Australia Post Shipping Module - Multiple Dispatch Locations

[HeyIts007]

Australia Post Shipping Module - Multiple Dispatch Locations

Unless I'm missing something, there seems to a limitation with applying the Aust Post shipping module, if you deliver product from multiple dispatch locations. For example, my business is an online reseller business, that has manufacturers in different states and locations, who dispatch products direct to the customer on my behalf.

The problem with this seems to be that the Aust Post shipping module only works off one dispatch point location postcode. The Aust Post shipping calculator seems to be calculating the shipping cost based on my location displayed via the Shipping/Packaging Admin area and not the manufacturers dispatch point location ( which can vary depending on which product is purchased, as I have product manufacturers all over Australia ).

This seems a limitation that could be over come by code modification of the Aust Post shipping module, in combination with a postcode auto lookup of the manufacturers / dispatch point location, presumably in the manufactures record table. This might require the addition of a database field for their postcode.

I guess I could add the postcode to the manufacturers name in brackets, so the Aust Post module ( with some modification ) could extract it to be used as part of the lookup for the Post eDeliver Delivery Rate Calculator (DRC) site: http://drc.edeliver.com.au

For example: XYZ Widgets Pty. Ltd. (4057) etc... which would allow the post code to be extracted and used by the shipping calculation module. I assume this apparent limitation might also effect other shipping modules. It does seem a bit inflexible that way.

If anyone has a work around for this I would be pleased to know what it is and welcome any suggestions. I could be missing something that's available, but I've just not set in ZenCart, but I can't see any ZenCart option to deal with this at this stage.

A quick solutions to this would be wonderful, as my business is just starting to gain a small amount of momentum and I've already had problems with the wrong shipping price being applied to an order.

[HeyIts007]

It would be good if this Aust Post shipping module could also handle the packaging dimensions in the calculation. i.e. height, width and depth, but again this seems also a ZenCart limitation of not storing this information about products. very dissapointing

[HeyIts007]

Actually it looks like ZenCart is getting the shipping dispatch postcode from the Dispatch Postcode in the Aust Post shipping module.

Again however this is not ideal as the dispatch postcode varies depending on product purchased and hence manufacturer that dispatches the product to the customer. The manufacturer could be located anywhere in Australia and not just from one fixed location, which seems to be a current limitation of ZenCart and the Aust Post shipping module.

[ozprodrivers]

The ozpost shipping module works fine if it is set up correctly. You are in a unique position that you ship from various locations.
If you want to overcome this then it would be a specific module for your application.
You would then need to allocate each supplier a identifier ie: there post code so that the ozpost module will link in and do its thing.
My advise is
1- Get hold of Rod the developer to see what he can do
2- Do what we do, We are in Qld but use the post code of 2000 so that our suppliers in NSW and VIC are close to the actual rate if sending to WA
At the end of the day we use the free shipper option so that we can dictate the shipping terms. You leave yourself open if you allow the customer to dictate shipping methods. Here is an example customer in WA orders on Saturday we can ship to them Sunday using Aust Post 6PM pickup 500gram, 3 & 5 kg prepaid packs works nice whereas if I was the customer and had the choice I would use the cheapest method as I am paying. Some of the goods we send cannot be sent the cheapest method especially if it needs insurance and registering on top.
I would keep it simple and add in some margin for the above and use Free Shipper. It looks nice makes the customer feel good and whilst it is a play on words works better than allowing them to dictate the freight method.
Obviously the above won't work on offshore orders
On your other issue that is in the set up of the module. You need to enter the dimensions and weight to allow the module to rate the freight.
Hope this helps
Cheers Dave

[HeyIts007]

Thanks for that advice Dave. I will consider it as one path toward a solution. As mentioned, I'm simply a product reseller and my manufacturers could be anywhere in Australia and dispatch from anywhere in Australia. At this stage, I only sell in Australia. I'm a little surprised ZenCart is not set up for this situation.

I'm fairly new to ZenCart so I'm speculating quite a bit about possible solutions to this.

I think a simple ZenCart fix could be to simply add a Post_Code field to the ZenCart MySQL manufacturers_info table and add a form data entry / edit field for that column.

That way any 3rd party shipping module could then look up the manufacturers_info table via a MySQL query against the products table using the manufacturers_id extracted from the products table.

Instead of using the one Dispatch PostCode, any 3rd party module would then use the product manufacturers_info table's new Post_Code field.

It could be made even more elaborate allowing a manufacturer to have multiple dispatch postcodes, that can then be selected by drop list for each product in the product setup. That way each product can be dispatched from a different dispatch location if need be and the dispatch location changed as needed. Or alternatively simply store one dispatch post code with each product. I actually like that idea as it gives total control over the products dispatch location on a per product basis.

However until such a mod is made, I will have to rely on what's available.

Yes have thought about a shipping cost averaging approach, by using NSW as a virtual dispatch point, even though the product actually might ship from anywhere around OZ.

Not quite ready to allow the customer to choose the price manually, however a another cross checking routine, could cross check the customer address post code, against their shipping post code selected, to see if they are trying to fiddle the system and reject a selection that does not match. i.e. if their shipping address is at 3001 Melbourne, but they enter 2001 Sydney for a product coming from Brisbane at 4001.

Still deciding on how to tackle it.

[RodG]

I think a simple ZenCart fix could be to simply add a Post_Code field to the ZenCart MySQL manufacturers_info table and add a form data entry / edit field for that column.

At first glance this seems like a good idea.

However, it all falls apart if you have more than one item in the cart from two different manufacturers with different shipping locations.

Any suggestions on how this could/should be handled?

It could be made even more elaborate allowing a manufacturer to have multiple dispatch postcodes, that can then be selected by drop list for each product in the product setup. That way each product can be dispatched from a different dispatch location if need be and the dispatch location changed as needed. Or alternatively simply store one dispatch post code with each product. I actually like that idea as it gives total control over the products dispatch location on a per product basis.

This also falls apart if more than one dispatch location is needed for any given order.

In theory, it would be possible to step through the cart items to sort via dispatch postcode then obtain multiple quotes and add them all together, but giving 'feedback' to the merchant as to how the quote was actually derived will be a difficult task, not to mention presenting the various options to the customer... eg, what if item '1' from manufacturer 'A' will fit into a 500gm satchel, but this manufacturer doesn't use satchels? and what if item#2 from manufacturer 'B' also fits this satchel, and item#3 from manufacturer 'C' fits a 3kg Satchel and the customer buys items 2 & 3, how can the module(s) present both options (one for each manufacturer) to the customer to select from?
How about if one item can fit a satchel, but the others require parcel rates.. again, presenting these options from a mixed cart will be so overly complex (and confusing to the customer) that it will have a detrimental impact.

However until such a mod is made, I will have to rely on what's available.

If it were as simple as you first suggested it would be a trivial thing to add, but clearly you have failed to take multiple items in the same cart into account.

Still deciding on how to tackle it.

I'm happy to take note of any suggestions you may have regarding the multiple item problem, but I have pondered on this one on and off for a couple of years now and it always ends up in the 'too hard' basket.

Cheers
Rod

[HeyIts007]

Yes I can see it can turn into a more complex problem, something I best avoid at this stage. Though the current ZenCart system seems very limited in respect of multiple shipping dispatch locations, all I need is the dispatch post code to roughly calculate the shipping cost.

Any unfavourable inaccuracies can be covered by sufficient product pricing margin and or conservative approximations on packing weight and dimensions. A shipping dispatch postcode in the product table suits me fine. The shipping cost estimation module then just refers to that dispatch post code for each product being shipped.

The current shipping by weight only limitation can be managed for now, with a more accurate weight and dimension field facilitation hopefully implemented in ZenCart down the track that upgraded / modified modules like Aust Post can plug into.

The packaging type is a separate issue I have not factored in on this occasion, as it's less significant for me at present. My prime focus is the shipping dispatch postcode. I would thus re-visit this along with package dimensions eventually and simply consult with each manufacturer on that issue.

I think much of the complexity can be hidden from the customer, by some programming and limiting display options, at a small sacrifice in optimal customised product shipping pricing, based on weight, dimension and packaging types. Thus yes definitely a few challenges, but quite achievable within my desired parameters.

Anyway one step at a time will get closer to the desired result.

[HeyIts007]

I think the big challenge is optimised packaging solutions for multiple products shipped as one package ( say 3 different products of different dimensions etc... , from one dispatch point, but again that's a challenge further away for me. Shipping products as separate packages seems fairly straightforward, even though not always cost optimal.

In my case I'm simply allowing the manufacturer to decide on appropriate packaging per order, which is factored into the cost, based on separate product packaging. Aust Post or whomever then just ship it. As typically multiple packages might be more expensive, it's covered at the outset. Combined packaging where cost effective then becomes a cost bonus.

Although that might not be an optimal solution cost wise, my main concern is the shipping cost based on the packaging type used, calculated on a per product basis. The finer granularity of cost calculation would be something to aspire toward, in the cases where it’s deemed to be worth the effort as one approaches the point of diminishing returns of cost versus time and effort.

[ozprodrivers]

I don't want you to take this personally but have a real good look at your overall operation. If you are selling heaps of items then making your own module to do what you want will warrant the cost.
Everyone including me way back wanted everything automated and sleek and nice and blah and blah.
Then I woke up and used the KISS theory and to date our ZC site 4 years down the track is still stable and working nicely.

Yes it would be good to have it all automated but one thing is you loose the feel for what is going on. You can't sit back and expect the world to keep pumping sales into you. To keep the sales coming in you have to work your shop.

Just to give you an idea Zencart is a one size fits all solution shopping cart. Modules like ozpost, MIGS, and a small number of others will allow a Zencart site to operate nicely within the borders of Aus. Everything is developed under the GNU system etc and then the module maybe placed into the freebee area of this site for everyone to use. At some stage you have to put your hand in the pocket as some folk require payment for their efforts or to do your own special thing you will definitely have to

You will find that not one shopping cart will be designed to be used in our market but the established ones like ZC and OSC are all stable and with some massaging will do what you want.

I forgot to mention the multi supplier orders for one customer, Thanks Rod. It becomes complex and somewhere along the way you will not be able to recover your freight so it is best to average it over the items.
The customer doesn't care how you supply it so long as it is in good nick when it gets to them and this is where it has potential to fall in a heap. Not one of your suppliers will work to a standard when it comes to packaging as we have experienced.
There is room for freight damage, lost parcels and late deliveries.
The general public especially ebay buyers know when a supplier is jacking the freight rate up to make a few more pennies.

With the ozpost module it allows the customer to choose the methods of dispatch so long as you have the correct weight and size in each items descriptions.
The module will then look at the item and list the methods based on what you allow to be used in the module admin.

Again if a customer can get away with keeping the cost down they will. We use to send 1m long scale model trucks in the post uninsured and non registered based on the customers choice... Not any more
Hope this all helps you as freight is a complex side of any shopping cart site.

We have the benefit of having our own ZC site and also develop the odd one now and then. We can place our own knowledge into a site.
What we have found is you have a fine line to walk between techo gurus and actual hands on experience. When we first kicked off the focus was on Google Page Rank, prominence and Key Words. Lot of sweat for really little result. Now it is about traffic no matter where it comes from or how you get it.
It is a whole different ball game and what is on our side in Aus is the shopping cart scene is not crowded like in the US where you actually have to be precise to get runs on the board.

Hope that this all helps
Cheers
Dave

[RodG]

Yes I can see it can turn into a more complex problem, something I best avoid at this stage.

There is no such thing as a simple solution to a complex problem, and anyone that says otherwise is wrong.

Though the current ZenCart system seems very limited in respect of multiple shipping dispatch locations, all I need is the dispatch post code to roughly calculate the shipping cost.

You have already dictated what you need and repeating it doesn't solve any of the issues that I raised.

Any unfavourable inaccuracies can be covered by sufficient product pricing margin and or conservative approximations on packing weight and dimensions.

Again, this doesn't address any of the issues I raised.

A shipping dispatch postcode in the product table suits me fine.

Well good for you. I sure wish you took note of the issues I raised though.

The shipping cost estimation module then just refers to that dispatch post code for each product being shipped.

OK, there is a solution that will fill your needs AND it adheres to the KISS principle.

Simply put, since you wish each item to be quoted separately you need to be using the 'Per Item" shipping method.

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=208

It won't/doesn't take dispatch postcodes into account because it really doesn't need to.. as long as you know the approx postage cost for any given item it won't matter which items from which manufacturer are placed in the cart the individual quotes will simply be added and presented to the customer.

The current shipping by weight only limitation can be managed for now, with a more accurate weight and dimension field facilitation hopefully implemented in ZenCart down the track

Whilst I agree this could be useful, the fact is, the modules that are dimensionally dependent, such as the ozpost and canada post modules (and others) already add these fields to the products database.

My prime focus is the shipping dispatch postcode.

Correction.... you may state this is your prime focus, but in reality you don't give a damn about the dispatch postcode, all you really care about is how much any given *item* is going to cost.

I think much of the complexity can be hidden from the customer, by some programming and limiting display options, at a small sacrifice in optimal customised product shipping pricing, based on weight, dimension and packaging types. .

Again you have ignored the realities of this proposal, such as what if there are multiple items from multiple manufactures in the cart? What if the manufacturers all use different shipping methods requiring different quotes for similar sized objects? Like it or not these issues must be addressed if you hope to have an 'automated' system.

If you can't or won't address these issues, then the 'per item' shipping method is going to be your best option by far....

Thus yes definitely a few challenges, but quite achievable within my desired parameters.
.

As a developer I have to state that your 'desired parameters' needs more detail as to expected behaviour when multiple items are placed in the cart.

Anyway one step at a time will get closer to the desired result.

A long long time ago, in my ignorance about the complexities of shipping/packaging modules I took up the challenge of creating a module that would provide optimum quotes from a *single* supplier regardless of the number of items added to the cart... (something a lot simpler than what you are hoping for)... after several years evolution the code was getting so complex, with more and more issues being discovered as I went, that I eventually trashed all I'd done and reverted back to the much simpler methods currently employed by ozpost (and the latest releases of the now obsolete 'AustPost'. During development I discovered that I was attempting to achieve what is considered to be 'the holy grail of shipping/packaging modules' (Do a google search)

It seems to me that you are not only asking for this 'holy grail' but you wish to combine several of them, one for each dispatch postcode.

You are going to have a VERY LONG wait.

Meanwhile, in my opinion the per item quote method is still probably going to be the best for your needs, assuming you really DO want a cost per product as has been indicated.

Cheers
Rod