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# About the EasyPost shipping calculation in coreFORCE

# About the EasyPost shipping calculation in coreFORCE

coreFORCE integrates with EasyPost to provide real-time shipping rate calculations from multiple carriers. When enabled, EasyPost returns the lowest available rate based on product weight, store location, and the customer’s shipping address.

This article explains when and how EasyPost is used, what exclusions apply, and how the final shipping charge is calculated.

## Prerequisites
### Signature requirement
If applicable, coreFORCE checks whether a product requires a signature upon delivery. Some carriers may apply an additional charge for shipments that require a signature. To enable a product signature requirement, the following settings must be configured.

###### Setup of the RETAIL_STORE_REQUIRE_SIGNATURE preference
The RETAIL_STORE_REQUIRE_SIGNATURE preference is configured by the Coreware Support Team for coreFORCE Advanced users. Contact the Coreware Support Team to verify that this preference is set up for you.

###### Specifying the FFL Required product tag
For coreFORCE Basic users:  
1. On the sidebar, select **Products** > **Products**.
2. On the **Products Maintenance **page, select a product in the table.
3. Select the **Categories** tab.
4. In the **Tags** section, click the **Add **button.
5. In the **Product Tag** column, select **FFL Required**.
6. Click **Save**.

For coreFORCE Advanced users:
1. On the sidebar, select **Products** > **Products** > **Products**.
2. On the **Products Maintenance **page, select a product in the table.
3. Select the **Options** tab.
4. In the **Tags** section, click the **Add **button.
5. In the **Product Tag** column, select **FFL Required**.
6. Click **Save**.

###### Verifying your connection to EasyPost 
1. For coreFORCE Basic users, select **Setup** > **Site Defaults**. For coreFORCE Advanced users, select **Orders **> **Setup**.
2. On the **Site Defaults **or **Order Settings **page, select the **EasyPost **tab.
3. In the **EasyPost API Key** field, enter the API key you received from EasyPost.
4. Click **Test EasyPost API**.

###### Requiring signatures by default using department codes
1. For coreFORCE Basic users, select **Setup** > **Site Defaults**.  For coreFORCE Advanced users, select **Orders **> **Setup**. 
2. On the **Site Defaults **or **Order Settings **page, select the **EasyPost **tab.
3. In the **Signature required for these departments (comma separated list of department codes) **field, specify the department of the product. To know the department of the product, view its **Categories Summary** section on the **Categories** tab of the **Products Maintenance **page.
4. Click **Save**.

### Product availability
EasyPost is used only when one of the following conditions is met:
* The product is available at a local store location.
* The product is available from a distributor location configured as a local source.

###### Configuring a distributor as a local source

|| **Note: **Distributor configuration is only available for coreFORCE Advanced users.

1. On the sidebar, select **Orders **> **Setup**. 
2. On the **Orders Settings** page, select the **Settings **tab.
3. In the **Product distributors as local for shipping** field, enter the coreFORCE ID of the product distributor. For details about the ID, contact the Coreware Support Team.
4. Click **Save**.

## Using EasyPost for shipping calculation
1. For coreFORCE Basic users, select **Setup** > **Shipping Charges**. For coreFORCE Advanced users, select **Orders **> **Settings **> **Shipping Charges**.
2. On the **Shipping Charges **page, select a charge in the table.
3. Select the **Use EasyPost to calculate shipping** checkbox.
4. Enter the following information:
    * **Shipping Service Flat Rate **(required): Flat rate added to each box during shipping service calculations
    * **Shipping Service Percentage**: Percentage added to each box during shipping service calculations
    * **Shipping Service Maximum Weight**: Maximum weight allowed per box for shipping service calculations
5. Click **Save**.

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/9/8/9/6989aace46840400/image_1eu40no.png =320x243)

## EasyPost shipping calculation workflow
### 1. Dimensions and weights
coreFORCE collects the product’s physical characteristics, including height, width, length, weight, and volume.** **If the product weighs less than 0.25 lbs or has no defined weight, coreFORCE bypasses EasyPost.

### 2. Package count calculation
When a value specified in the **Shipping Service Maximum Weight **field:
* coreFORCE divides the total order weight by the maximum weight allowed per package.
* The result is rounded up to determine the total number of packages.
| **Example: **If the total order weight is 120 lbs and the maximum weight per package is 50 lbs: Packages = ceil(120 ÷ 50) = 3

If no maximum weight is set, coreFORCE defaults to 1 package. This may cause EasyPost to fail if the package exceeds the carrier’s weight limit.

### 3. Shipping carrier exclusions

|| Note: Shipping carrier exclusions are only available for coreFORCE Advanced users.

Some carriers may be excluded from EasyPost calculations from restrictions based on product, category, or department. Excluded shipping carriers are configured through the following:
* Prohibited shipping carrier by product categories: **Products** > **Taxonomy** > **Categories** > [Select a category in the table] > **Shipping **tab > [Select a checkbox in the **Prohibited** **Shipping** **Carriers** section].
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/9/8/9/6989aace46840400/image_1o283ap.png =420x311)
* Prohibited shipping carrier by product: **Products **> **Products **> [Select a product in the table] > **Shipping **tab > [Select a checkbox in the **Prohibited** **Shipping** **Carriers** section].
![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/6/9/8/9/6989aace46840400/image_1h5acp4.png =420x295)
For details, learn more [__about shipping charge exclusions in coreFORCE__](https://care.coreware.com/en-us/article/about-shipping-charge-exclusions-in-coreforce-z1g873/). 
## Final shipping rate adjustments
After EasyPost returns a valid shipping rate, coreFORCE applies final adjustment based on the following fields (if configured):
* **Shipping Service Flat Rate**: Flat rate added to each box during shipping service calculations
* **Shipping Service Percentage**: Percentage added to each box during shipping service calculations
* **Minimum Shipping Charge**: This amount will be used as shipping charge if the calculated charge is less than this.

If the final shipping rate is greater than zero, it is used for that method and no further calculations are performed.
## Fallback behavior
If EasyPost doesn’t return a valid rate (for example, due to excessive weight or missing data), coreFORCE uses the default shipping charges configured for the selected method.
This ensures that customers still see valid shipping options at checkout, even when EasyPost is temporarily unavailable or cannot process the order.

## Summary
coreFORCE integrates with EasyPost to deliver real-time shipping rates based on product availability, physical dimensions, and store or distributor location. EasyPost is used only when conditions such as minimum product weight and inventory rules are met. Users can fine-tune the calculation by setting flat rates, percentage-based fees, and maximum box weight limits.

If EasyPost does not return a valid rate because of carrier restrictions, data issues, or product settings, coreFORCE uses the default shipping charges as a fallback. This ensures consistent and dependable shipping rate display during checkout.