AUSTPost module

[RodG]

For some reason the weight values seem to be calcualting incorrectly.

Check your TARE weights
.

Also I have a tax issue. It's not really a problem with the aust shipping module so to speak.

You are not likely to get too much help with tax problems in this thread.

I do not have tax set on the shipping but I have set it on the products. I need to charge GST to australian customers.

I'd love to hear your logic behind this (or maybe not). If GST applies to your products then it must also apply to the postage of those products (within Australia), so you must therefore set the tax on the shipping.

Don't concern yourself where the parcels are being delivered to because the AP module (and servers) takes the destination into consideration. All you need do is indicate to the module that you are registered for GST.

When adding products the gross amount equals the net amount + 2xGST. IE 2 lots of gst get added. Also these are added to all customer australian and international. I have set my tax zone to for all austrlian zone. The duel gst amount can clearly be seen adding twice in the payment information screen.

Can anyone point me in the right direction or have any ideas? Im stuck.

I suggest you search other threads. Something more specific to taxation problems.

Also is it possible to display the auspost prices in US dollars. My clients for some reason wants all values to be in amerian. Just wondering if it's possible.

This is zencart. Anything is possible. :-)

Again, I suggest you find a more suitable thread for answers to this.

Cheers
Rod

[Snype]

Thanks for your help Rod.

I know the GST is ill placed but I thought I'd give it a shot. The client only wants GST on products and not shipping. I can't see why someone woudl add GST for shipping. Isn't it only important to add GST for the products you sell. Postage is just a means of getting the item. Not a means to make a profit.

I adjusted all my tare weight to 0 but this still did not fix the problem. It changed the test data but the numbers still don't make sence. Also there is a jump from $4.20 to $8.40 there is no $5.40 for parcels between 250 and 500 grams.

My test data
weight = cost (standard parcel)
2.5 = 4.20
10 = 4.20
17 = 4.20
17.5 = 4.20
19 = 4.20
20 = 4.20
20.5 = 8.40
21 = 8.40
23 = 8.40
24 = 8.40
25 = 8.40
26 = 8.40
56 = 12.60

I guess the only consistant data is that when it hit a certian point the price will rise. Still the numbers do not make sense.

Any other ideas? I'm forseeing that I will need to chrunch through the austpost.php code to get it all working.

I haven't even dreamt of testing anyother potage methods yet.

[RodG]

Thanks for your help Rod.

I know the GST is ill placed but I thought I'd give it a shot. The client only wants GST on products and not shipping.

In that case you client is a fool.

I can't see why someone woudl add GST for shipping.

It isn't a matter of adding GST to the shipping, it is a matter of *subtracting* it.

Anytime your client posts a parcel to anywhere in Australia they are paying GST to Australia post.

Being a GST registered business, your client is entitled to claim these GST credits back (if they don't, they are effectively giving money away to the government)

The 'problem' is, the quotes from the AP servers (for AU delivery) are always GST inclusive, and if left that way, and taxable products are added to the cart, *another* 10% GST will get added to the (shipping) quote during checkout. To circumvent this problem, the 'tax' flag tells the AP module to reduce the quotes obtained from the server by the taxation amount, so when it gets re-added again (by zen-cart, not the shipping module) the net result is the original GST inclusive price.

If this sounds all too confusing for you, don't worry about it. Just do the 'right' thing, and the end quotes will be correct (tax and all).
The 'right' thing being to set the tax option if you are dealing with a GST registered company, and not set it if they are not registered for GST.

Isn't it only important to add GST for the products you sell. Postage is just a means of getting the item. Not a means to make a profit.

GST has nothing to do with making a profit (except for the government).

Traders really don't have a choice in this matter. If they are registered for GST then the government assumes they will be collecting GST on *every* service they provide, including postage. Unless your client likes paying more tax than they need to the postage fees need to derived accordingly.

I adjusted all my tare weight to 0 but this still did not fix the problem. It changed the test data but the numbers still don't make sence. Also there is a jump from $4.20 to $8.40 there is no $5.40 for parcels between 250 and 500 grams.

My test data
weight = cost (standard parcel)
2.5 = 4.20
10 = 4.20
17 = 4.20
17.5 = 4.20
19 = 4.20
20 = 4.20
20.5 = 8.40
21 = 8.40
23 = 8.40
24 = 8.40
25 = 8.40
26 = 8.40
56 = 12.60

I guess the only consistant data is that when it hit a certian point the price will rise. Still the numbers do not make sense.

What doesn't make sense (to me) is the value of your weights..
In one instant you mention "between 250 and 500 grams", yet your scale example shows values in the ranges 2.5 - 56.
Is that 2.5 grams to 56 grams, or 2.5kgs to 56 kgs?
Either one is way outside of the 250-500 grams that you specifically mentioned.

Even more confusing is that the last test item, weighing 56 somethings is giving a price that cannot be correct either way.
If it were 56 gms, the quote would either be letter rate (assuming it has suitable dimensions AND letter rates are enabled), or it would give a quote for the minimum parcel rate (whetever that is these days).
On the other hand, if it were 56kgs the AP module should return an error message stating that it can't get a valid quote (because the maximum weight that Australia post will handle is 20kgs).

Any other ideas? I'm forseeing that I will need to chrunch through the austpost.php code to get it all working.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you do that I can guarantee that you will *never* get it working correctly. The reason being is simply because the code itself isn't broken. If it were *everyone* would be having the same issue.

The AP module is merely a 'go between'. It takes its input data from the users shopping cart, forwards that data to the Australia post online calculator, adjusts for tax (if required) and returns the result to zencart.

If you try modifying the austpost.php code all you will be doing is screwing with the messenger when you should be screwing with the originator of the message, ie, the input data.

Basically, what I'm telling you is that your problem is with your data. Once you come to realise and accept that the sooner you'll have the problem solved.

As already noted, your test data simply doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
2.5gm - 56gm = minimum parcel weight (or letter rate)
2.5kg - 56kg = Will produce an error on all weight over 20kg

Hmmm, one possible explanation... If these are grams, and you are testing by ordering 'x' number of items weighing 1gm each, sooner or later either the cubing rules will come into play, or the parcel will need to be split into multiple packages due to size restrictions.

Yeah, that'll be it.... parcel splitting..... with 56 of these 1gm items, if you haven't put in any dimensions for them, the defaults will be used, and this parcel, even though weighing only 56 grams, will require 3 separate packages, and it appears you can get 20gms of them per package.. ie 2 packages @ 20gm, + 1 package @ 16gm. The mininum cost per package being $4.20, hense your price leaps of $8.40 and $12.60

Solution. Add a dimension to your test item so that the defaults aren't used. (I suggest that you not set the defaults to something really small in this instance, even though the effect will be the same).

Lesson to be learned: The AP module will try to keep you out of trouble by enforcing the Austrlalia Post restrictions. If you want consistantly accurate results all products must be supplied with its real world dimensions (is if packed into a cube shaped box) as well as accurate weights.
Failure to supply either will cause defaults to be used that will generally err on the side of caution, ie, it'll over quote).

Depending on the products dimensions, 50 items weighing 1gm each doesn't always cost the same as 1 item weighing 50 grams to post.

Cheers
Rod.

ps. If you can follow all of the above, and you are still having a problem, please supply a URL where I can see for myself what is going on.

[Snype]

Thanks much for your help.

Let me see if I understand. The tax options for the Shipping will take the shipping cost from the AP server and subtract the amount for tax. Hence the business will pay the tax gap on the postage with the intention on claiming it back at tax time.

Whats to stop make the customers pay the full shipping amount and then the business not dealing with the GST from postage costs. Even if they did claim the 10% it would be a bonus that was factored into the shipping.

Just clearing my head on that one. Tax is not my thing.

YES! the test data is wack. Hence why I am so confused. It dosen;t make sence to be grams or kilograms. This is why I am so confused. And why I have been doing this style of testing to figure it out.

I am only purchasing one product, no handling fees, the default dimensions have been set plus I added them to the product for testing, all tare weights are set to 0 and there are no tax rules.

What you say makes sence why it jumps from 4.20 to 8.40 and skips all inbetween amounts, but I have always only purchased one item.

I wasn't going to crunch the code for find bugs but to trace why the test data is so confusing and why the weight values do not add up. I know it something with my system Im just at a lost to find out.

What kind of links are you looking for. The site is www.rocciopals.com
I have only been testing Parcel Post the others have handling fees on top of them.

[RodG]

Thanks much for your help.

Let me see if I understand. The tax options for the Shipping will take the shipping cost from the AP server and subtract the amount for tax.

Yes. zencart will then re-add the tax during checkout.

EG:
Item cost customer $100, plus GST ($110)
Australia post quotes $11 to post.

If the tax options are correct set, during the checkout process the customer will see:

Item $100
Postage $ 10
Subtotal $110
GST $11
Total $121 ($110 + $11)

If the Tax flag isn't set in the AP module, the same item will be quoted thus:

Item $100
Postage $11
Subtotal $111
GST $11.10
Total $122.10 - Customer is paying $1.10 too much, and merchant is double charging GST (illlegal).

[QUOTE=Snype;615292]

Just clearing my head on that one. Tax is not my thing.

GST is quite simple process... anytime money changes hands the goverment takes 10%. It does this by making the person collecting the money pay the tax (thus making all Australian traders unpaid tax collectors).

What you say makes sence why it jumps from 4.20 to 8.40 and skips all inbetween amounts, but I have always only purchased one item.

So where do all those really small test weights come from?

I wasn't going to crunch the code for find bugs but to trace why the test data is so confusing

Hey, it's YOUR test data. If you don't know where it comes from what chance to I have?

and why the weight values do not add up. I know it something with my system Im just at a lost to find out.

You have yet to provide any evidence of figures to show that you have a problem with weights *adding up*. If that really IS your problem, you are looking in the wrong place. As mentioned previously (and in the Australia post doc files) the WEIGHTS have NOTHING to do with the AP module. The parcel weights are passed from zencart itself to the AP module (which then performs legitimacy checks).

If the Austpost module is trying to give a quote on 2gm, or 2kg, or even 2 tonnes, it is only doing so because that is what is being given.
Clearly 2 tonnes is more that AustPost will deliver, but both 2gm and 2kgs are valid, so they are the only weights that the module will use. However, when you enter a product weight, the module doesn't really know what the number '2' (or whatever) signifies, and that is the purpose of the kgs/gms flag. It just tells the module what weight factor to use.
I will once again stress that the AustPost module does NOT add product weights. The total weight of all products in the cart are sent directly to the AP module, and assuming it is a valid weight it then gets passed directly to the Servers for actual quotations.

What kind of links are you looking for.

Errr, a ######## site ? A site that will make me rich quick?

I'm *trying* to help you solve a problem (probably of your own making), what kind of link do you think I'd want?

The site is www.rocciopals.com
I have only been testing Parcel Post the others have handling fees on top of them.

I must admit, I haven't bothered to look at your site yet, the reason being is that the last few people that have sent me just the main site link wasn't much help. They assumed I knew what their products were and would instantly understand where to find the number#6 whatsit that they were having issues with, or that I would just coincidently place the exact same products and number of items in the exact same order as they did in order to duplicate the problem (if I can't see and duplicate it, I certainly can't fix it).

For all I know you MAY only have one item in your store for me to test with, but on the other hand you may not. I don't want to waste my time looking. You need to give me a specific link so I can go directly to the source of the problem.

Rod

[Snype]

I understand how the Aust post module works. Please I have been a web developer for years and have an outstanding knowledge of php and software achitecture.

This test data is generated by me going through the admin, changing the weight of the product I am purchasing to the values described in the test data, then refreshing the checkout page with the postage amount. This is how I get the dollar amounts.

I have painstakenly sat there and entered different weight amounts in an attempt to try and assertain where the system is failing (or what ever the prblem is). The weight values I have been inputting to not make sence nore does the cost of postage.

I have exausted many online resources and hence and conversing with yourself, where I appreciate your help very much.

I am new to zen cart and this is my first sit with the engine. My only assumption is that something is conflicting with the aust post module and causing it to fail. Please don't mistake me to be thinking the aust post module is flawed.

Come to think of it I have copied both the old version and the new version of the aust post modules into the site. Could this be the reason for the failure? Only the latest aust post module is installed in admin.

[RodG]

I understand how the Aust post module works. Please I have been a web developer for years and have an outstanding knowledge of php and software achitecture.

This test data is generated by me going through the admin, changing the weight of the product I am purchasing to the values described in the test data, then refreshing the checkout page with the postage amount. This is how I get the dollar amounts.

I have painstakenly sat there and entered different weight amounts in an attempt to try and assertain where the system is failing (or what ever the prblem is). The weight values I have been inputting to not make sence nore does the cost of postage.

I have exausted many online resources and hence and conversing with yourself, where I appreciate your help very much.

I am new to zen cart and this is my first sit with the engine. My only assumption is that something is conflicting with the aust post module and causing it to fail. Please don't mistake me to be thinking the aust post module is flawed.

Come to think of it I have copied both the old version and the new version of the aust post modules into the site. Could this be the reason for the failure? Only the latest aust post module is installed in admin.

I've no idea what you are trying to prove by entering test data ranging in values that make little sense in the real world (unless you are selling feathers), in which case you'll get better results by enabling the letter rates.

If you want to get any sense out of it, use sensible inputs.

Rhetorical question. If you are as experienced as you say you are, why the hell are you doing things the "pain staking way" when you would clearly know there are better solutions.

And finally, I have already deduced and told you why you are getting the quotes that you are getting based on the data you are providing.
Namely, your test item is being split up into three individual parcels, each costing $4.20 each.

You apparenlty already know how the AP module works, but I'll redresh your memory anyway... if packages are overweight they get split into multiple parcels before the AustPost module sees them. .
If the package is oversized then the Australia post module splits it into multiple parcels.
IOW, if you have a 20kg maximum, and an item weighing 54kg, based on the weight alone the AP module will be asked to quote on 3 parcels@ 18kgs each.
If those parcels turn out to be oversized, say 110cm, the AP module will again split them to produce 6 parcels, 9kgs each and 55cm long.

All of this assumes the package *can* be split.
IF you happen to have a single item in the cart that weighs 54kgs and is 110cm long it will still be quoted according to the above 'rules'
Needless to say you won't be able to actually post this item unless you do split it up, so it is really up to the store owner to ensure they don't enter data that can't possibly be delivered via AP.

Anyway, the bottom line still hasn't changed, your test data is pretty darn useless. THe result you are getting can, and has been explained, and they are perfectly legitimate and valid results for the data you are using.

In other words, there is NOTHING for you to fix. It is working perfectly.

GIGO

Rod

[imperialis]

Hi Rod
A couple of questions
1. Since converting to one page checkout the first thing the customer sees is the error message saying there order is too big for a satchel but down the page they can see the correct postage costs? Can I do anything to change this or how do I go about getting rid of the error code?

2. How would I go about changing the postage option picture to text they seem to take up too much room and are quite hard to read when they are all lined up

Thanks

[RodG]

Hi Rod
A couple of questions
1. Since converting to one page checkout the first thing the customer sees is the error message saying there order is too big for a satchel but down the page they can see the correct postage costs? Can I do anything to change this or how do I go about getting rid of the error code?

This has me intrigued. I'm not aware of any coding that would produce an error message such as this.
Please supply one of the following in order of preference:

1. A link so that I can see it for myself (and for further investigation)
2. An *exact* copy of the error message you are seeing.
3. A screenshot of the error message.

2. How would I go about changing the postage option picture to text they seem to take up too much room and are quite hard to read when they are all lined up

Thanks

In theory, it is just a matter of not installing the pictures and letting the 'alt' text take over.
In practice some web browsers insist on showing broken image links rather than the alt text.

For the time being you might like to try using the icons created by another friendly zencart user (danpoole)
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...7&postcount=11

Another alternative is to do a bit of code hacking. I seem to recall there has been another short thread on doing this.

For the next release (due date, sometime between now and whenever) I plan to include a toggle type option to make it easy for all.

Cheers
RodG

[gabbytwin]

This has me intrigued. I'm not aware of any coding that would produce an error message such as this.
Please supply one of the following in order of preference:

1. A link so that I can see it for myself (and for further investigation)
2. An *exact* copy of the error message you are seeing.
3. A screenshot of the error message.

Cheers
RodG

This is also a problem that I have had for some time as well.

place any item in our stores cart and go to checkout and you can see the error straight away
www.cheekybutts.com.au/shop


Your Order Total:
Shopping Cart Contents
Edit

Qty. Item Name Total
2 x All in 2 with a pocket - One size fits all Fairy $56.00
$56.00
Sub-Total:

$0.00
AustPost (ERROR:Unable to obtain a valid quote from the Australia Post Server.
You may still checkout using this method and we will contact you with postage costs as soon as possible.):


$42.00
Total: