auspost module calculating incorrectly

[Prime]

Hi, I'm using the auspost module by VCSWEB and it is calculating the cost for a delivery to Perth incorrectly.

I am sending 4 items that weigh 0.350 kgs each from Melbourne to Perth and it is charging $36.90. When the same delivery is sent to Melbourne it costs $7.45 and to Sydney it costs $17.65.

My website is http://primealternatives.com.au, the item that I am sending is 'Flannelette Fitted Sheet' (link: http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...products_id=31).

Does anyone have any idea why it is charging so much to go to Perth? It should only be charging around $20.

Thanks

[RodG]

Hi, I'm using the auspost module by VCSWEB and it is calculating the cost for a delivery to Perth incorrectly.

I am sending 4 items that weigh 0.350 kgs each from Melbourne to Perth and it is charging $36.90. When the same delivery is sent to Melbourne it costs $7.45 and to Sydney it costs $17.65.

Does anyone have any idea why it is charging so much to go to Perth? It should only be charging around $20.

Thanks

It is calculating according to the Australia Post Cubing rules.

You have the dimensions of one of these sheets as 32.00 x 18.00 x 18.00 so 4 of them combined is giving 32.00 x 18.00 x 72.00, and since the total weight is over 1kg you are being quoted for a parcel weighing up to 11kgs (That's what the cubing rules do).

This can be confirmed by entering the same details into the Australia Post website at http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/aus_parcel.asp

In other words, the quotes are are getting are actually correct based on the data provided.

Cheers
Rod

[Prime]

It is calculating according to the Australia Post Cubing rules.

You have the dimensions of one of these sheets as 32.00 x 18.00 x 18.00 so 4 of them combined is giving 32.00 x 18.00 x 72.00, and since the total weight is over 1kg you are being quoted for a parcel weighing up to 11kgs (That's what the cubing rules do).

This can be confirmed by entering the same details into the Australia Post website at http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/aus_parcel.asp

In other words, the quotes are are getting are actually correct based on the data provided.

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod,

Thanks for responding so quickly. I have remeasured the product at 16x24x7 (so times 4 is 16x24x28) and it calculates to $16.90, which seems to be fine. So thanks very much for clarifying and solving the issue. I'm just wondering if it is possible to somehow give a shipping option of a satchels where you can specify that you can have up to 4 items (that is between 1 and 4) as the above dimensions are for a satchel allowing 4 items.

Thanks

[Prime]

Additionally, could you please recommend a method or module that would allow me to set flat shipping rates for a specific item based on quantity? Is this possible?

[RodG]

I'm just wondering if it is possible to somehow give a shipping option of a satchels where you can specify that you can have up to 4 items (that is between 1 and 4) as the above dimensions are for a satchel allowing 4 items.

Thanks

No, at least not easily.

That said, like regular parcels, what can fit into a satchel are both dimension and weight based, so as long as you have the pre-paid satchels enabled as a valid shipping method, the module will attempt to determine whether any given order will fit.

Assuming a 3kg satchel, the limits are max weight 3kg (obviously), with a maximum length of 37cm and a maximum girth of 60cm.

The girth being 2x width plus 2x height.

Using your new dimensions of 16x24x7

A single sheet will be calculated at Length 24cm, girth (2x16) + (2x7) = 46cm. It will fit.

2 sheets will be length 24cm, girth (2x16) + 2x(2x7) = 60cm They should fit (just).

3 sheets will be length 24cm, girth (2x16) + 3x(2x7) = 75cm. They won't fit. (in theory)

Now, having said that, due to the fact that these satchels are flat, and real products are 3 dimensional, combined with the fact that the satchels can be stretched a little, it isn't an 'exact science' as to exactly what will or won't fit, so I've coded the module to err on the side of caution, and have set the allowable dimensions a little on the low side of things, you may indeed be able to fit 3 sheets into a single 3Kg satchel, and if that is the case, you can modify the the module to allow it to pass the check by loading /includes/modules/shipping/austpost.php into a text editor and changing the line that reads

if ((in_array("3kg Satchels", $this->allowed_methods)) && ( $sweight < 3000 ) && ( $girth < 600 ) && ( $var[2] < 370 ))

So that it reads something like

if ((in_array("3kg Satchels", $this->allowed_methods)) && ( $sweight < 3000 ) && ( $girth < 750 ) && ( $var[2] < 370 ))

That will allow 3 of your sheets to fit into a 3kg satchel. Any more than this will be quoted as a regular parcel.

Cheers
Rod

[RodG]

Additionally, could you please recommend a method or module that would allow me to set flat shipping rates for a specific item based on quantity? Is this possible?

As I always say, when it comes to zen-cart anything is possible.

Alas, what you are asking for will require some custom coding, that probably isn't going to be as easy as it first appears. For example, suppose it isn't difficult to add or create the code for the specific item that you have in mind, what is going to happen if someone orders that specific item along with another totally different item? Should the two calculations be added? Should the other item simply be ignored?

It really does raise some complex issues that need to be considered (and answered) before any such customisation even begins, and this doesn't include figuring out ways to actually make and store the settings you require... another data field added to the products database perhaps?

In short, what you are asking *could* be done, but it is probably going to be costly and impractical to do so.

Cheers
Rod

[jaydamuss]

No, at least not easily.

That said, like regular parcels, what can fit into a satchel are both dimension and weight based, so as long as you have the pre-paid satchels enabled as a valid shipping method, the module will attempt to determine whether any given order will fit.

Assuming a 3kg satchel, the limits are max weight 3kg (obviously), with a maximum length of 37cm and a maximum girth of 60cm.

The girth being 2x width plus 2x height.

Using your new dimensions of 16x24x7

A single sheet will be calculated at Length 24cm, girth (2x16) + (2x7) = 46cm. It will fit.

2 sheets will be length 24cm, girth (2x16) + 2x(2x7) = 60cm They should fit (just).

3 sheets will be length 24cm, girth (2x16) + 3x(2x7) = 75cm. They won't fit. (in theory)

Now, having said that, due to the fact that these satchels are flat, and real products are 3 dimensional, combined with the fact that the satchels can be stretched a little, it isn't an 'exact science' as to exactly what will or won't fit, so I've coded the module to err on the side of caution, and have set the allowable dimensions a little on the low side of things, you may indeed be able to fit 3 sheets into a single 3Kg satchel, and if that is the case, you can modify the the module to allow it to pass the check by loading /includes/modules/shipping/austpost.php into a text editor and changing the line that reads

if ((in_array("3kg Satchels", $this->allowed_methods)) && ( $sweight < 3000 ) && ( $girth < 600 ) && ( $var[2] < 370 ))

So that it reads something like

if ((in_array("3kg Satchels", $this->allowed_methods)) && ( $sweight < 3000 ) && ( $girth < 750 ) && ( $var[2] < 370 ))

That will allow 3 of your sheets to fit into a 3kg satchel. Any more than this will be quoted as a regular parcel.

Cheers
Rod

Hi, our site has been using Zen Cart (recently upgraded to 1.3.9h) we have just started to doing our own work with the site (previously done by a friend) we are needing to have pre-paid satchels (AustPost) as an option for shipping, we have looked in our shipping section through ftp and it shows us the pre-paid satchel options but when we go to change our options in zen cart through the shipping method section there is then no option to choose pre-paid satchels, how do we enable this option?

Many thanks