Assign boxes to products

[Geoffrey_Ferdon]

Does anyone out there know if there is there a way to assign boxes to products, such that shipping can be calculated correctly at checkout?

My box sizes vary greatly, so the shipping calculations can  be very inaccurate.

Thank you for your help.

-Geoff
XGuitars.com

[-Emma-]

Hi, Geoff.

Emma here from Shopify. Thanks for reaching out!

When you are shipping products that vary greatly in size, the included shipping options can certainly fall short, given the limitation of only being able to select one default package size.

Our development team has received feedback from merchants like yourself who would love to see the option for assigning package sizes per product, so I know it's on their radar. We are always looking for ways to improve Shopify!

In the meantime, you can assign specific shipping packages to individual products with the use of an app such as Boxify (free 15-day trial) or Parcelify (free 30-day trial). Both of these apps are well reviewed by merchants. I'd recommend giving one (or both) a try to see if they suit your needs. So long as an app is removed within the trial period, you wouldn't see any charge for it on your Shopify invoice.

Let us know how you make out, and if you have any further questions just reply below and we'd be more than happy to assist you as best we can!

Emma | Shopify Support

[shopucw]

Boxify is trash. i have yet to have a good experience with any of the apps. just make boxes assignable. this is basic shipping 101. all this lack of box selection fiasco has done is cost me sales and or money.

[Flindseth]

Any idea if they are making progress on adding this feature? My products also have varying package sizes and it will be extremely important to assign boxes to certain products. 

[Abracax]

Exact same question. I have many products that are one size, but a couple that are significantly larger.

[Abracax]

Tried installing parcelify, and after installation it hit me with this requirement:

Can't really justify paying a bunch more for a free trial when I don't even know if the thing will do what I need it to do.

About to see if any better luck with another app.

Thanks

[gary-fuel]

Hey Geoff,

It been year now this thread started. Do we have any solution for this?

We're facing same problem for our client. And other makes it impossible to manage.

Thanks,

Gary

[jdash86]

If you search this forum, you'll see that this feature has been asked for many YEARS. And the most we've ever gotten is some useless Admin telling us they're listening and to spend money on apps.

Don't hold your breath on this ever happening.

[Daniel_Moravec]

Guys, I have a hack that I personally use on my stores (shameless plug, https://www.streetsaw.com). The reason that the sizes are being charged more is due to something called "dimensional weight." (Learn more here: https://goshippo.com/blog/usps-dimensional-weight-pricing-june-2019/) In essence, the size of your box is increasing the "weight" that the carrier charges to you for shipping.

I know that the real reason you're here is that you are charging the customer price A but having to pay price B, even though it doesn't weigh as much as you're being charged for. The reason Shopify hasn't bothered to make this update yet is that carriers are CONSTANTLY changing how they charge. Rates fluctuate frequently, new rules are implemented, flat rates change... blah blah blah.

Anyways, the hack is to go to the carrier's pages (like this one for USPS: https://pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/123.htm#1185034) and do the calculations on your own, determine the "dimensional weight" and use THAT weight for your product(s).

Follow these steps to determine the dimensional weight for a rectangular parcel:

1. Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
2. Multiply the length by the width by the height.
3. If the result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 166 and round up to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.

From one store owner to another: I hope that helps!

Sincerely,

Daniel Moravec

[rolaruba]

What's the update on this Emma?

Been a year already, Im sure by now Shopify has come up with a solution.

[shopucw]

---

@rolaruba wrote:

What's the update on this Emma?

Been a year already, Im sure by now Shopify has come up with a solution.

---

Lol. you'd think so. but i've been complaining about this for going on 7 years now. 

[jdash86]

I am 100% confident that Shopify will NOT create a relatively easy solution for this. Instead, they will focus on growing their revenue from paid apps and leave it to those apps to deal with our complaints.

Shopify does not have the backs of very small businesses.

[RSIMMEN]

---

@-Emma- wrote:

Hi, Geoff.

Emma here from Shopify. Thanks for reaching out!

When you are shipping products that vary greatly in size, the included shipping options can certainly fall short, given the limitation of only being able to select one default package size.

Our development team has received feedback from merchants like yourself who would love to see the option for assigning package sizes per product, so I know it's on their radar. We are always looking for ways to improve Shopify!

In the meantime, you can assign specific shipping packages to individual products with the use of an app such as Boxify (free 15-day trial) or Parcelify (free 30-day trial). Both of these apps are well reviewed by merchants. I'd recommend giving one (or both) a try to see if they suit your needs. So long as an app is removed within the trial period, you wouldn't see any charge for it on your Shopify invoice.

Let us know how you make out, and if you have any further questions just reply below and we'd be more than happy to assist you as best we can!

Emma | Shopify Support

---

Hi Emma - Any updates? This has been requested for years - Shopify owes their customers an answer. If a paid third party app can solve the problem surely shopify can figure out a solution..

Please give the community an update?

thanks

[Brian_Keesbury]

Seems like they could create an easy fix for this by allowing the boxes to be assigned to Shipping Profiles. 

[Abracax]

Agreed. Heck, I'd be happy if they could assign a box size per product even, for my purposes.

[TelescopesCan]

Hello,

Any updates on this ability?  This is a very basic thing, and causes me a great deal of problems whenever a customer orders something that isn't a standard dimension.  No one should have to pay extra to extend Shopify for something like this, we already pay a significant amount for Shopify services. 

I have a customer who ordered something that I need to ship to the US - it decided to use a small packet envelope for something that is 6" square.  If I use Shopify's label on an appropriate box I'm pretty sure Canada Post is going to reject the shipment and cause me more pain.

[PluginHive]

There has been a lot of queries regarding the dimension based packaging and calculation of rates. I know you guys are looking for a solution from the side of Shopify. But, as there hasn't been a solution, I would suggest you try the apps mentioned here and also look into the Multi Carrier Shipping Label app, that would help you automate the packaging process based on the product weight & dimensions. You can add custom boxes based on the product and the app automatically chooses the right box based on the customer input. Also, the app helps you handle the shipping process as well.

[FiberCore]

One thing you can do is just give the box a weight which corresponds to the dimensional weight.  That might work.

[danteamk]

Any update on this feature?

It's quite basic and necessary I believe for most merchants.

Seen that now we are all more and more dependent on deliveries due to COVID-19, Shopify could speed up the development of freight-related features.

Waiting for your feedback. Thanks!

[Abracax]

SERIOUSLY.

I just got an order for 3 items, weighing 16.1 pounds total. They are boxed separately, because they tend to get DESTROYED if shipped together.

One item alone costs at least $15 to ship.

Shopify charged the customer $6.95 for ALL THREE.

WHAT GIVES?