ozpost shipping module

[Trinity]

I was wondering if you might be able to help me RodG

I am using version Zen Cart v1.3.8a and Ozpost version V2.0.6 on a new site (currently in test, not production).

It is an Australian site but the business rules are that no orders to be taken within Australia as that is covered by their retailers. I have disabled (unchecked) the Australian shipping options.

My problem is that the shipping calculator defaults to flat rate BUT only when logged in as a test customer (US). If I use the shipping calculator with a guest cart (using same country - US) there is no problem at all.

I have followed the setup instructions but am wondering if I have missed something, I don't believe it is a bug in Ozpost but perhaps something that has been overlooked in the setup of customers/zones???

Thanks in advance.

[RodG]

It is an Australian site but the business rules are that no orders to be taken within Australia as that is covered by their retailers. I have disabled (unchecked) the Australian shipping options.

hhmmmm..... ok....

My problem is that the shipping calculator defaults to flat rate BUT only when logged in as a test customer (US). If I use the shipping calculator with a guest cart (using same country - US) there is no problem at all.

I cannot explain this behaviour. Logged in or not, you should get the exact same results for the exact same destination. There must be more to this that we aren't seeing.

I have followed the setup instructions but am wondering if I have missed something, I don't believe it is a bug in Ozpost but perhaps something that has been overlooked in the setup of customers/zones???

Perhaps.... even probably. I'm not exactly sure how or why though as the ozpost module doesn't use zones, well, at least not in the usual zencart way.

The ozpost module only 'knows' two 'zones' - Australia and the rest of the world. It determines which of these to use based on the destination country code (AU).
The fact that you are getting different results between a logged in user and a guest user would suggest that they are using a different country code. This is particularly the case with a guest user where the module doesn't have any clue where the guest is coming from (this is why the ozpost distribution files contain a modiifed shipping template file in order to force destination before a quote is provided.

Other than this, there really isn't much I can tell you - it is a mystery to me too.

Cheers
Rod

[Mike_Dean]

Hey Rod..

I hope that's adds a little humor to your day ??

I was doing a compare on V2.05 and V2.06 and found this little gem..

OK, now we have a 'real world' package made lets see if the user requires splotting by weight

Can you please enlighten me and advise what splotting is

Thanks,
Mike

[RodG]

Can you please enlighten me and advise what splotting is

Thanks,
Mike

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Splot

[Trinity]

The ozpost module only 'knows' two 'zones' - Australia and the rest of the world. It determines which of these to use based on the destination country code (AU).
The fact that you are getting different results between a logged in user and a guest user would suggest that they are using a different country code. This is particularly the case with a guest user where the module doesn't have any clue where the guest is coming from (this is why the ozpost distribution files contain a modiifed shipping template file in order to force destination before a quote is provided.

Other than this, there really isn't much I can tell you - it is a mystery to me too.

Cheers
Rod

Thanks for your reply Rod :-)

So, focusing on the logged in user for now, the shipping calculator defaults to flat rate when logged in as a test customer...could you please advise under what circumstances that it would do this?

I am supposing that this is the default return when there is an error.

Is there a list of areas that I could check to see if they are set up correctly?

Thanks in advance.

[Trinity]

OK, so some further information here.

When logged in as a user, the module will work as long as there are no dimensions set on the individual products. If I set the dimensions, then place an order for 10 of that item, it aggregates the dimensions ie product is 25cm x 10cm x 2cm it makes the parcel 250cm long, and therefore invokes the error.

Is there a way to get around that?

Thanks!

[RodG]

OK, so some further information here.

When logged in as a user, the module will work as long as there are no dimensions set on the individual products. If I set the dimensions, then place an order for 10 of that item, it aggregates the dimensions ie product is 25cm x 10cm x 2cm it makes the parcel 250cm long, and therefore invokes the error.

Is there a way to get around that?

Thanks!

In other words, it has nothing really to do with the user being logged in or not, nor does it have anything to do with the destination. The problem is based entirely on multiple items exceeding allowed limits.

There are two ways around this..
1) The BEST method.
Sell these items in bulk packages (apparently that is the way you are expecting people to buy them). So by pre-packaging in lots of 10 you can keep your parcel size minimal.

2) The worst thing you can possibly do if you expect accurate quotes all of the time, as well as running the risk of creating a parcel that is simply too large for any given carrier to handle.
Enable the 'constrain dimensions' option (ozpost v2.0.6).

-----

Yeah, I know that you, like almost every other ecommerce merchant on the planet are thinking there must be a better way, but the fact is, there isn't. There are some methods that are better than others under certain conditions and there a a lot more sophisticated systems around than ozpost, but it ultimately comes down to having to obey the laws of physics.

If any given customer adds enough items of any given size to their shopping cart sooner or later the contents WILL be too heavy or too large for any of the normal carriers to handle.

Cheers
Rod

[RodG]

When logged in as a user, the module will work as long as there are no dimensions set on the individual products.

An addendum:
Logged in or not this behaviour will be the same.

The best way to consider the individual products dimensions is to treat them as an override of the default item dimensions.. This way if you have lots of items all 'close enough' to be considered the 'same size' (for shipping purposes) you'll only need to set the default, and then the 'odd sized' items can be given their own dimension to override the defaults.

Cheers
Rod

[Trinity]

Thanks Rod

You have been a great help!

I will probably go with your suggestion 1. and try to package the items into bundles for wholesale orders.

Cheers

[mkgarth]

I'm having a problem with Ozpost of late.
I keep getting some products using the flat rate shiping method but only if the product is of a certain size.
eg. Height = 2
length = 10
width =2
this doesn't work but if I change these sizes to:
Height = 10
Length = 3
width =3
then it does work.
Q. Are there minimal package dimensions that are required?
Can someone please have a look at my site and see if I have done something really silly?
www.mihealth.com.au.
This problem always occures with the toothpaste products.

Thanks Mkgarth