AUSTPost module

[imperialis]

Hey Rod,
I was just wondering how hard it would be to include the business Jumbo express satchels in this mod?

[RodG]

Hey Rod,
I was just wondering how hard it would be to include the business Jumbo express satchels in this mod?

I dunno. Firstly I'll need to find out what the "business jumbo express is". A cursory glance and a quick search for "jumbo" on the austpost website wasn't very helpful.

Perhaps if you can send me a link or other details I'll be able to provide a better answer.

Cheers
Rod

[imperialis]

Hey Rod,
They the Jumbo Express satchel are satchels only available to auspost business account holders, they come in 3kg and 5kg satchels they are alot bigger than the normal 3kg satchels measurements from memory are 40cm x 50cm I'd have to check the exact measurements so they work out cheaper to send for me to WA, SA, NT etc

[annav]

Hi,

I have a query with the way the postage rates are calculated. Are they supposed to work out exactly the same as when you use the Aust Post calculator on their website.

We had some trouble with the modue as it was not calculating the correct rates eg 1 item calculated at $88 to post when it was supposed to be around the $16 mark.

We worked this out by changing the weights of the items to kilograms (as originally were put in as grams even though grams was the choses weight).

This seemed to fix it a bit but the rates still dont work out the same as on the Australia Post website. There is an average of a couple of dollars difference both more and less depending on the postcode put in when comparing with the Australia Post caculator.

Can anyone shed some light as to why this happens?

Anna

[RodG]

Hey Rod,
They the Jumbo Express satchel are satchels only available to auspost business account holders, they come in 3kg and 5kg satchels they are alot bigger than the normal 3kg satchels measurements from memory are 40cm x 50cm I'd have to check the exact measurements so they work out cheaper to send for me to WA, SA, NT etc

Unless this information (along with the pricing) can be found on the AustPost website or in their .pdf's, then there won't be much chance of me including them in the AP module.

Cheers
Rod

[RodG]

Hi,

I have a query with the way the postage rates are calculated. Are they supposed to work out exactly the same as when you use the Aust Post calculator on their website.

Yes. In fact both the Australia post module and the Australia post website obtain their data from the exact same source (http://drc.edeliver.com.au).

We had some trouble with the modue as it was not calculating the correct rates eg 1 item calculated at $88 to post when it was supposed to be around the $16 mark.

We worked this out by changing the weights of the items to kilograms (as originally were put in as grams even though grams was the choses weight).

I'll bet you forgot to change the TARE weight.

This seemed to fix it a bit but the rates still dont work out the same as on the Australia Post website. There is an average of a couple of dollars difference both more and less depending on the postcode put in when comparing with the Australia Post caculator.

Can anyone shed some light as to why this happens?

Anna

I'll bet you forgot to account for the TARE weight.

Cheers
Rod

[annav]

The tare weight for both small & large parcels was changed to 0.0. What is it supposed to be.

Anna

[RodG]

The tare weight for both small & large parcels was changed to 0.0.

And it was still over quoting?

What is it supposed to be.

Anna

That depends on the weight of your packaging (tare weight = packaging weight).

Most of *our* smaller products will fit in #2 padded bags, which weigh a little under 20gms, so for these we use "0:20"
Our larger items, or multiple items in the same order generally fit a #5 bag, which weighs something under 200gm, so for this we use "0:200".

Important: This assumes that the Australia post module (and all of the products) set to be weighed in grams.

If you change the AP module to use "kgs" the setting above will be interpreted as 20kgs and 200kgs respectively (and depending on other settings this may cause multiple boxes/parcels to be quoted for, rather than outright rejected), so if this is your case you'll need to adjust the tares to read "0:0.020" and "0:0.200". (using the same examples as above).

Of course, if you are selling large/heavy items your packaging may weigh considerably more than 20/200gms, in which case you should use whatever weights are the most suitable for *you*. In other words, it is "supposed to be" whatever is right for your particular situation.

There are two important rules when using the AP shipping modules.
1. All weights must be consistant. Don't attempt to mix gms & kgs. Choose one or the other.
2. All weights must be as accurate as possible. A few gms here and there may not seem like a big deal, and in most cases it isn't, but if/when people start ordering multiple items in order to combine shipping costs these "small" differences can easily push any given parcel over into the next price bracket (or worse, not push them over, thus underquoting actual costs).

The item dimensions are not as important (unless dealing with letter sized OR very large, but light items), but it is wise to be as accurate as possible.

Bottom line, the accuracy of the Australia post module is only as good as the data that you give it (which includes the tare weights).

Cheers
Rod

[annav]

It still doesn't work.

One item which costs $7.20 to post in Sydney calculates at $6.30 (which includes my handling fee!).

The same item going from Sydney to Perth according to Australia Post website costs $18.85 (Parcel Weight: Up to 4 kg , via cubing rule) even though item weighs between 1-2 kg but here it calculates it at $15.69. Where that odd number of cents - 69c- comes from I have no idea.

Anna

[RodG]

It still doesn't work.

One item which costs $7.20 to post in Sydney calculates at $6.30 (which includes my handling fee!).

The same item going from Sydney to Perth according to Australia Post website costs $18.85 (Parcel Weight: Up to 4 kg , via cubing rule) even though item weighs between 1-2 kg but here it calculates it at $15.69. Where that odd number of cents - 69c- comes from I have no idea.

Anna

Please supply a link to the item that you are using for testing.

Thnx
RodG