Merge pull request #2750 from benjaminwil/user_guides/locations/initial

Add initial zones documentation for end users

guides/source/developers/locations/zones.html.md

@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
 # Zones
 
 In Solidus, any regions that you ship to are grouped using zones. Zones are
-groups of states or groups of countries. Zones might only have one member
-area (such as a zone that only consists of the United States).
+groups of states or countries. Zones might only have one member (such as a zone
+that only consists of the United States) or many members (a zone that consists
+of all of the non-contiguous United States: Hawaii and Alaska).
 
-Zones allow store administrators to set shipping rules and tax rates for a
-specific geographical area. Zones are especially useful for helping you comply
-with the tax variations in different regions.
+Zones allow store administrators to set shipping rules and tax rates for
+specific places. They also allow you to group states or countries in a
+non-geographic way: for example, if you ship to all of the United States but use
+different carriers when shipping to Alaska and Hawaii.
+
+Zones are especially useful for helping you comply with the tax variations in
+different regions.
 
 Administrators can create zones that are either country- or state-based.
 
@@ -31,12 +36,11 @@ You could also automate your U.S. tax rates by using a web service that provides
 U.S. tax rates. For example, you could use [Tax Cloud][tax-cloud] and the
 [`solidus_tax_cloud`][solidus-tax-cloud] extension.
 
-<!-- TODO:
-   For more information about taxation, [see the Taxation guide](/taxation).
--->
+For more information about taxation, see the [Taxation][taxation] documentation.
 
-[tax-cloud]: https://taxcloud.net
 [solidus-tax-cloud]: https://github.com/solidusio-contrib/solidus_tax_cloud
+[taxation]: ../taxation/overview.md
+[tax-cloud]: https://taxcloud.net
 
 ## Zones and shipments
 
@@ -60,17 +64,18 @@ method requires at least one zone before it can be used.
 ### Shipping methods can include multiple zones
 
 If you use carriers that ship to multiple regions (for example, throughout North
-America, Europe, and Africa), you could configure it with multiple zones
-enabled.
+America, Europe, and Africa), you could configure your shipping methods to
+include multiple zones.
 
 This feature is useful in cases when you use multiple carriers that ship to
 different regions. For example, if you use USPS to ship to the United States and
 Canada, but you use FedEx to ship to the United States and Canada as well as to
 Europe and Africa.
 
-<!-- TODO:
-  For more information about shipments, [see the Shipments guide](/shipments).
--->
+For more information about shipments, see the [Shipments][shipments]
+documentation.
+
+[shipments]: ../shipments/overview.md
 
 ## Example zone configuration
 

guides/source/users/settings/overview.html.md

@@ -1,10 +1,22 @@
 # Overview
 
-<!-- TODO:
-  General settings overview.
--->
+Solidus's **Settings** section includes a number of pages that help you manage
+store-wide settings, including tax rates, shipping methods, and payment methods.
+
+This article introduces each settings page and how the settings affect your
+store. 
+
+## Zones
+
+Before you set up your shipping and tax settings, you should start by setting up
+zones. A zone is a group of states or countries that your store needs to ship to
+and/or tax. A country or state could exist in multiple zones or none at all.
+
+For more information on how to use zones, see the [Zones][zones] article.
+
+[zones]: zones.html
 
 ## Taxes
 
 With Solidus, you can create tax rates and tax categories that correspond with
-each item in your store and each location that you ship to. 
+each item in your store and each location that you ship to. 

guides/source/users/settings/zones.html.md

@@ -1,3 +1,93 @@
 # Zones
 
-Solidus manages locations using a concept called **Zones**.
+Solidus's **Zones** settings allow you to create zones that your store uses to
+manage what taxes and shipping methods are available to customers. For example,
+a customer in *Zone A* might be charged tax, while a customer in *Zone B* should
+never be charged tax.
+
+When you add or edit a zone, the following settings are available:
+
+- **Name**: The name of the zone. Zones are not exposed to customers. 
+- **Description**: The long description for the zone.
+- **Type**: Sets the type of zone: either **Country**- or **State**-based.
+- **Countries** or **States**: A list of countries or states (depending on the
+    **Type** of zone). You can add or remove any country or state from the zone.
+
+<!-- TODO:
+  Add screenshot of zones settings, emphasizing the countries/states
+  setting being used.
+-->
+
+## What is a zone?
+
+In Solidus, any regions that you ship to are grouped using zones. Zones are
+groups of states or countries. Zones might only have one member (such as a zone
+that only consists of the United States) or many members (a zone that consists
+of all of the non-contiguous United States: Hawaii and Alaska).
+
+Zones allow you to set shipping rules and tax rates for specific places. They
+also allow you group states or countries in a non-geographic way: for example,
+if you ship to all of the United States but use different carriers when shipping
+to Alaska and Hawaii.
+
+Zones are especially useful if you need to comply with regional tax laws in
+multiple states or countries. 
+
+You can create zones that are either country- or state-based.
+
+## Zones and taxation
+
+When you configure tax rates, you must assign each tax rate a zone. This helps
+you comply with local taxes for any region that you ship to.
+
+You can only assign one zone per tax rate. However, if you have to comply with
+more complicated tax rules, you can create multiple tax rates for a single zone
+in conjunction with special tax categories, taxes with unique start or end
+dates, and taxes that require other special calculations.
+
+### Zones and taxes in the United States
+
+If you are a U.S.-based company and ship within the United States, taxes vary
+from state to state, and many counties and municipalities have their own
+additional sales taxes. You should speak to a tax professional about which tax
+rules apply to your store.
+
+You could also automate your U.S. tax rates by using a web service that provides
+U.S. tax rates. For example, you could use [Tax Cloud][tax-cloud] and the
+[`solidus_tax_cloud`][solidus-tax-cloud] extension.
+
+Talk to your development team about automating Solidus's tax calculations using
+an API. 
+
+[solidus-tax-cloud]: https://github.com/solidusio-contrib/solidus_tax_cloud
+[tax-cloud]: https://taxcloud.net
+
+## Zones and shipments
+
+Zones affect the shipping methods available to customers in certain regions.
+Shipping methods require at least one zone, but they could include any number of
+zones.
+
+### Shipping methods require a zone
+
+Shipping methods require a zone. Zones can be as inclusive or exclusive as the
+carriers you use for shipments.
+
+For example, if you only want to allow UPS to ship packages domestically, you
+could set its zone to your home country only. You could be even more restrictive
+and make a state-based zone that only includes a few states that you wish to
+ship to.
+
+No matter what countries or states your zones include, note that each shipping
+method requires at least one zone before it can be used.
+
+### Shipping methods can include multiple zones
+
+If you use carriers that ship to multiple regions (for example, throughout North
+America, Europe, and Africa), you could configure your shipping methods to
+include multiple zones.
+
+This feature is useful in cases when you use multiple carriers that ship to
+different regions. For example, if you use USPS to ship to the United States and
+Canada, but you use FedEx to ship to the United States and Canada as well as to
+Europe and Africa.