ozpost error - Unexpected error (no valid methods)

[Prime]

Hi Rod,

I am receiving the error:

Unexpected error (no valid methods). Using AP Flat Rate.

...when purchasing certain items via the ozpost module. This is an item that fails:

http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...products_id=45

The item is a Jumbo Bolster, it's dimensions are:
Weight: 7.92
Height: 66
Length: 24
Width: 20

The error is in the file:

/includes/modules/shipping/ozpost.php

... and is generated in the lines 504 to 513:

// check to ensure we have at least one valid quote - produce error message if not.

if (sizeof($methods) == 0 ) {

$cost = $this->_get_error_cost($dest_country) ;

if ($cost == 0) return ;

$methods[] = array( 'id' => "Error", 'title' => ' Unexpected error (no valid methods). Using AP Flat Rate.' ,'cost' => $cost ) ;
}

The module works fine on purchasing massage oil 1 litre:
http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...&products_id=7

The dimensions are:
Weight: 1
Height: 7
Length: 11
Width: 17

I checked the forum archive and it seems that another person experienced the same problem, here is the thread:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...122637&page=12

..you provided the person a modified ozpost.php file. Will this same file fix my issue?

There are also items that are under 20kgs that are receiving the following message:

(AP excess length)

I receive this message when purchasing an item that only weighs 10kgs:

http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...products_id=64

...which is 10 litre massage oil. I believe Australia Post accepts items up to 20kgs. The dimensions for this are:

Weight: 10
Height: 30
Length: 16
Width: 24

I am also receiving the same error (AP excess length) when purchasing items that are over 20kgs and it is only charging charging the customer $25. When a customer purchases an item over 20kg, we usually send it via TNT and charge for courier costs depending on how heavy the item is and where it is going, etc. Can you recommend the best solution for this? Perhaps the easiest way is that if the item is too big, have a message for the customer saying that they will be contacted with shipping costs.

Thanks,

Steve

[RodG]

Unexpected error (no valid methods). Using AP Flat Rate.

...when purchasing certain items via the ozpost module. This is an item that fails:

http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...products_id=45

The item is a Jumbo Bolster, it's dimensions are:
Weight: 7.92
Height: 66
Length: 24
Width: 20

I've just supplied the ozpost server with the data you provided:

http://ozpost.vcsweb.com/postage.php...lue=50&flags=1

And the server is returning the following quotes:

<quotes>
−
<quote>
<id>RPP</id>
<cost>16.15
</cost>
<days>2
</days>
<description>Regular Parcel</description>
</quote>
−
<quote>
<id>REG</id>
<cost>18.95</cost>
<days>3</days>
<description>Registered Parcel</description>
</quote>
−
<quote>
<id>COD</id>
<cost>26.35</cost>
<days>3</days>
<description>Cash On Delivery</description>
</quote>
−
<quote>
<id>EXP</id>
<cost>46.2
</cost>
<days>1
</days>
<description>Express Parcel</description>
</quote>
−
<information>
<insurance>
   0   </insurance>
<registration>
   2.8   </registration>
</information>
</quotes>

You must have at least one of the above methods enabled, otherwise you will get the "no valid methods" error message.

The module works fine on purchasing massage oil 1 litre:
http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...&products_id=7

The dimensions are:
Weight: 1
Height: 7
Length: 11
Width: 17

Aha. You have just managed to identify the problem.. This one does give you a valid quote because the item is able to fit into the prepaid satchels, which you have obviously enabled, but the fact that this item doesn't provide a quote for *regular* parcels tells me that you have disabled this as a valid delivery method.

The item that is returning a 'no valid method' is doing exactly what is expected.... it is too larger for the satchels, you have disabled the regular parcel post, and as such there really isn't any other valid methods left to quote with, so the module is using the 'fixed price' option instead.

I checked the forum archive and it seems that another person experienced the same problem, here is the thread:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...122637&page=12

That thread covers lots of different issues, many related back to the early days of development. I'm not seeing any real connection with the issue you are reporting, which has now been identified as the module doing exactly what it is supposed to do.

you provided the person a modified ozpost.php file. Will this same file fix my issue?

No,

There are also items that are under 20kgs that are receiving the following message:

(AP excess length)

And the problem with this is ????????

Australia Post has both weight and dimension limits, if you exceed either one then it can't be delivered by AP, therefore no quote is going to be possible.

There is no direct relationship between the size of a given item and the weight of it (its like comparing balloons and bricks). This is why the 'cubing rules' exist.

I receive this message when purchasing an item that only weighs 10kgs:

http://primealternatives.com.au/cart...products_id=64

...which is 10 litre massage oil. I believe Australia Post accepts items up to 20kgs. The dimensions for this are:

Weight: 10
Height: 30
Length: 16
Width: 24

The message I'm seeing when I just tried this is the 'no valid methods', this is the same problem as with your 1st item.

I am also receiving the same error (AP excess length) when purchasing items that are over 20kgs and it is only charging charging the customer $25. When a customer purchases an item over 20kg, we usually send it via TNT and charge for courier costs depending on how heavy the item is and where it is going, etc. Can you recommend the best solution for this? Perhaps the easiest way is that if the item is too big, have a message for the customer saying that they will be contacted with shipping costs.

Thanks,

Steve

Unlike the original 'AustPost - Improved' it is not possible for the ozpost module to allow a checkout using a shipping cost of $0.00 (and an associated message that they will be contacted with actual costs). This change was a result of several feedbacks stating it was a 'bad idea'.

The ozpost module therefore tackles this in a different way, when there are no viable Australia Post shipping methods allowed or available rather than allowing a checkout with zero shipping costs it will do one of two things.

1. The module will simply disable itself completely, leaving the quotes to be provided by any other shipping module that you have installed.

2. It will provide a 'fixed price' quote according to whatever the merchant has specified. (The default being 25.00 for Australia, and $99.99 for overseas.

The action it takes depends on the prices you set. If you set them for $0.00 the module will disable itself if it can't provide a valid quote, otherwise it will provide whatever 'fixed price' you specify. Clearly there will probably never be a suitable 'fixed price' that will cover all non Austrlaia Post viable items, so I would suggest you set the price high enough to cover most of your larger items, but not so high as to scare people away.

One day (when the various courier companies make their pricing structures readily avalable) I'll consider incorporating their quotes into the ozpost module for items that are too heavy or large for Australia post (This is actually why I decided a name change was in order, because eventually it'll cater for more than just Australia Post delivery methods), but until that time comes, you'll need to work with either another shipping module (in conjunction with ozpost), or, just using the 'ozpost fixed price' pricing as a bit of a compromise or fallback method for when Australia Post just isn't a suitable or viable method.

In summary, you don't really have any problems or found any bugs with the module itself, it really is doing exactly what it is supposed to do under the various circumstances.

Cheers
Rod

[Prime]

Hi Rod,

I enabled Regular Parcel as you advised and it seems to have done the trick, so a big thanks for that.

I might see if I can figure out how to have the "AP excess length" radio field be selected when it's the only option as it might not be obvious to the customer to select it.

Thanks again

Steve

[marknew]

Hi Rob,

do understand this correctly? if the OZ Post mod encounters an order over 20kg it will either disable itself or show the is fixed price postage? I have a site were the OZ post works fine except for larger orders. I 'm just trying to undestand if I have somethig set wrong or not.

Thanks,
M

[RodG]

do understand this correctly? if the OZ Post mod encounters an order over 20kg it will either disable itself or show the is fixed price postage?

Correct.
This is also the behavior if the order is oversize.

I have a site were the OZ post works fine except for larger orders. I 'm just trying to undestand if I have somethig set wrong or not.

Thanks,
M

I guess that depends on what you want or expect it to do.

What it cannot do is give an accurate quote on an item that Australia Post deems as being oversize and/or overweight, so it will perform as previously described.

What are you expecting it to do from here? Am I misunderstanding the question?

Cheers
Rod

[marknew]

Thanks Rod,
That makes sense. So would you suggest installing another post option to cover larger orders? Any suggestions for alternate post methods?

[marknew]

Should the order get brocken down into 20kg lots ? Or once the order is over 20kg does the module disable itself or revert to the flat fee.

[RodG]

Thanks Rod,
That makes sense. So would you suggest installing another post option to cover larger orders? Any suggestions for alternate post methods?

Installing another module to take care of this situation would be a good idea, but I don't know of any good alternatives.

One day I'd like to add a courier company (or two) into the ozpost module, but most don't have their prices available in a usable format.

I'm open to suggestions in regards to expanding on the current options of fixed_price or disable.

Cheers
Rod

[RodG]

Should the order get brocken down into 20kg lots ?

This is what the old AustPost module used to do. It caused a few problems though in that parcels and/or items were being electronically divided in ways that are not physically possible.

The code that was being used for the dividing needs to be a lot smarter to be reliable, because as it stood, it caused more problems than it solved.

Or once the order is over 20kg does the module disable itself or revert to the flat fee.

Yes.

The actual action depends on whether the fixed fee has a value or not. A valid of zero disables the module, else it displays the fixed fee.

[Jimmyyu1998]

Hi,Rod:

The ozpost module was working fantastica till yesterday. I just found the "estimating shipping" pop up screen is not stable on my website. (www.digital-frame.com.au). but the message from customer.

Sometime, when you click the "estimating shipping cost", the screen poped up, but nothing there. When you refresh that pop up screen, you may find some result available there, but when you change the Post code, nothing happened again. When you refresh the pop up screen, it shows some result, but with new address you input, old shipping cost with the one you input before. which is obvious wrong.

Sometime, it shows that 'ozpost error - Unexpected error (no valid methods), use AP flat rate model, AUD 25.00 etc

at the ozpost mode, i enabled the regular parcel, registered parcel, express parcel, prepaid satchel, prepaid satchel, prepaid express satchel.

The goods we want to ship is only a 7 inch digital photo frame with weight no more than 1.5kg, and small box which could put in a 3kg satchel.

I am using the zen cart 1.38 version, the host service is in America.

Really need your help, Rod.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Cheers

Jimmy