UPS

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This tutorial explains how to install and configure the UPS shipment plugin for VirtueMart2.

Create a test account on UPS

1. Create a UPS login at UPS.Com. Click on My UPS and Register   to create an account.
2. Request a developer API key at www.ups.com/upsdeveloperkit  and follow the steps from that page.

You will receive an email with all the informations and the API key.

A usefull post on the forum on how to get a UPS Access Key

Install the UPS plugin

1. Install the UPS plugin via the Joomla Installer
2. Enable the UPS plugin

Check your shop configuration

Configure UPS as shipment method

1. Go to component VirtueMart
2. Create a new shipment method, and select UPS, click Save
3. Go on the Configuration tab
4. If you are shipping from the same address as your shop, select Use shop address. If you are shipping from another address, select Use warehous address, and enter all informations
5. Enter the informations provided by UPS:
   • Api Key
   • User Password
   • MyUPS User ID (user name)
   • UPS Account Number
6. Choose the Delivery Services. UPS offers a wide variety of package delivery services.
   Valid domestic values:
   • Next Day Air Early AM
   • Next Day Air
   • Next Day Air Saver
   • 2nd Day Air AM
   • 2nd Day Air
   • 3 Day Select
   • Ground
   Valid international values:
   • Standard
   • Worldwide Express
   • Worldwide Express Plus
   • Worldwide Expedited
   • Saver
   Complete list of the delivery services depending on the originating country.
7. Select the UPS pickup method. The options are :
   • Daily Pickup
   • Customer Counter
   • One Time Pickup
   • On Call Air
   • Suggested Retail Rates
   • Letter Center
   • Air Service Center
   The default value is Daily Pickup.
8. Select the Customer classification. The options are:
   • None
   • Wholesale
   • Occasional
   • Retail
   The Customer Classification determines the rate returned by UPS. This parameter must be different from 'None' when the Pickup method is set to 'Suggested Retail Rates'. It is only used in case your ship from address is in US.
   The default values depends on the UPS pickup method:
   • The default value is Wholesale when the Pickup method is daily pickup.
   • The default value is Occasional when the Pickup method is One Time Pickup or On Call Air or Letter Center or Air Service Center
   • The default value is Retail when the Pickup method is Customer Counter
9. Choose the Packaging. The options are:
   • Unknown
   • Ups Letter
   • Package/customer supplied
   • UPS Tube
   • Express Box
   • 25KG Box
   • 10KG Box
   • Pallet
   • Small Express Box
   • Medium Express Box
   • Large Express Box
10. Select the Shipment strategy
    • Based on weight: the number of packages needed is calculated dividing the total weight of the products with the maximum package weight allowed. 
    • Based on volume: the number of packages needed is calculated by dividing the total volume of all products with the maximum package volume defined in the parameter Boxes dimension
    • Each product sent as one package: each products is put into one package
11. Enter the Boxes dimension and select the Dimension unit of the boxes only when the parameter Shipment strategy is set to Based on volume
12. 1. Select if you want that the returned UPS shipment rates include an Insured value (more expensive).
13. Set Local Weight Unit to the system you use to measure product weight. The weight system supported by UPS varies by country (example LBS for USA, KGS for France).
14. Weight Padding and Dimensions padding allows you to pad the weight  or dimensions for shipping package
15. Select the Destination type to which the shipment is being sent. The options are:
    • Auto: based on delivery address entered by the client during checkout, the UPS shipment plugin will determine if the address is residential or commercial depending if the company name is filled or not,
    • Commercial
    • Residential: A residential delivery is defined as delivery to a location that is a home, including a business operating out of a home.
    UPS charges residential deliveries more than commercial ones for their Ground shipping (typically $1 or $2 more).  
16. Free shipment: enter an amount for which the shipment is offered. Do not enter any value, if you do not offer shipment
17. Select the Accepted Countries for the shipment. If no country are selected, the shipment is available for all countries.
18. Choose a logo for your shipment
19. Select Yes or No  for Charge Tax
20. Choose the Tax Rule

Test your installation

Attention: Be sure your products have weights entered.

1. Add a product to your cart
2. Click on Select shipment: all the available services and rates are displayed.

Trouble shooting

Info: UPS: The delivery services configurated in the shipment method do no match the Delivery Services returned by UPS.
If they do not match, then no shipment is listed. 

Check the complete list of the delivery services depending on the originating country, and change the parameter Delivery Services according to your originating country, and the destination countries.

Reason 2: Another possible reason is that you have not set weigth for your products. Just like before, to check that this the reason, log in as vendor on the front end, and do a checkout. The following message will be displayed: Packages must weigh more than zero pounds.

Check that all your products have a weigth.

Reason 3: Another possible reason is that you have the weigth is over the maximum limit autorized by UPS. Just like before, to check that this the reason, log in as vendor on the front end, and do a checkout. The following message will be displayed: The maximum per package weight for the selected service from the selected country is xxx pounds.

UPS has established specific weight and size limits for the packages that you send with all UPS services.

Learn More About UPS Weight and Size Limitations
Learn More About Shipping Packages Greater Than 70 lbs (32 kg)

Additional weight and size limitations may apply to either your destination or origin country when shipping to and from the United States.Find Country-Specific Weight and Size Limitations

Q: I have selected UPS standard, and I get the message "We are sorry, no shipment method matches the characteristics of your order."

A: UPS standard is not a service used for US Domestic deliveries. 
http://www.ups.com/content/us/en/shipping/time/service/standard.html describes when this service is used. 

Q: This message is displayed: Cannot select UPS shipment Info : This measurement system is not valid for the selected country.

A: Change in the UPS shipment configuration the parameter Local Weight Unit to change from lbs and ounces to Kilograms or vice-versa.