ozpost shipping module

[RodG]

I'm fully aware of what IceTV is, and also fully aware that there are other free services that offer the very same information that IceTV indeed charges you for.

They also offer that little 'extra' that others don't... Something I'm quite happy to pay for, and frankly, I wouldn't have the balls to suggest to them that they are asking me to pay for something I can get for free.

Not sure where I have ever given any impression that I understood it merely as a relay agent or gateway to external information..

My apologies, I wasn't thinking of you specifically, but that IS the general impression I seem to be getting from a number of peoples' comments.

I know too well what you have done in order to provide this service, as you would know too well the assistance you have provided me, AND my constant show of appreciation. No, not in the monetary sense, but have you ever suggested it in your signature ?

Well, yes, I have actually, also in the 'credits.txt' file. It is/was only recently (the last release or so) where I dropped this.

As I also CLEARLY stated in my last response, I have no objection to paying a fee of sorts, I was merely expressing what I'm sure a lot of others have muttered to their keyboards and not bothered to press the keys.!

Sorry, I really didn't mean to upset you, but yes, I *know* you are only expressing what many others must be feeling. This is why I'm only expecting a 2% conversion rate. 99% of users will agree with all you have stated, of those, only 1% will put thier thoughts in writing, the other 98% will say nothing and go on to use alternative methods. .

Lets call a spade a spade here Rod, your pretty good at handing out the insults tooo.. some I have felt were totally justified, but others.. well..

Granted, I give you that, but in my defence, I would suggest those times when you probably felt they weren't justified it is because you had only seen a part of the 'story'.

OK, so I may occasionally have had a bad day and been oversensitive to some comments too... I'm only human. (sometimes)

Your trying to read too much between the lines of what I and or others are saying...

Possibly.

And as a suggestion, it is these 'behind the scenes' services that are provided that need to be highlighted when setting the rates.

The telephone company, Electric company and water company don't need to highlight the 'behind the scenes' services whrn they set their rates. Manufactiring companies don't need to highlight all of their production costs when they set their rates, so although I *agree* in principle that this could be a good idea for setting MY rates, the onus is really on the end user to see the value of the service, or not, whichever the case may be,

People want to know exactly what they are getting for their money. People don't part with money on my store unless they know exactly what they are getting, and I, like a lot of people are the same.

If you haven't already done so, please visit http://ozpost.net. It's not much, but I think it gives a pretty good idea what people will be getting for their money. (If you have any other suggestions for this 'site' I would really appreciate your input).

What isn't/hasn't been mentioned yet is that one of the major problems with using the ozpost.vcsweb.com server or the 'official' Australia Post server (drc.edeliver.com.au) is that neither has any form of redunancy or backup, which really isn't a good situation for ANY store to be placed in - Ergo, we've registered and set up this completely new/independant server so that if one server goes down (as rare as it is) the other should still be fully functional.

Rod, I (and perhaps others) fully appreciate your position and do not for a minute take it for granted as my god given right to have this service for free.

Mike, if *every* (or even most) user had this attitude I probably wouldn't been as burned out, frustrated, and continuing what appears(ed) to be a moslty thankless task as I am, and perhaps it wouldn't be veiwing it as 'work' for which I need compensation for - It would actually be a pleasure (not that it hasn't been). I've really enjoyed seeing people use this module and helping them with problems, but Alas, this *isn't* the case ... most people *aren't* like you. You may have written what many are thinking, but I can assure you, you will be in the minority when it comes to the crunch.

Again I will state that I have not objection to a fee of sorts, or your need to impose one.

As I said, that will place you in the 2% minority - even though you are speaking for the majority.

But you also need to realize that some of us are in the exact same position as you in regards to financial situations.

Perhaps not in exactly the same position. (Not really wanting to go into personal issues, but for the last 4years I've been in legal battles with my 5 siblings for the right to keep or live in my own home of 30years). Even if/when I win the case I'm going to be pretty much bankrupt and homeless as a result of the legal fees).

So yes, any additional fee, regardless of the amount, is going to cause those with little turnover to question it, where as those with larger stores or larger turnovers, probably would not blink an eye..

This is true, a couple of the larger stores have already opted for the 12 and 36 month option, and while I can see that the smaller stores may question the value, it is after all, less than a cup of coffee per week, and if this is enough to make or break a store then perhaps those people should consider the viablity of their stores in the first place.
Chances are such stores are already running at a loss, so if my asking fee is enough to bring about the demise of their store then perhaps in the longer term I'm actually doing these people a favour?

Lastly.. I will ante up.. (It was never an issue) as I need the service,

No, really Mike, you don't NEED the service at all, I'm sure you'll get by quite well without it. You simply *appreciate* the service and what it can provide you. At least I *hope* that is your reasoning.

but I do feel better for my at least expression my piece..

Me too :-)

Cheers
Rod