Shipping Calculator?

I’m wondering if anyone here knows of a UPS shipping cost calculator in Excel? I have a fully functional calculator in an old Microsoft Works spreadsheet, but it took weeks to make and likely would take just as long to convert to Excel.

I’ve been searching the web for something similar, no luck, but I’ll continue searching.

Why would it take weeks to make such a spreadsheet? Is it really that complicated? You just want to input some data on a shipment like weight and destination, right? and get the cost of it?

Originally Posted by leonnaley

Why would it take weeks to make such a spreadsheet? Is it really that complicated? You just want to input some data on a shipment like weight and destination, right? and get the cost of it?

You would not believe how complicated even a basic shipping calculator can be. There are 100s of zip codes in the US. Several zip codes are lumped together into what are called “Destination Zip Code Ranges”. There are approx 153 “Destination Zip Code Ranges” (give or tak a few). To complicate things even more … there are 7 different shipping types (shown below) which puts each “Destination Zip Code Ranges” into an entirely different price bracket. Each price bracket is considered as what is called a “Zone”. Once you know your Zone you must know the weight of the package. Each pound in relationship to the zone and the ‘shipping type’ gives you a ‘price per pound’ to ship the package.

Believe it or not it's actually more complicated than it sounds.

Shipping Types:
- UPS Ground
- 3 Day Select
- 2nd Day Air A.M. delivery
- 2nd Day Air
- Next Day Air Saver
- Next Day Air.
- Saturday Deliver (only available in select zip codes)

This has all been tediously completed in the past (about 15 yrs ago) in MS Works. This work that has been done is only useful with MS Works and the formulas will not work with MS Excel. Works and Excel is a totally different animal so to speak.

Well, the calculation part of the thing should be moderatly hard = doable. but the number punching sounds grusome!...

perhaps there is some way you can convert your old spreadsheet into a new one though. try searching for "convert works excel" in google.

I found this though, perhaps it could help you http://support.microsoft.com/kb/163109

leonnaley,

I checked out that link ... hopefully that would help.

Thanks!

I was hoping someone knew of a calculator that was already made in Excel, but if one doesn't exist ... a conversion sure beats nothing

Glad to hear it hope it works out. If not, just post in this thread again :P I'll check it tomorrow after work.

This is a long shot on conversion, but try converting it to Google's "Docs and Spreadsheets" and then converting that to Excel. Also, "ASAP Utilities" has a nice host of utilies geared for specialty importing and exporting.

I had tried a few months ago to find a zip code mileage calculator formula and opened up the same zip code pandoras box that you did. There are lots of companies making money off from zip code related tasks.

Good luck!

xcelentform,
I'll look into that too.


leonnaley,
The version of Works we use is 4.5

The versions I believe that link pertains to is:
APPLIES TO:
• Microsoft Excel 2000 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Works 3.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Works 3.0a
• Microsoft Works 3.0b
• Microsoft Works 4.0 Standard Edition
• Microsoft Excel 97 Standard Edition


I may just have to install one of those versions in order to convert it to Excel.

Well, do you have any of those versions availabble to you? you might try xelentforms solution as well. let me know how it turns out

Is there an easy way to calculate UPS or FedEx rates in Excel, given the origin/destination zip codes, along with the package weight?