ozpost shipping module

[RodG]

Hi Rod,

I'm still getting errors with shipping calculation. Not sure if there has been an update to fix yet.

As far as I'm aware, your problem was solved months ago. The last posting from you stated "If I choose items/qtys so that it does not exceed the restrictions, everything works perfectly".

If a customer orders too many of a particular item/s then it will get to a point where ozpost can't calculate the shipping cost and give the Error and AP flat rate.

Yes, that is what it is *supposed* to do. The only other options are to return no quote at all, or a quote on a parcel that is too large for Australia post to accept anyway.

What do you think the module *should* do? Compress the parcel so that it will fit the allowed dimensions? Split the parcel into multiple parcels even though this may be physically impossible to do without damaging the goods?

A better method of 'packing and stacking' would alleviate the problem somewhat, but having already attempted several different methods, each which introduced their own problems I agree with many others in that this is the 'holy grail' of shipping modules no matter what ecommerce software is being used.. Besides, even with a *perfect* packing and stacking code, sooner or later the parcel is going to reach limits that will require you to use a different shipping method.

"ERROR: (18+53.00) x 2cm exceeds the Maximum 140cm girth allowed. Using AP Flat Rate." etc..

This is more a statement of fact rather than an error. It really doesn't matter what I do with the code, (18+53.00) x 2cm is always going to exceed the Maximum 140cm girth allowed by AustPost.

I've noticed on ebay, I believe its using the Auspost rates to calculate shipping automatically if wieght, size/dimensions have been entered for each product. The shipping calculates the same costs as ozpost, but doesn't give an error when more products (qty) are added.

If you can provide a URL I'd be happy to take a look at what is being used, and how they perform this feat, but my gut feeling tells me that it will only be quoting on weight alone.

Any update on this?
Michael

It is a trivial task to have the module ignore any size errors, simply by ignoring the calculated parcel size and substituting fixed dimensions instead. It may come as a bit of a shock when you actually go to post the parcel though.

Although I've no 'real world' data to back myself up, my hunch is that this problem will occur far more due to mulitple quantities of a single item being added to the cart than it would with single quantities of multiple items being added, and this being the case, and it is a serious issue, then the solution is to use 'bulk packing' for the items in question. By this I mean create a cart item for a box of (say) 10 somethings, and then enter the actual dimensions of these 10 items packed together so that when people buy the 10 pack the module will only see this as a single item and it won't need to use the very simple stacking code. In other words, you literally need to pre-pack the items where you are likely to get sales of multiple quantities.

As before, this will only really help minimise the error, because sooner or later we just have to obey the laws of physics.

Cheers
Rod