Offering convenient pickup options, whether through third-party networks (like UPS Access Point, DPD Pickup, DHL Parcel Pickup etc.) or your own stores (BOPIS), often requires rules to determine which products are suitable for these delivery methods. Not all items in your catalog may be eligible due to various constraints.
Implementing product eligibility rules ensures:
This guide helps you think strategically about identifying ineligible products and choosing the right filtering approach for your catalog and ecommerce platform. The actual implementation details will vary by platform and are covered in specific integration guides within this Console.
Before implementing filters, you need to determine which products are ineligible. Consider these factors:
Once you know what to exclude, you need to determine how your system will identify these products during checkout. As catalogs vary greatly, you might use one or a combination of these strategies:
Exclude all products within specific categories or sub-categories (e.g., "Furniture," "Large Appliances," "HAZMAT").
Best For: Broad exclusions where entire categories are unsuitable. Simple to implement if your category structure aligns well with eligibility rules.
Limitation: Less granular; may exclude eligible items if categories are too broad.
Maintain a specific list of SKUs or Product IDs that are explicitly ineligible for pickup.
Best For: A small, relatively static number of known exceptions that don't fit neatly into other categories. Limitation: Requires manual maintenance; less scalable for large or rapidly changing catalogs.
Filter products based on their dimensions (length, width, height) and/or weight exceeding the limits of chosen pickup networks.
Best For: Accurately excluding items based on carrier size/weight constraints.
Limitation: Requires accurate, consistent, and complete dimensional/weight data for all products (including packaging) within your ecommerce platform. Implementation logic can be complex, especially when checking against multiple network limits or calculating cart totals.
Leverage existing or create new custom attributes/tags on your product data to flag eligibility.
Examples: is_pickup_eligible: false, handling: HAZMAT, value_tier: high, requires_refrigeration: true, oversized: true.
Best For: Highly flexible approach accommodating various criteria (value, handling, restrictions, size classifications). Allows for granular control defined by your business rules.
Limitation: Requires robust processes for accurately tagging products in your catalog management system.
In complex fulfillment setups, eligibility might depend on the warehouse or source fulfilling the item (e.g., certain locations cannot handle HAZMAT or oversized items).
Best For: Retailers with multi-source inventory and varying location capabilities.
Limitation: Adds significant complexity to the eligibility logic.
Dynamic Cart Evaluation: The eligibility check must happen dynamically during the checkout process, evaluating the entire contents of the customer's current shopping cart.
Cart-Level Decision: If any single item in the cart is deemed ineligible for pickup (or for a specific network), the corresponding pickup shipping option(s) must be hidden or disabled for the customer for that entire order.
Aggregate Checks (Optional): For rules based on dimensions/weight, your logic might need to calculate the total weight or potentially estimate the combined dimensions of all items in the cart to check against network limits, which can be complex.
Technical Approach: Implementation often involves:
The precise steps for configuring product eligibility filters depend heavily on your specific ecommerce platform. Please refer to the relevant integration documentation within this Console for detailed, platform-specific instructions. Some HubBox integrations, particularly specific platform plugins, may include standard product eligibility features. However, for other platforms or custom-built sites, implementing eligibility rules requires a solution built on the retailer's side, which HubBox can provide guidance on.
| Network | Max. Weight | Max. Length (L) | Max. Combined Dimensions (L + Girth/Other) | Other Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Access Point | 20 kg (44 lbs) | 97 cm | L + Girth (2W + 2H) ≤ 330 cm (130 in) | Max Declared Value: €5,000; Certain items (e.g., batteries) prohibited. |
| DPD Pickup Point | 20-31.5 kg (varies) | 60-175 cm (varies) | L + Girth (2W + 2H) ≤ 300 cm (varies) | Certain goods excluded (e.g., live animals, weapons, valuables); Robust packaging required; Volumetric weight may apply. |
| DHL Parcel Pickup Point | 10-70 kg (varies) | 60-120 cm (varies) | Varies widely by service (e.g., 60x50x50cm common for small parcels) | Confirm exact restrictions for specific DHL service used; Volumetric weight may apply. |
| Evri ParcelShop | 15 kg | 120 cm | L + 2(W+H) ≤ 225 cm | Certain items prohibited/restricted; Evri Lockers have smaller dimensions (66x41x38cm max). |
| Mondial Relay Point Relais | 30 kg | 120 cm | L + W + H ≤ 150 cm | Tubes/cylindrical packages discouraged. |
| PostNord Service Point | 20 kg | 1m (Intl) / 1.5m (Nordic) | L + Circumference ≤ 2.5m (Intl) / 3m (Nordic) | Minimum L: 140 mm, W: 90 mm, H: 15 mm; Volumetric weight may apply. |
| Royal Mail Local Collect | 5-15 kg (varies) | 40 cm | Max. 40cm x 30cm x 20cm (typical) | Specific to items collected at Post Offices, not all Royal Mail parcel services. |
| Colissimo Point Retrait | 20 kg | 100 cm | L + 2H + 2W ≤ 250 cm | Minimum dimensions: 30x21 cm, 3cm thickness or 200g; Surcharges for non-compliance. |
| Budbee Box | 30 kg | 60 cm | 54 cm x 33 cm x 60 cm (typical box size) | Exceeding limits may result in non-acceptance or alternative delivery. |
While the implementation logic resides on your platform, the HubBox team can offer guidance on strategy and best practices for defining your eligibility rules in the context of the pickup points you offer. Please contact us at clientsupport@hubbox.com if you need assistance formulating your approach.