My company sells t-shirts and I would like my shipping charge to reflect the way the USPS functions. For example, to send one shirt Priority would cost $3.85, and sending up to three shirts costs at most $5.75 total (thus reducing per shirt shipping to $1.92). The Paypal shipping options do not seem to accomodate this sensible plan (unless you only have one design to sell, wherein you may then program reduced shipping per item). If I add the new flat-rate shipping per order, I a) lose money if I sell ten shirts and only charge $4.50 shipping, or b) alienate customers who do not want to pay $7.00 shipping for one shirt. Further, the established Paypal shipping-per-price range is not well thought-out considering that a large portion of online sales falls within the $10-$50 range, yet buyers are forced to pay identical shipping whether getting a small figurine for $11 or an oversized painting for $48 from an art dealer. The best available option then is the percentage-based shipping calculation, but again, if I charge 20% on a $15.00 shirt and my customer buys three shirts (of different designs, remember), he pays $9.00 shipping on what will cost at most $5.75 USPS Priority. It is absurd and bad for business. I know that Paypal is bit by bit contouring its capabilities for its millions of members, however I urge expanded flexibility to this seemingly basic function. (Any Javascript (or HTML) shortcuts to effect my aim in the meantime would be greatly appreciated.) -Phil Alterman shirtswithballs.com

Thanks for the prompt reply. I would want the, say, $3.00 'cart_handling' to be a once-per-transaction charge, not once per shirt design. What is the proper way to program this so as not to double-charge my customers?

Thanks,
-Phil

You just add the variable to each of your buttons. That way no matter which button the customer selects, the cart handling will be applied.

<input type="hidden" name="cart_handling" value="3.00">

http://iva.tech.nu

Final problem solved. Instead of <input type="hidden" name="shipping_extra" value="1.00">, it should read:

input type="hidden" name="shipping2" value="1.00">

-Phil