multiple custom shipping profiles for the same item, is there a workaround?

[custardacc]

Is there a workaround?

Have 5 items shipped UPS or USPS Ground in a few medium to large size boxes. The shipping cost per item is dependent on location/state/zone of the buyer's shipping address. So a custom shipping profile flat rate of $14 for Item A to nearby Pennsylvania, and another custom profile flat rate of $63 for the same Item A to far away California. Then more custom shipping profiles for Items B, C, etc., about 20 custom profiles would cover it all.

Seems an item cannot be assigned to more than one custom shipping profiles. So I can't charge different shipping rates on the same item by selecting different states for each custom shipping profile. It's a big difference, like $14 to PA vs $63 to CA. So an average is a bad option.

Is there a workaround for this problem?

[BernadetteA]

Hi @custardacc 👋 Welcome to the Seller Community 🎉

It is not possible to assign an item to more than one custom profile, however, there are a few options that may work for you depending on how your items ship. 

Can you post a link to your website so I can take a look at the items, and your current settings? Can you also give me an example of what a typical order looks like? i.e. Are these the types of items that sell individually, or does the average order contain multiple items per shipment? Does each item ship in its own flat rate box? 

Thanks in advance! I'll be on the lookout for your reply. 

[custardacc]

I’m looking for a workaround because the shipping profile function isn’t doing what I need. I thought we’d skip shopping cart payment and issue a Square invoice instead. Then we can enter the shipping cost into the invoice before accepting payment.

This is wholesale, so fewer orders and we already have a more involved sales relationship than consumer buyers. The orders usually are for multiple cases of products. Each item in the buyer’s shopping cart will have its own UPS or USPS label. We know the rate for that label, depending on shipping distance, so the US state of the buyer.

On my other e-commerce platform, the buyer gets put into a shipping profile based on geography — US state. Square invites you to set up multiple profiles to segment by state. However, each item can be assigned to only one profile. This is my problem.

So basically an item can be sold in only one geographic profile. My other platform lets you sell an item in PA at one shipping profile rate ($14) and the same item in CA at a different profile rate ($63).

For bigger boxes with both USPS and UPS the rate goes up a lot as you ship further away. That’s why we’re a more attractive supplier for customers on the east coast. I assume this situation is common for wholesale trade.

I was looking for a way for a customer to buy from the online store with no shipping charges calculated. They would brows the products on our site, put together the order with all product costs and no shipping charged. Then we can tack on shipping and send the invoice for payment. They revise the total cost of the order and pay Square invoice. This is traditionally how wholesale trade works anyway. The shipping costs are most dependent on the wholesale customer.

[RobynR]

@custardacc Thank you for taking the time to further explain in detail. However, it's difficult to pinpoint what you are describing without looking at your account with you.

The fastest way to resolve complicated Square questions is by reaching out to our team directly. The best way to reach out is by phone because our team can look at your account with you and help you make adjustments in real time. 

If you haven't already, please reach out by phone directly by logging into your Square account and heading here.