Shipping: Enhanced Setup
Account: VITAG (Vitagen Labs)
Documented: June 28, 2026
Overview
The base shipping setup covered in 06-location-shipping.md gets rates calculating and labels printing. This guide covers the next layer: connecting carrier accounts via OAuth (required to unlock accurate negotiated rates), tuning method-level handling charges, configuring packages so dimensional weight is used correctly, ensuring items have accurate weights and dimensions, and choosing a fulfillment workflow that scales with order volume.
Navigation path: Configuration → Shipping
Current State (VITAG)
| Area | Status |
|---|---|
| Carriers enabled | USPS (default), UPS (enabled for documentation) |
| Carrier OAuth connections | ❌ None — using standard list rates |
| Shipping methods | Basic Priority Mail configured |
| Handling charges | ❌ Not configured |
| Shipping packages | ❌ None defined — weight-only estimation |
| Carrier | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime (Alpha) | Amazon SFP program participants only |
| Australia Post | International shipments to AU |
| Canada Post | Canada destinations |
| Con-Way | LTL freight |
| DHL | International small parcel |
| EasyPost | Multi-carrier aggregator (alternative to individual connections) |
| FedEx | OAuth required for negotiated rates |
| FlavorCloud | International DTC shipping |
| http://FreightQuote.com | LTL freight quoting |
| Gold Coast | Regional carrier |
| OnTrac | Western US regional |
| Shippo | Multi-carrier aggregator |
| ShipStation | Fulfillment/WMS integration (see Section 6) |
| TForce | Ground freight |
| UPS | OAuth required for negotiated rates |
| USPS | Multiple label providers (see below) |
| Worldwide Express | International / LTL |
Enabling a Carrier
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Navigate to Configuration → Shipping → Carriers
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Check the checkbox next to the carrier name
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The carrier's configuration tab appears on the right
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Click the carrier tab to configure it
UPS — OAuth Authorization
UPS requires OAuth to connect VITAG's UPS account and use negotiated rates.
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Check UPS in the carrier list
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Click the UPS tab
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Under the connection section, click Authorize (or Authorize Sandbox for test mode)
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A UPS login page opens — log in with the UPS account credentials
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Approve the connection
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Return to UltraCart — the OAuth token is saved automatically
Why this matters: Without OAuth, UltraCart quotes UPS list rates, which can be 30–50% higher than negotiated commercial rates. VITAG should authorize the production UPS account before going live.
FedEx — OAuth Authorization
Same flow as UPS:
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Check FedEx in the carrier list (or navigate directly to the FedEx tab)
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Click Authorize (production) or Authorize Sandbox (testing)
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Complete the FedEx login/approval flow
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Negotiated rates are now used for all FedEx quotes
USPS — Label Provider Selection
USPS does not use OAuth. Instead, VITAG selects a label provider — the service that generates USPS postage labels:
| Sub-page | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Cost | Base cost formula (carrier rate, flat fee, percentage markup) |
| Estimated Delivery | Delivery day calculation shown to customers |
| Handling Charge | Add-on fees above the carrier rate (see Section 3) |
| Insurance | Optional shipment insurance configuration |
| Other | Display name, sort order, minimum/maximum order requirements |
| Packages | Which package types can be used with this method |
| Restrictions | Block this method for certain states, countries, or order conditions |
| Tax Codes | Shipping tax configuration |
Configuring a Shipping Method
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Go to Configuration → Shipping → Methods
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Select the carrier from the left column
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Click a method name to open its detail pages
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Work through each sub-page (Cost, Handling Charge, and Restrictions are the most important)
Section 3: Handling Charges
Handling charges are added on top of the carrier rate. They cover packaging materials, labor, and any business margin on shipping. UltraCart offers fine-grained control per method:
| Charge Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Flat | Fixed dollar amount added to every shipment (e.g. $1.50 per order for packaging) |
| Percentage | Percentage of order total or shipping cost |
| Per-Item | Multiplied by number of items in the order |
| Residential | Surcharge for residential delivery addresses |
| APO/FPO | Military address surcharge |
| P.O. Box | P.O. Box delivery surcharge |
| Hazmat | Hazmat item surcharge |
| Minimum Order Fee | Minimum shipping charge floor |
| Lift Gate | Lift gate delivery surcharge (freight) |
| Saturday Fee | Additional charge for Saturday delivery |
| Pricing Tier Markups | Different handling by customer pricing tier |
| By-Zip Markup | Surcharge or discount for specific ZIP codes |
| By-Country/State | Regional handling adjustments |
Recommended Handling Charge Setup for VITAG
| Scenario | Setup |
|---|---|
| Packaging cost recovery | Add a flat $0.75–$1.50 per order handling charge to all methods |
| Button | Action |
|---|---|
| New Package | Define a custom box: enter name, length, width, height, max weight, and tare weight |
| Add USPS Flat Rate Packages | One-click import of all standard USPS Flat Rate box dimensions |
| Add FedEx One Rate Packages | One-click import of all FedEx One Rate envelope/box dimensions |
Package Configuration Fields (New Package)
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Package Name | Internal label (e.g. "Small Mailer", "6x6x4 Box") |
| Length | Outer length in inches |
| Width | Outer width in inches |
| Height | Outer height in inches |
| Max Weight | Maximum item weight this package can hold |
| Tare Weight (oz) | Empty box/mailer weight; added to item weight for shipping quote |
Recommended Package Setup for VITAG (Supplements)
| Field | Where Set | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Item → Weight & Shipping | Primary input for carrier rate calculation |
| Length | Item → Weight & Shipping | Used for DIM weight when packages are defined |
| Width | Item → Weight & Shipping | Used for DIM weight |
| Height | Item → Weight & Shipping | Used for DIM weight |
| Ships Separately | Item → Weight & Shipping | Forces this item to its own shipment (separate rate) |
| Freight | Item → Weight & Shipping | Flags item as freight-only (disables parcel methods) |
VITAG Supplement Weight Reference
| Integration | Connection Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ShipStation | API key | Syncs orders, tracks shipments, supports 100+ carriers and 3PLs |
| EasyPost | API key (Shipping → Carriers) | Multi-carrier shipping API; rate shopping across UPS/FedEx/USPS/DHL |
| Shippo | API key (Shipping → Carriers) | Similar to EasyPost; pay-per-label pricing |
Option B: In-House Fulfillment at Scale — UltraShip
UltraShip is UltraCart's native pick-pack-ship module designed for in-house fulfillment operations. It provides:
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Scan-based pick-and-pack workflow (barcode scanner support)
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Label printing queue
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Packing slip generation
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Multi-station warehouse support
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Integration with UltraCart orders without a third-party service
Note on UltraShip availability: UltraShip is a specialized module that may require enablement by UltraCart support. It does not appear in the standard Configuration → Integrations menu and is not visible in the default StoreFront sidebar. Contact UltraCart support (support@ultracart.com / 1-209-383-9870) to enable UltraShip for the VITAG account.
When to Upgrade from Basic to a Fulfillment System
| Signal | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| Orders > 10–20/day and manual ship is taking > 1 hour | Evaluate UltraShip or ShipStation |
| Using a 3PL warehouse | Connect via ShipStation |
| Multiple SKUs with scan/verify requirements | UltraShip scan workflow |
| Multiple warehouse locations | Distribution Centers + UltraShip or ShipStation |
Distribution Centers
UltraCart supports multiple distribution centers for multi-location fulfillment. Configuration is under Configuration → Shipping → Distribution Centers.
Each distribution center can:
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Have its own set of available shipping methods
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Route orders based on customer geography
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Support separate inventory pools (when inventory tracking is enabled)
Pre-Launch Shipping Checklist
Carrier Connections
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[ ] Authorize UPS via OAuth (Configuration → Shipping → Carriers → UPS → Authorize)
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[ ] Authorize FedEx via OAuth (Configuration → Shipping → Carriers → FedEx → Authorize)
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[ ] Select USPS label provider (http://Stamps.com API recommended)
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[ ] Test rate quotes for UPS and FedEx to confirm negotiated rates are lower than list rates
Shipping Methods
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[ ] Enable USPS First Class Mail for orders under 1 lb
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[ ] Enable USPS Priority Mail as the baseline domestic method
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[ ] Enable UPS Ground for heavy/multi-bottle orders
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[ ] Configure free shipping method (if offering free shipping above a threshold)
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[ ] Set restrictions on each method (e.g. Priority Mail not available in Puerto Rico)
Handling Charges
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[ ] Add flat handling charge ($0.75–$1.50) to cover packaging materials
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[ ] Review and set handling charges per method as needed
Packages
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[ ] Click Add USPS Flat Rate Packages to import standard USPS box types
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[ ] Create custom package profiles for poly mailers and corrugated boxes VITAG uses
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[ ] Enter accurate tare weights for each package
Item Weights
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[ ] Weigh every active SKU on a postal scale
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[ ] Enter weight and dimensions in each item's Weight & Shipping tab
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[ ] Run test checkout for each weight tier; confirm rates look correct
Fulfillment Workflow
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[ ] Decide on fulfillment model: in-house manual / in-house UltraShip / 3PL via ShipStation
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[ ] If using ShipStation: connect via Configuration → Integrations → Channel Partners
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[ ] If using UltraShip: contact UltraCart support to enable the module
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[ ] If using a 3PL directly: confirm the 3PL's integration method
Key URLs
| Resource | URL |
|---|---|
| Carriers | <https://secure.ultracart.com/merchant/configuration/shipping/carriersLoad.do> |
| Shipping Methods | <https://secure.ultracart.com/merchant/configuration/shipping/v2/methodsLoad.do> |
| Shipping Packages | <https://secure.ultracart.com/merchant/configuration/shipping/packagesLoad.do> |
| Distribution Centers | <https://secure.ultracart.com/merchant/configuration/shipping/distributionCentersLoad.do> |
| Channel Partner Integrations (ShipStation) | <https://secure.ultracart.com/merchant/configuration/integrations/channelPartnersLoad.do> |
| UltraCart Support | support@ultracart.com · 1-209-383-9870 |