Additional Shipping Charge - how is it handled?

[sandy-59]

Hi,

Currently I am sort of learning the ropes with ofbiz and also evaluating fit
for a standard trading organization (mostly in-store bulk material handling)


One scenario that happens often in such cases is shipping charges are not
standard and depends on what the carrier quotes at the time of picking up
packages especially when it is not full container. Towards that I was very
encouraged to find "Additional Shipping Charge" as an option in packing
screen. Keyed in some number and that showed up in the
"facility/control/ViewShipment" screen for that shipping ID. Great!

What I don't see is how is this charged back to the customer. Note that I am
taking the straight case of customer first paying the invoice amount before
the items are packaged and shipped.
I was hoping to see something like another invoice created with the
additional shipping charge and accounted against the billing account of the
customer. This can also be a case where the actual shipping is lower for
some reason and there is a refund of shipping charges.

If this functionality does not exist then, I would be interested in getting
inputs towards how this should be approached. If it is already implemented
in some other way, would definitely appreciate pointers.

Thanks in advance
Sandy

[Scott Gray-2]

Hi Sandy

I think the main issue you're going to have is that the typical  
scenario for OFBiz is an order is placed, inventory is reserved, the  
inventory is then picked, packed (additional shipping charges  
calculated), invoiced and shipped.

An invoice really shouldn't be created until a transaction has taken  
place (i.e. goods shipped) so all you are really doing is taking a  
deposit and using the invoice as supporting paperwork for it.  You  
could probably achieve the same thing using a pro forma invoice,  
receive the payment against the order and then allocate the payment to  
the final invoice once generated, the customer would then just have an  
outstanding balance against the single invoice.

Regards
Scott

HotWax Media
http://www.hotwaxmedia.com

On 22/05/2009, at 9:31 PM, Sandy Ray wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Currently I am sort of learning the ropes with ofbiz and also  
> evaluating fit
> for a standard trading organization (mostly in-store bulk material  
> handling)
>
>
> One scenario that happens often in such cases is shipping charges  
> are not
> standard and depends on what the carrier quotes at the time of  
> picking up
> packages especially when it is not full container. Towards that I  
> was very
> encouraged to find "Additional Shipping Charge" as an option in  
> packing
> screen. Keyed in some number and that showed up in the
> "facility/control/ViewShipment" screen for that shipping ID. Great!
>
> What I don't see is how is this charged back to the customer. Note  
> that I am
> taking the straight case of customer first paying the invoice amount  
> before
> the items are packaged and shipped.
> I was hoping to see something like another invoice created with the
> additional shipping charge and accounted against the billing account  
> of the
> customer. This can also be a case where the actual shipping is lower  
> for
> some reason and there is a refund of shipping charges.
>
> If this functionality does not exist then, I would be interested in  
> getting
> inputs towards how this should be approached. If it is already  
> implemented
> in some other way, would definitely appreciate pointers.
>
> Thanks in advance
> Sandy