ozpost shipping module

[RodG]

But am also here slightly anxious that I am going to ask something stupid and waste your time.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

Which I honestly never intend to do, even when the bleeding obvious is staring me in the face!

I always have great difficulty telling people they are missing the obvious without causing offense. I never intend to, after all, offense is something taken, not given.

So here goes and please be gentle if I have missed it.

You want me to lie to you, and tell you how clever you are for missing the obvious? Surely you'll see through such obvious falsehoods?

We have had a number of orders recently that have come out flat rate as they have exceeded the girth for Australia Post.

Tip#1: Enable one of the couriers to provide quotes under these conditions.

Tip#2: Setting the static rate to 'per item' or 'per kilo' is a better safety net than the 'per order' setting if this is likely to be a common occurence.

Tip#3: Set the 'constrain dimensions' to "Yes". (This will avoid quotes being rejected based on size alone). The suitabilty of this option depends on 3 factors: 1. the size of your products. 2: your ability to 'pack' the items more efficiently than the computer, and 3. Basic physics.. Items take up space, and the more items you add the more space they will take. sooner or later this option will provide quotes for physically impossible to create parcels.

The problem is a customer put through a massive order and was only charged $25 postage to get to rural WA from Melbourne and has refused to pay more.
This leaves me in a really horrible situation, do I refund the massive order or take it on the chin and not make a profit after postage eats it all? (its not quite that massive to make up for the postage shortfall)

I would be assuring the customer that the quoted shipping cost was a mistake and informing them of the actual shipping cost (keeping in mind that if the girth is too large you won't be able to use AustraliaPost anyway).

If they aren't willing to negotiate a compromise then cancel the order and run like hell, they are probably trying to scam you anyway.. Besides, do you REALLY want a continuing relationship with such an unforgiving customer?

How much of a compromise is something only you and they can decide. It is rarely ever worth taking a full loss in these situations because the customer is unlikly to return anyway, and if/when you do come to a compromise the customer will still see that you have given them a break and they will look favourably on you in the future... possibly more so than if the transaction went without an issue.

Is is possible to have customers be advised they will be provided with a postage cost within 24 hours? or to contact us for one?

This is very ill advsed... Online shoppers want to buy it now and have it shipped tomorrow... telling them to wait 24 hours in order to get final costs is akin to putting up a closed sign on you store,

instead of the flat rate for exceeded dimensions?

As well as the options/tips mentioned above, if you enter a value of zero in the static rate field it will effectively disable the module if a valid quote cannot be obtained.

My *personal* preference is to enable one of the online couriers.. Although I've never actually USED one of them, the quotes they provide are not subject to the Australia Post limitations so a valid quote is almost always available... and if someone does happen to order using one of these couriers, then why not? It's not like you need to sign your life away to set up an account with them...

My next personal fav setting is 'cost per kg', because this is the closest to reality...

Ideally, a pair of settings would provide the best solution.. $xx for 1st Kg and $yy for each subsequent kg. This isn't on any future plans though, after all it IS only supposed to be a fallback setting and not something designed for daily use.

Cheers
Rod