship from two different locations? As far as I know, I can only set one zip code in the store configuration. I'm sure there must be a mod that is something along these lines, but I haven't been able to find it. I really don't want to set up two different shops, I'd like all orders to be filed into the correct categories.

Thanks!

Auto

[jpf]

Sorry - no "OUT OF THE BOX" solution here. You have to modify the shipping methods. Suggest to look in shipping modules and put an IF statement around (for UPS):

PHP Code:

... 
      $country_name = tep_get_countries(SHIPPING_ORIGIN_COUNTRY, true);
      $this->_upsOrigin(SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP, $country_name['countries_iso_code_2']);
      $this->_upsDest($order->delivery['postcode'], $order->delivery['country']['iso_code_2']); 


Do (sudo code - replace CANADIAN ID and CANADIAN SHIPPING FROM POSTAL CODE with proper info)

PHP Code:

 if ($order->delivery['country']['id'] = CANADIAN ID) {
      $country_name = CANADIAN ID;
      $this->_upsOrigin(CANADIAN SHIPPING FROM POSTAL CODE, $country_name['countries_iso_code_2']);
      $this->_upsDest($order->delivery['postcode'], $order->delivery['country']['iso_code_2']);
} else {
      $country_name = tep_get_countries(SHIPPING_ORIGIN_COUNTRY, true);
      $this->_upsOrigin(SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP, $country_name['countries_iso_code_2']);
      $this->_upsDest($order->delivery['postcode'], $order->delivery['country']['iso_code_2']);
} 


[Autoegocrat]

Hmm...not sure I want to mess with that. I'm not exactly a php pro, but I can hack my way through most things pretty well. I guess the best alternative would be to create two stores under the same domain ie Buystuff - Canada and Buystuff - USA?

[jpf]

I have seen companies have done that. IE US store will not ship to Canada and Canada store will not Ship to US. Each sub-site has a "country" Selector or Link to the other store.

IE: www.mysite.com/canada/index.php
IE: www.mysite.com/us/index.php

Note you will have to install 2 databases and use 2 admin interfaces then.

Good Luck

[Autoegocrat]

Yeah, it will only be a pain for me if I have to administrate both sites. I'll do the setup, but I think I will get someone in Canada to maintain the non-us store. I was looking at the multi-store mod, but it doesn't suit my needs...yet. I guess I'll remain hopeful and optimistic that someone will eventually come out with a mod to this effect. I think I may just hike up my phpants and learn more about creating scripts. If I do, I will add any mods I make to the OSCMax contribution database.

Thanks for all your help!

Auto

[jpf]

Mutli store is just that. It not really a Multi location mod. (and shopping carts with this mode can't move across sites anyway).

Your best option is hire a php guy (who specialize in osc) for a few hours. They may give you a MUCH slicker solution. Chances are much of the (re-)coding is pointed out above. After all you saves so much money on the core software already.

But also consider installing 2 sites with 2 databases and updating both and checking both may have a bit of extra cost involved. HOWEVER with cost that can vary allot between US and Canada - you profit margin might be harder to manage under one store/database. Things may cost much more or less in one country than the other. IE: Canada has much more strict regulations on ELECTRICAL certifications than US. Thus some imported products can't be landed in the US (under US regulations only) and then shipped to Canada (they are shipped direct to Canada - normally at lower volume than the US). As well Canadian made products (Like ATI graphic cards) have extra shipping/clearing cost to a US distributor to be able to sell in the US - doing a price conversion (under a single database/price) would cause a bit higher sell price under Canada dollar. Not to mention the HIGHLY fluctuating exchange rates. Canada dollar is also at a 30 year high (very close to the US dollar). Making many Canadian looking to purchase US price goods and for the people (and companies) in the US spend less for stuff in Canadian Funds.

As Well to consider that under one database and trying to keep exchange in check - price in one country would never "look nice" (ie 249.95 - but would be 250.24 one day and 249.83 the next etc....)

This is not a small problem. There is lots of PROS and CONS to consider.

Good Luck!