ozpost shipping module

[ks_b]

Hi RodG,

I don't exactly sure how data are return from fastway saver, but if it is the same as result shows on fastway calculation page where customer manually entered to find out the price then NO, I am not saying you should scrap using the FastWay saver entirely, but more of adding manual option to make it more accurate. As data that return from fastway doesn't say exact price for each of the label, there for this price need to be manual enter either by option in ozpost setting or on ur ozpost server.

sending data to fastway server is all the same as currently ozpost do... but it needs to add more functions to check the returned data from fastway server that this postage is local (i.e. when fastway return BROWN/BLACK/BLUE/YELLOW), then it need to check which label user is using by checking the option that user tick in ozpost admin page. only data that not rely on fastway server is the price for each of the label since we cant extract the price that return from fastway server.

my client want to use frequent user because he wants to give provide fair shipping price (lowest without under quote) because he believes that this will attract more customer and provide trust to customer.

I definitely not saying you should do it, as I know that it is not an easy task! I am just suggesting it is possible with out having to rewrite the whole modules. My client was happy with label quoting as even if he uses frequent user he will only lost $1 something for each local order, which he willing to take.

What he wants to actually work more accurately is the satchel but I think this even more work than label as for satchel size of package need to be check at ozpost size as I believe fastway server dont really do any checking at all!! but isn't ozpost should do this checking manually right? if not it will always display satchel price?? I dont really know lolz. if so then same as local label that the price for each satchel need to enter manually. instead of rely on price quote from fastway.

again don't worry about all this i am not expecting you to do it... the only thing my client wants now is if it possible to change back to normally weight when quoting, instead of using cubic weight??? or a way to toggle between the two!! My client been using fastway extensively for over a year now and they only quote as dead weight, they didn't seem to care about size, well my client been using saver as for dead weight anyway.. not cubic weight and he never have any problem.

Cheers,

Kieran

[ks_b]

ok my client told me that fastway only do cubic weight if the item is really really large.. like over 1 meters in all dimension. (or something like that).... is there a way that we can toggle between the two at our end?

[ks_b]

If this is not possible then its ok the leave it as cubic weight... but will be nice to be able to integrate in next version :)

many thanks for you support.

[RodG]

I don't exactly sure how data are return from fastway saver, but if it is the same as result shows on fastway calculation page where customer manually entered to find out the price

yes, what is returned on the fastway calculation page is the same that is returned to the ozpost server. The ozpost server then extracts the relevent data, and converts it to the format needed by zencart.

then NO, I am not saying you should scrap using the FastWay saver entirely, but more of adding manual option to make it more accurate.

OK..... I'm still listening/following

As data that return from fastway doesn't say exact price for each of the label,

OK, I'm still with you. It returns a high price, and a low price ... so I assume what you are after is one of the inbetween prices? (as I said, you'll need to treat me like an idiot, because I think I may be over complicating the issue/requirement.. That, or you are under thinking it (forgive me for this suggestion).

there for this price need to be manual enter either by option in ozpost setting or on ur ozpost server.

It wouldn't do any good to enter it onto the ozpost server, because it needs to be different for everyone, doesn't it?

sending data to fastway server is all the same as currently ozpost do... but it needs to add more functions to check the returned data from fastway server that this postage is local (i.e. when fastway return BROWN/BLACK/BLUE/YELLOW),

OK, this check can be done at the ozpost server level, or the client level.

then it need to check which label user is using by checking the option that user tick in ozpost admin page.

This can only be done at the client level.

only data that not rely on fastway server is the price for each of the label since we cant extract the price that return from fastway server.

Well, we can/do extract *a* price, but not always the correct one, because we may want the second price out of four, when only the highest and lowest are listed.. Am I still on the same track?

my client want to use frequent user because he wants to give provide fair shipping price (lowest without under quote) because he believes that this will attract more customer and provide trust to customer.

Quite understandable, and in spite of my earlier comments (seemingly to the contrary), I wouldn't have added this support if I didn't think some merchants wouldn't like to take advanrage of it for the reasons you mention.

I definitely not saying you should do it, as I know that it is not an easy task!

And I'm not saying I can/will do it, but I do know that some things that often appear easy to do end up being difficult, and others that first appear difficult end up being quite easy.

With this one I'm still a little undecided.

I am just suggesting it is possible with out having to rewrite the whole modules.

This is the bit we still need to discuss in fine detail. (as long as you are willing)

What he wants to actually work more accurately is the satchel

I can't see where these would be an issue.

but I think this even more work than label as for satchel size of package need to be check at ozpost size as I believe fastway server dont really do any checking at all!! but isn't ozpost should do this checking manually right? if not it will always display satchel price?? I dont really know lolz.

Yes, this is checked at the ozpost server,
When experimenting with satchel sizes please be aware that although the satchels themselves are specified as Length x Width, the ozpost comparisions use Length x Girth, IOW, the satchels aren't as large as they first appear.

if so then same as local label that the price for each satchel need to enter manually. instead of rely on price quote from fastway.

As with the labels, the ozpost module uses prices obtained from the server, these are also in the lowest/highest format, and the assumption is the lowest price is for the A3 satchel and the highest was for the A2.. in this case the correct price being selected depending on the size of the parcel.

I can't recall if there were discounts on Frequent user satchels or not.. I know that Australia Post do offer discounts on bulk qty's, but the module doesn't take these into account.

again don't worry about all this i am not expecting you to do it...

I still can't envision how I can do it without without maintaining a full pricelist on the ozpost servers, along with the client sending additional parameters to tell which list is to be used, or without making significant changes to the client whereby prices can be stored locally, and then re-coded to calculate based on a labelColour plus Saver Label format (which is currently performed by the ozpost server, and is in fact the very entire purpose of the ozpost server in the first place... Namely, to obtain and extract data from various sources and return the results in a uniform format.

the only thing my client wants now is if it possible to change back to normally weight when quoting, instead of using cubic weight???

I don't think this would be a wise decision.

or a way to toggle between the two!! My client been using fastway extensively for over a year now and they only quote as dead weight, they didn't seem to care about size, well my client been using saver as for dead weight anyway.. not cubic weight and he never have any problem.

Since your client has become accustomed to being quoted on deadweight only I feel that I am obligated to make this user selectable. This does have me wondering though.. how accurate are the dimensions of the products?

Generally speaking, MOST parcels are not subject to the cubing rules anyway, so this implys some of your clients products may be oversized (which will also mess with the satchels too), so it may pay to double check this before we add another option that could potentially confuse people).

Cheers
Rod

[RodG]

ok my client told me that fastway only do cubic weight if the item is really really large.. like over 1 meters in all dimension. (or something like that).... is there a way that we can toggle between the two at our end?

I've currently set it back to use deadweight ... This'll allow me a little time to mull over the possible mitigation strategies.

I don't like it being wrong, I don't like the idea of another user option (I already have two options that effectively state "for possible invalid quotes tick here") - so perhaps some other 'hidden' check - eg, to only apply cubing if applicable AND if over a certain size..... hhhmmm... no, I need to sleep on this...

G'night.
Rod

[ks_b]

OK, I'm still with you. It returns a high price, and a low price ... so I assume what you are after is one of the inbetween prices? (as I said, you'll need to treat me like an idiot, because I think I may be over complicating the issue/requirement.. That, or you are under thinking it (forgive me for this suggestion).

Yes that exactly right.. need price that's in between

It wouldn't do any good to enter it onto the ozpost server, because it needs to be different for everyone, doesn't it?

yes prices for different location are different for blue and yellow but black and brown is all the same from what i checked. Its probably best if you allows user to input this info by themselves at client so you don't need to keep track of prices in your server.. but if all calculation is don't at sever side then this will make things difficult!

So I guess we should not worry about local labels for now just keep it as it is.

As with the labels, the ozpost module uses prices obtained from the server, these are also in the lowest/highest format, and the assumption is the lowest price is for the A3 satchel and the highest was for the A2.. in this case the correct price being selected depending on the size of the parcel.

First I thought there are only two sizes too but seem like there are three! I will confirm this but according to fastway calculation page it returns for national
Satchel A5/A2/A3 BLUE $5.45 to 10.07 *

where I think A5 is $5.45 and A2 is $10.07

so missing price is A3 and price should be $8.42

for local it should be ok because it only has two option
Satchel A3 ORANGE A5 BLUE $4.29 to 5.45 *

one more thing...
When I look at ozpost admin
under fastway satchel it displays
A2 Satchel (500gm).... A2 should allows 5kg. is this just error in text? or u only allows 500gm in calculation as well?

I think A5 is the one that allows 500gm

possible solution to this is only allow option for A5 and A2 (highest and lowest price) and don't worry about the one in between!


cheers,

Kieran

[vandiermen]

Re: Fastway on http://www.solarcampingaustralia.com.au

Fastway option is show if Debug is enabled

Fastway does not show if Debug disabled

ozpost V2.1.1

FastWay Couriers
Red Label, Orange Label, Green Label, White Label, Grey Label, Brown Label, Black Label, Blue Label, Yellow Label, Lime Label, A2 Satchel (500gm), A3 Satchel (3Kg)

FastWay Franchise
BDB

FastWay frequent user?
No

Any ideas?

[vandiermen]

p.s.

Server response time 0.638msServer Returned:
FWL31.90Fri 3rd of DecFastWay Labels (GREEN +2 Saver labels)RPP31.90Fri 3rd of DecParcel over 500gmREG34.85Mon 6th of DecRegistered Parcel over 500gmRPPi41.60Mon 6th of DecInsured Parcel over 500gmCOD42.40Mon 6th of DecCash On Delivery EXP88.25Thu 25th of Nov (Outside Express network - fastest possible delivery)Express Parcel over 500gmPLT93.00Thu 25th of Nov (Outside Express network - fastest possible delivery)Platinum Parcel over 500gmEXPi97.95Thu 25th of Nov (Outside Express network - fastest possible delivery)Insured Express Parcel over 500gmPLTi102.70Thu 25th of Nov (Outside Express network - fastest possible delivery)Insured Platinum Parcel over 500gm 74.55.148.130 Tue Nov 23, 2010 14:05 (SA Server Time) 13:35 (QLD Store Time) Wed 24th of Nov 9.70 2.95 URANGAN ADELAIDE 1068

[RodG]

Fastway option is show if Debug is enabled

Any ideas?

Take a closer look at the debug output..... apparently the FastWay servers are timing out at the moment (1:10pm)

Cheers
Rod

[vandiermen]

does not explain why it works when debug is on, and not work when debug is off.... need a long term solution.