Quantity Breaks

Introduction to Quantity Breaks Tab

Quantity Breaks are used to define ranges of some shipping related variable, like weight, over which a specific pricing level will be applied to the Shipping Estimate for an order. In the case of weight, successive Quantity Breaks would probably step up the shipping charges as the weight range increases.

The Shipping charges Customer's see on their order will usually depend on some combination of these variables:

• the shipping carrier charges, or the Store Estimate of those charges,
• plus some charges added by the Store to cover shipping related expenses, or
• a Store incentive offer in terms of shipping charges (like free shipping), or
• a Store markup relating to shipping.

Any of these shipping charge components may be dependent on some characteristics of the order, such as:

• the package dimensions or
• the package weight,
• the quantity of packages in a shipment,
• the total carrier charges - the carrier value of the shipment,
• the Store value of the order, or
• the Store quantity of the ordered items.

These kinds of variables can be represented in the Quantity Breaks Tab, and can then be used in Shipping Estimates for an order. Once the Quantity Breaks of various kinds are defined in the [Quantity Breaks] Tab, they are then used in the definition of "Shipping Estimates" as discussed in the section, Enter_Shipping_Estimate_Parameters_for_a_Defined_Shipment_Method.

Using Quantity Breaks

Use of this Tab is described in the following discussion. To use the Quantity Breaks Tab,

Open: [Catalog] > [Catalog Manager Application] drop down box > [Shipping] link
The "List Shipment Method Types" page opens displaying three Tabs at the top.
Click: [Quantity Breaks] Tab, the "List Quantity Breaks" page opens,
     displaying a list box of the currently defined breaks of various kinds.

The information provided in this list includes:

• Quantity Break Id -- a system Id for this entry in the list
• Type -- the kind of shipping price break point that is defined on this line
• From Quantity -- the smallest value included in the range of this break
• Thru Quantity -- the largest value included in the range of this break
• [Remove] button -- each line entry in the list has a [Remove] button

Notice that any of the potential kinds of shipping price breaks can be defined in this table.

Adding or Changing Quantity Breaks Definitions

At the bottom of this screen is the "Edit Quantity Breaks" box which is used to add an item to the list of available Quantity Breaks.

Editing Quantity Breaks

This box does not actually edit an entry. To edit an item, remove it from the list using [Remove] and then re-enter the item to add it back into the list.

CAUTION: Re-entering an item will cause it's Id to change, and you will have
to edit the entries in the [Shipping Estimates] Tab as explained in:
Enter_Shipping_Estimate_Parameters_for_a_Defined_Shipment_Method
Otherwise your Shipping Estimates will not reflect the new entry you added. 

Adding Quantity Breaks

In the "Edit Quantity Breaks" box at the bottom of the screen,

Select: a "Type" from the drop down box. 

The available "Types" are as follows:

• Price Component Order Value Break -- Store break for the Store Order Value Some uses of this estimating break will require a complementary use of the [Promos] Tab (refer to Product Promotions) where, for example, free shipping can be set up for specific conditions in an order.
• Price Component Quantity Break -- Store break for Store quantity ordered. Some uses of this estimating break will require a complementary use of the [Promos] Tab (refer to Product Promotions) where, for example, free shipping can be set up for specific conditions in an order.
• Shipping Price Break -- A Shipping Carrier break for price of shipping.
• Shipping Quantity Break -- A Shipping Carrier break for quantity of packages.
• Shipping Weight Break -- A Shipping Carrier break for weight of packages.

Enter: The smallest value included in the range of this break.
Enter: The largest value included in the range of this break.
Click: [Submit] to save the entries you have made with a new system defined ID.

This completes the use of Quantity Breaks Tab.