ozpost shipping module

[RodG]

Rod, this is a topic we have actually discussed before (say 2-3 yrs ago)

I'll concede that it's a similar topic, but as I recall, the topic then was the best way to 'pack' any given assortment of items. This current thread is a lot simpler in that it is just a matter of determining 'will it fit'.

But it may be possible to improve on what you currently do without entirely solving the issue. For me the main problem with your module is that it doesn't know when to stop trying to calculate the costs and we, as shopowners, have no way of setting boundaries for it to test and drop to a generic "Call for price" when exceeded.

I guess there is no reason I couldn't add a 'call for price' option should any given quote exceed a preset value.

In my case I have three differently 'shaped' products in my store: charts, which ship in tubes, B4 books, and flatpacks of charts (700 x 1000 mm). Each of these alone can cause problems, but when mixed in a single order the shipping costs are invariably absurd.

It is the 'things that fit into things' that would be your biggest issue... namely the charts ...

1. I can and do pack up to six charts in a tube 100mm dia x 1000mm. Your software doesn't handle this properly because it doesn't understand that multiple charts can be rolled into a tube without changing the dimensions of the package

The computer suffers a meltdown when it tries to combine multple 3d objects without altering the dimensions in any way <g>

and therefore adding the largest dimensions is meaningless. I think it would be really useful in this instance to have an option in the product page where I can specify how many products will fit into the tube (or indeed any defined package).

I'm reluctant to travel this path at the moment because it can only be done by modifying the core code, which is something I'd like to keep to an absolute minimum (for ease of installation/updates)

This case is directly analogous to the teatowel problem you handled above. The shopowner should be able to specify the dimensions of the package and the number of a given product that will pack into it.

Perhaps one day I'll even supply a dropdown menu for a selection of different package type/sizes ... (It HAS been considered, and several courier companies have similar inputs), but I honestly can't see this happening in the forseeable future.

The shipping code will also need to test for item count and weight in order to determine the number of packages to create and then cost.

This is a good place to remind you that there are two different topics/issues at hand here... The PACKING of items and the cost to SHIP the items.

The ozpost server is predominantly concerned with producing accurate shipping costs based on any given input data. This it does.

It is for the client software that deals with the 'packing', and yes, I am also the author of the client code, but I see this more as a base code for others to build upon, whilst I concentrate more on the server code/maintenance.

2. I often get orders for a book and a chart, usually for export. You can't fit the book into the tube or vice versa but Ozpost will calculate the shipping cost at about $35 whereas in fact it will cost $60 ($35 + $25) to send it to the UK, blowing away any profit.

Unless I'm mistaken, the reason why it costs $60 is because you send them as two separate items? If so, don't do that. Just find a box that'll fit both items (or tape 'em together) and send them as a single parcel, then it'll only cost what you were quoted for. :-)

I haven't got a simple answer for this but note that there is code out there for setting up discounts for a product when another is also purchased at the same time. Such links could be exploited to set up the "call for price" message described earlier.

This function/feature would be best performed by another module entirely, one that detects the condition and negates all other shipping options (including ozpost)

I'm already happily subscribing to your postal service but if you were to find a widespread support for any of the features I've described I'm prepared to contribute towards any work you do on it.

If things go well I'll have a lot more time to devote on the project, so who knows where it will lead.

Cheers
Rod