Australia Post Delivery Rate Server Down

[RodG]

Philip,

I keep forgetting to mention this, but when debugging the AP module it often pays to enable all possible shipping options. The reason being that there is a chance you may have some items that can't be shipped using the methods you have made available.
Example. Your number plates possibly weight less than 500gm, and if you only have the prepaid 500gm option enabled, and the plate dimensions are larger than the bag size, the module won't have any other viable shipping methods to offer.

I don't think this IS your problem though, 'cos I should still be seeing access to the server for the cost of the bags, but I do seem to recall that there are some errors or conditions that get detected before getting to this stage , so it is a remote possibilty.

Cheers
Rod

[Geronimo]

Hi Rod

You're working late!

OK, the bloke at GoDaddy seemed pretty keen to be genuinely helpful. He put me on hold and went off for quite a while to check up with other people. I gave him the http://austpost.vcsweb.com/ and he checked the exact spelling with me so I'm assuming he checked it properly. I guess we can't be totally sure though.

I've now made sure ALL the postage options are ticked, cURL is selected and the proxy setting is the one that works with GoDaddy. I've edited the austpost.php file per your instructions - NO other changes - and tried accessing the shopping cart on my other computer, my lappy.

Unfortunately, the exact same problem appears.

I'll go back and load the original austpost.php file from your zip file again and await further instructions. :)

Rod, I certainly appreciate the time your spending on MY issue. I hope, at the end of it all, we don't find it's something stupid I've done.

Kind regards

Philip.

[Geronimo]

Hi Rod

I just added a new product with a weight of only 10 grams (I've modified everything to work in grams instead of kgs) and if I order only that item, the module quotes for me!!! However, if I add one of the plate brackets (400gms) I get the same error.

I'll mess around a bit with different weights and package sizes and see if I get any sense from it. Perhaps this might give you a clue too.

The new product is a spacer in the Accessories category.

Thanks yet again.

Philip

[RodG]

Hi Rod
You're working late!

Yeah. I need too. Not enough hours in the day otherwise.

OK, the bloke at GoDaddy seemed pretty keen to be genuinely helpful. He put me on hold and went off for quite a while to check up with other people. I gave him the http://austpost.vcsweb.com/ and he checked the exact spelling with me so I'm assuming he checked it properly. I guess we can't be totally sure though.

You seem reasonably confident, and your latest test doesn't prove anything different.

I've now made sure ALL the postage options are ticked, cURL is selected and the proxy setting is the one that works with GoDaddy. I've edited the austpost.php file per your instructions - NO other changes - and tried accessing the shopping cart on my other computer, my lappy.

Unfortunately, the exact same problem appears.

Bummer. I'm now starting to run out of ideas.

I'll go back and load the original austpost.php file from your zip file again and await further instructions. :)

Rod, I certainly appreciate the time your spending on MY issue. I hope, at the end of it all, we don't find it's something stupid I've done.

It really wouldn't matter either way as far as I'm concerned. A problem is a problem, and it needs to be fixed. Assuming it is fixable.

OK, so where to go from here..... Well, I'm still not seeing any accesses from godaddy to the austpost.vcsweb.com server, so I'm still of the opinion that it is godaddy related, but I can't think of an easy way of proving or disproving that.

I was a bit hopeful with one of your earlier observations that PayPal works ok for you, until I realised that you were only using the standard/basic module. I THINK it is only the PayPal express that uses cURL (perhaps dr.byte might step in and clarify this?).

This may be a long way around things (or not), but is it possible for you to install the PayPal express module and see if that works?

What I/we need to do is confirm with 100% certainty that the cURL is fully functional (or not). And we need to temporarily take the Australia Post stuff out of the equation. The easiiest way that I know of to do this is to use another module that uses cURL, and PayPal Express uses this for sure.

If you find that cURL itself is working fine for PPexpress then we are once again looking back at something with the AP module, however, I have a gut feeling you will have problems with that too, in which case I can only refer you back to godaddy, BUT, this time you'll have the benefit of having log files produced that will help show that there is a problem. The PayPal express module keeps some very useful logs that the AP module doesn't.

Oh, speaking of debuging, it probably won't help much, but if you reload the austpost.php file into a text editor again, and look somewhere arout line #180 you'll see part of the line reads
"debug = 0'
Change this to debug = 1 then resave the file.

The output may not be pretty, but it may reveal some useful information. If the output doesn't make much sense to you let me know what you see anyway.
The *minimum* output that you should see is:
"C - W - H - L - I "

With various numbers just b4 the dashes.

You might like to try this before playing around with PPexpress. Just incase.

Cheers
Rod

[Geronimo]

Hi Rod

I've discovered that it's the dimensions that seem to be upsetting things. If I keep HxLxW in cms below 5,000 I get results in the estimation module. However, it's only quoting the amount I've entered in the module for P&H. It doesn't seem to actually be getting information from AP.

It also doesn't make any difference what weight the item is. e.g. It's telling me now that an item weighing 65,000grams (65kgs) can be posted in a 3kg Express satchel for just $2.00!

I'll leave it now and see what you suggest next. :-)

Kind regards

Philip

[RodG]

Hi Rod
I've discovered that it's the dimensions that seem to be upsetting things. If I keep HxLxW in cms below 5,000 I get results in the estimation module.

Aust post have a maximum dimension limit of 105cm and a max girth of 140cm . Keep thing below that and you should be ok.
Actually, I thought the AP module through out an error message along the lines of 'dimensions exceeded' under these conditions (rather than the more generic unable to get valid quote). Oh well, not to worry.

However, it's only quoting the amount I've entered in the module for P&H. It doesn't seem to actually be getting information from AP.

And I'm still not seeing anything in our log files, at least nothing that I can identify as coming from your host. If I can see the request data from the log files I'll be able to verify that your weights, dimensions, etc are correct or not.

It also doesn't make any difference what weight the item is. e.g. It's telling me now that an item weighing 65,000grams (65kgs) can be posted in a 3kg Express satchel for just $2.00!

I'll leave it now and see what you suggest next. :-)

I now have three suggestions for you.
1. Add a new item to your store with the dimensions 10x10x10 and a weight of 100gms. Add it to an empty cart and try to get a quote. Use the destination postcode '1234'

2. Add the debug = 1 (as per previous message), and let me know the values of "C - W - H - L - I' when trying to get a quote.

3. Go to your admin/configuration/shipping & packaging and set the tare weights to 0:0

If none of the above work, could you please add an item to your store that I can log in to 'purchase'. I still want to see something in the server log files to ensure you are actually getting out, and this may be easist done if I watch the logs while trying to get a quote (since I can't find anything that matches so far).

No rush for these.. I'm about to call it quits for the night and won't have chance to get back to you again until tomorrow evening.

Oh, FYI, the debugging info is as follows: C = the cube of the parcel, the W = width, H = height, L = length and I = number of items.

What we see here are the parameters that are passed to the server. All dimensions will be in mm's and the weights in grams (even if you weigh in kg and measure in cm).

Cheers
Rod

[Geronimo]

Thanks for all the feedback Rod.

I've changed the "0" to a "1" in the debug line and have added a product under Make/Model->Accessories->Spacers->Giant test spacer with H10W10L10 and weight 100gms.

The output is interesting:

via sessionoverideC 1000 - W 10.00 - H 2.5 - L 10.00 - I
via sessionoverideC 1000 - W 10.00 - H 2.5 - L 10.00 - I

I note that it lists H as 2.5. I have default parcel dimensions set as 17,40,2.5 - also Height dimension of the two plate brackets for the Audi are currently set at 2.5cm. The output of the log is read in mm though isn't it? So why does it correctly pick up the Width and Length of the Giant test spacer but come up with a figure of 2.5mm for the Width?

If I order just one item I'm given the option of Express Satchel 500gm or Prepaid Satchel 500gm, both costing $2.00 which is the P&H I set in the AP module.

However, if i order TEN of the same item, I receive the AP error message again - the same one as before! In both cases, the log is the same - nothing after the "I".

I wonder if this provides any more clues for you Rod.

Kind regards

Philip

[Geronimo]

PS, would it help if I gave you my admin details temporarily? As you can see my site has only test products loaded at the moment.

[RodG]

PS, would it help if I gave you my admin details temporarily? As you can see my site has only test products loaded at the moment.

I'd rather you didn't give me admin details. I have no need or reason to have them (nor does anyone else).

I've only just got home and haven't had time to digest the results of your previous tests. I'll get back to you in a couple of hours (9-10pm Adelaide time).

Meanwhile, assuming you read this before then, if you haven't already done so, please ensure you run a couple of tests using "1234" as the destination postcode.

I think we really are getting things narrowed down now. Hopefully we'll have the answer (if not the solution) b4 calling it quits tonight.

Chatya L8tr
Rod

[Geronimo]

Ok, thanks Rod.

Just to confirm - this is the readout I get when ordering just a single product with details set to: 100gm, W10, H10 and L10:

via sessionoverideC 1000 - W 10.00 - H 2.5 - L 10.00 - I
via sessionoverideC 1000 - W 10.00 - H 2.5 - L 10.00 - I

Note that H reads 2.5. I get a postal quote but only for the P&H that I've set in admin, not for the cost of the postage itself.

If I order 10 of the same product and again select 1234 as the Pcode I get this readout:

via sessionoverideC 10000 - W 10.00 - H 2.5 - L 10.00 - I
via sessionoverideC 10000 - W 10.00 - H 2.5 - L 10.00 - I

AND the postal error appears so I get no quote.

I'll be up when you get back into it Rod, so will reply quickly.

CYA then.
Philip