Specify hard to reach shipping locations

-- HikaShop version -- : 6.2.0
-- Joomla version -- : 3.10.12

Hi!

There are about 9.000 locations in my country that are hard to reach for the courier company and they have specific prices.
I need to add all these locations in my shipping methods but there are too many to do it manually, is there a faster easier way?

So my checkout page would have to be like this:

1. Select Country: Greece's hard to reach locations (from dropdown field)
2. (when selecting Greece's hard to reach locations) Select location: blabla

Thank you

Hi,

That's quite a challenge with 9,000 locations! Here's the current situation and a potential workaround:

1. Create a Custom Country Zone :
Go to System > Zones and create a new zone:
Name: "Greece - Hard to Reach Locations" (or similar)
Type: Country
Then add sub-zones (states) under this country zone for each hard-to-reach location. The challenge, as you noted, is that HikaShop doesn't currently have a bulk import feature for zones.

Workaround: Direct Database Import
If you're comfortable with PHPMyAdmin, you can prepare a CSV with columns: Then, import into the #__hikashop_zone table:
docs.phpmyadmin.net/en/latest/import_export.html
Example for a few locations: You also need to prepare another CSV to link them to the greece zone to #__hikashop_zone_link: Where GREECE_HTR is the zone_namekey of your parent "Greece Hard to Reach" zone.

Tip: Export the existing Greece states first to see the exact format HikaShop uses, then model your imports on that structure.

And the situation is similar with shipping methods. You would have to create one shipping method per state, which is impractical via the interface. So, the workaround is also to export/import the #__hikashop_shipping table via your PHPMyAdmin.

We're going to look at what we can do in order to improve this process for the next version of HikaShop.

Hi!

I think it would be much easier for users to put their Post Code number in a field and by filtering that they would get the correct shipping location and cost.

Like in IKEA's website for example: www.ikea.gr/kalathi-agoron/

Can the checkout be like that?

Thank you!

Hi,

Something like this is already possible with HikaShop with the Shipping estimation plugin:
www.hikashop.com/marketplace/product/244...tion-by-obsidev.html

Okay thank you for that!

And it's for the checkout page right?

No, it's on the product page. However, the information you enter for it will carry to other products and to the cart / checkout. This means that :
- once you enter the information on one product page, you'll directly see the shipping estimation on other product pages
- on the registration form, the address information already provided will be prefilled
- the shipping methods selection on the checkout will be based on the information already provided
- the first shipping method being preselected automatically, the cart module will display the shipping fee automatically for it, if the shipping fee display setting is activated in the cart module settings page
So, I think it is even better that what is proposed on the Greek Ikea website.

Note that we've moved forward quite well with the sub zones import, and the shipping methods creation. We'll be able to provide a nice solution to people with the same need to enter a lot of zones / shipping methods with the next version of HikaShop. We're planning the next release for February.

Hi,

I updated to the latest version okay.
So with the Shipping Estimation plugin, can the Post Code be used to filter the shipping locations?
For example, in the product the customer enters their Post Code number and the plugin would give them as options the only locations with that Post Code? Instead if showing 9000 location that we have total?

Thank you

Hi,

Yes. Exactly.

Yes but without this plugin , hikashop engine can do the same in the checkout?
I mean if the address has the correct postcode can hikashop work ? Whithout the plugin

Hi,

Yes, HikaShop will only display to the customer the shipping methods which restrictions match with the address he entered.

This plugin only allows the user to enter his post code beforehand to directly get the shipping cost displayed on the product page, without having to go to the checkout. But the filtering is done by HikaShop, not the plugin.

Hello Nicolas!
What about if we set the the "Minimum and Maximum Post code"
Does hikashop trigger that case?
I tried with no success

Thank you

No I was wrong Nikolas . It works.