ozpost shipping module

The "INSTALL.txt" file mentions 3 files that need to be overwritten. I'll bet they were either skipped or renamed when you uploaded the files.

These are the files in question:
/admin/includes/languages/english/product.php
/admin/includes/modules/update_product.php
/admin/includes/modules/product/collect_info.php

Thanks for the help Rod.:smile:

I decided to re install everything and now it seems to be working and when I calculate shipping in Australia everything works great but if I calculate shipping to say United States the amount that shows is $54.65 and when I check that on the Australia Post website, using the same dimensions and weight, it shows $26.45. I have tried setting all the handling fees to 0.00 and have the tare percent set at 0 but it makes no difference. How can I fix this?

enochian:

if I calculate shipping to say United States the amount that shows is $54.65 and when I check that on the Australia Post website, using the same dimensions and weight, it shows $26.45.

if you are really using the same weights and dimensions then you will get the same quotes. the fact that you are getting different quotes is a good indication that what is being quoted for isn't what you think.

if you can provide evidence of a miscalculation i'll be happy to look further into it.

cheers
rod

Optional Shipping Insurance and Ozpost

This may be a bit off topic however I am wondering whether anyone here using the optional insurance module has managed to get it to operate only when the ozpost shipping module is selected, and if so how?

TIA

dw08gm:

Optional Shipping Insurance and Ozpost

This may be a bit off topic however I am wondering whether anyone here using the optional insurance module has managed to get it to operate only when the ozpost shipping module is selected, and if so how?

TIA

I'm wondering why anyone here would be using the optional insurance module when the ozpost module already handles insurance?

Cheers
Rod

I wish I had known that earlier. I have yet to progress beyond localhost.

RodG:

I'm wondering why anyone here would be using the optional insurance module when the ozpost module already handles insurance?

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod,

I believe ozpost is calculating insurance incorrectly. In posting out insured parcels for our store they have to be sent as Registered Parcel Post, with extra cover (insurance) added in. Registered parcel Post includes the first $100 insurance, then its $1.25 for every $100 in value or part thereof.

I have ozpost v1.0.2 installed and have two postage options enabled.
Registered Parcel and Insured Parcel.

In a test sale of a small package under 0.5kg and $230 in value sees the following cost breakdowns

Registered Parcel: - my P&H=$1.85

• postage=$5.40
• registered post fee=$2.75
  Total $10.00

Insured Parcel:- my P&H=$1.85

• postage=$5.40
• insurance=$3.75
  Total $11.00

Our actual costs for this item sent insured post is: - my P&H=$1.85

• postage=$5.40
• registered post fee=$2.75
• insurance for $230 item=$2.50 ($1.25 per every hundered dollars over the first $100)
  Total $12.50.

Am I correct in thinking ozpost does not calculate in the need to send an item as registered post before adding the insurance cost? Is it possible to send a insured parcel that is not registered? If so, how hard would it be to add another postage option of Registered and Insured Parcel??
OR
If I am correct in my interpretation of Australia Post's Parcel Post rules and insured items incur the cost of Registered Parcel Post first, can the Insured Parcel option be easily changed at your server side to include the new costs?

Regards
Brett

FreestyleCab:

Am I correct in thinking ozpost does not calculate in the need to send an item as registered post before adding the insurance cost?

Correct.

FreestyleCab:

Is it possible to send a insured parcel that is not registered?

Yes, definitely. Registered post and insured post are two entirely separate things.

FreestyleCab:

If so, how hard would it be to add another postage option of Registered and Insured Parcel??

Probably not too hard, but one would have to wonder what the heck for.
All registered post does is give you a tracking number. (and insurance up to $100).

Insured post has its own reference number that can be used for tracking purposes.

FreestyleCab:

OR
If I am correct in my interpretation of Australia Post's Parcel Post rules and insured items incur the cost of Registered Parcel Post first,

No, you are not correct in this regard.

FreestyleCab:

can the Insured Parcel option be easily changed at your server side to include the new costs?
Brett

Moot point. Not everyone is going to be happy paying an additional $2.75 that they don't need when the item(s) are insured.

Furthermore, it isn't even possible to insure items for less than $100 (The post office will tell you to send it registered instead).

Although the two methods aren't mutually exclusive, there generally isn't any need to send both registered AND insured, although the post office will quite happily allow you to do so.

Cheers
Rod

Rod,

According to the staff at our post office and the following page on the auspost website, insurance is only available with registered or COD parcels.

http://www.auspostbusiness.com.au/Delivering-Your-Business/In-Australia/Parcels2/Parcels/Insurance

Insurance
Insurance is only available for Parcel Post together with the supplementary services of Cash on Delivery or Registered Post. With these services, insurance cover up to $100 is included in the fee, but further insurance cover up to $5000 can be purchased.
Transit cover is also available for eParcel contract customers. This option can provide cover of up to $5000 per article.

We have been unable to send an insured item unless it was 'registered' first.

Brett

FreestyleCab:

According to the staff at our post office and the following page on the auspost website, insurance is only available with registered or COD parcels.

http://www.auspostbusiness.com.au/Delivering-Your-Business/In-Australia/Parcels2/Parcels/Insurance

We have been unable to send an insured item unless it was 'registered' first.

Brett

Hmmm, curious. I must admit that we haven't had the need to send anything insured for several months now, but the text provided by that link does appear to be very clear that what you say is correct. Unfortunately, their latest charges booklet http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/pdfs/PostCharges.pdf (23 March 2009) isn't quite as specific. However, I do note that the wording in the booklet has changed from previous releases in that it no longer lists 'insurance' as such, but instead calls it "extra cover (formally known as insurance)", so I suspect that this is/was one of those changes that they quietly slipped in to increase their charges without highlighting the fact (the bistards).

Almost as interesting/curious is that it seems this only applies to Australian/domestic parcels because page 26 of this booklet (International parcels) clearly states that "Extra cover (formally insurance) is NOT available on International Registered post and Air ParcelPack". (The opposite to domestic parcels)

Needless to say this does warrant further investigation and verification. I'm on very friendly terms with the staff at my local post office so I'll pop in and have a bit of a chat with them in the next couple of days, just to triple check that this is all accurate, and if so then I'll certainly update the server responses to reflect the correct charges.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

Cheers
Rod.

Hi Rod,

I have the austpost module installed.

When upgrades/benefits does this new ozpost have?

Can i keep my current update_product and collect_info files when switching to this module?

Michael

giftpackaging:

Hi Rod,

I have the austpost module installed.

When upgrades/benefits does this new ozpost have?

The biggest benefit is that ozpost is the only code that will get updated and improved upon. :-)

Other improvements include:

1. Faster response times from the server (only one query is needed rather than a minimum of 3).
2. Results are cached for even better performance.
3. Only one server needs to be contacted for all quotes (rather than one server for the fixed priced methods and a different server for the variable priced methods).
4. More accurate quotes for letter rates to different zones
5. Better debugging functions (for those times when quote just don't seem 'right')
6. Better organised shipping methods selection (admin)
7. A couple of additional shipping methods added.
8. Better OOP
9. Both the server and client code is easier to update to add even more shipping methods if required.
10. Server and client both use XML data for easier manipulation and futureproofing. (more versatile).

Those are just the main improvements off the top of my head.

All is not better though, the ozpost module currently has no means to split large or overwight parcels into multiple packages, so it may not be suitable for all stores.

giftpackaging:

Can i keep my current update_product and collect_info files when switching to this module?
Michael

Yes (there have been no changes whatsover with these files).

If you are unsure about whether the upgrade is going to be worthwhile for you please keep in mind that both the Austpost and the ozpost modules can be installed concurrently, so if you do run into problems or issues you can simply disable it and continue to use your existing module.

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod, thanks for such a quick reply!

Sounds great - i'll install it :)

Just needed to make I could keep those 2 files, as they have already been merged for the Dual pricing module.

Hi Rod

Where you have set 25.00 and 99.00 as the default shipping amounts for national and international postage, how do I change these amounts to be formula derived, such that:

National Postage = Weight * x
International Postage = Weight * y

where
Weight is the total weight of an order
x is the national multiplier (to be set by the store manager)
y is the international multiplier (to be set by the store manager)

TIA

dw08gm:

Hi Rod

Where you have set 25.00 and 99.00 as the default shipping amounts for national and international postage, how do I change these amounts to be formula derived, such that:

National Postage = Weight * x
International Postage = Weight * y

where
Weight is the total weight of an order
x is the national multiplier (to be set by the store manager)
y is the international multiplier (to be set by the store manager)

TIA

The short answer is "You don't".

The long answer is you will need to modify the ozpost.php code itself. This probably won't be too difficult because the the code calls a function (_get_cost_on_error) that, as the name suggests, gets the postage cost if there is an error.

All you need do is modify this function so that it returns the cost you desire. Currently all this function really does is retrieve the values from the database and determines whether to return the local value, the overseas value or whether to disable the module if the value is zero.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Rod

ps. I quite like this idea, it seems more practical than the fixed costs.

I thought to change line 625 \includes\modules\shipping\ozpost.php

$db->Execute("insert into " . TABLE_CONFIGURATION . " (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, date_added) VALUES ('Cost on Error', 'MODULE_SHIPPING_OZPOST_COST_ON_ERROR', '25.00,99.99', 'If an error occurs these Flat Rate fees will be used (The First value for Australian delivery. The second value for Overseas delivery.</br> A value of zero will disable this module on error.)', '6', '20', now())");

similar to

$db->Execute("insert into " . TABLE_CONFIGURATION . " (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, date_added) VALUES ('Cost on Error', 'MODULE_SHIPPING_OZPOST_COST_ON_ERROR', '10.00*[Weight],20*[Weight]', 'If an error occurs these Flat Rate fees will be used (The First value for Australian delivery. The second value for Overseas delivery.</br> A value of zero will disable this module on error.)', '6', '20', now())");

However I have yet to work out how to call up the [Weight].

dw08gm:

I thought to change line 625 \includes\modules\shipping\ozpost.php
However I have yet to work out how to call up the [Weight].

That won't be of any use to you at all. That line of code is only ever called once, and that is during the installation procedure. All it does is set the defaults.

As per my previous post, the place to make the change is in the _get_error_cost() function.

As for the weight variable, you'll either need to make this a global variable to access it within the function (not recommended), or modify the function (and the code that calls it) to pass the weight as a parameter along with the $dest_country variable. (recommended).

Cheers
Rod

Rod,

Would it be possible to add a rounding option to the mod, where we can select to round the postage cost result up to the nearest say.... 50c, one dollar or five dollar amount?

Brett

FreestyleCab:

Rod,

Would it be possible to add a rounding option to the mod, where we can select to round the postage cost result up to the nearest say.... 50c, one dollar or five dollar amount?

Brett

Yes it is possible, but it isn't something that I will do on account of the fact that the aim of the module is to give accurate quotes.

Cheers
Rod

Just wanted to THANK YOU. Don't even know much.....but was able to get this up and running on my site (not that it is live yet)!
:clap:

Hi Rod,
First, I'm using the current version of zen, cherry zen template and a couple of other mods that I don't think would affect your mod. I don't know a lot about PHP yet, but a fair understanding of html, css. My shop isn't live yet. I had auspost installed, but completly removed it before installing this one.
Whew!

I don't know if this is a bug or something I did wrong. In the admin, I was getting a broken image (the little logo) obviously not important but I thought I would let you know.
To fix it I created a file structure similar to the one in auspost and uploaded an image. Funny thing was the file structure had to be..admin/DIR_WS_TEMPLATEStemplate_default/images/icons/ozpost_logo.jpg.
Was the only way I could get it to work.

I'm a bit fussy about astetics so I've been creating some new images and I'm also wanting to make some changes to the pop up window. I wanted to get the numeral (indicater of days shipping) to line up vertically with the center of the image that precedes it.
I also want to use the images, but have text for Days (Est' Delivery) Is that possible.
I know it seems trivial.

I'm guessing that there are some files already in zen cart that work with the ones you created, and perhaps one of them styles the pop up. Am I way off?

My store is at http://countrytothecore.net
You can log in as: [email protected]
use password: tester
There is a cart with an item in it for this user with two shipping addresses (one overseas) so you can see how it is looking.

Thanks for the mod and your time.
David