ozpost shipping module

Renz:

Thanks for the response, is this applicable to the new version whereby the information in the module download server.txt states "This module relies on data obtained from http://ozpost.vcsweb.com/ozpost.vcsweb.com is a subscription service. All new stores/installations are granted 60 Days free access."?
Not to the version 2.0.6 which states the following in the same named module download file: "This module relies on data obtained from ozpost.vcsweb.com. Data is returned in XML format for easy integration into almost any e-commerce site. ozpost.vcsweb.com is a free service. No registration or subscription required. " Thanks for the clarification, Kind Regards..RR

It is applicable to any and all versions of the software known as AustPost, ozpost and any other shipping module, regardless of name, author or origin of any such module, and for all versions of any shopping cart system(s) using any such module where the module included connects either directly or indirectly to the server(s) located at http://ozpost.net/.

Simply put, if the quotes are obtained from http://ozpost.net/ server, even if relayed through the http://ozpost.vcsweb.com server then a subscription will be required for continued access.

Regards
Rod

Originally Posted by RodG
Ooop, missed this question... Until recently, access to the ozpost servers have been free. This has now changed and the free service is only avaialbe for 60days from the first time it is used by any given store).

I expect up to 98% of the current ozpost users will not follow through with the paid service and will be reverting back to something that uses the drc servers.

Cheers
Rod

Does the charges apply to all OZPost application?
If it does what can we use instead? I only want to ship by Australia Post as I only ship local.

Kayz:

Does the charges apply to all OZPost application?
If it does what can we use instead? I only want to ship by Australia Post as I only ship local.

Please see the response to "Renz".

Hi Rod!
During checkout in my live store, in the Shipping Method Selection section, this text is displayed

"postage module expires in x days"

and the text is linked back to VCS website. How do I turn this off from customer view?

Also, I have upgraded my zen cart to latest zen release and am using your latest version of ozpost.

In my zencart tore back end, when I add a new product, I can't see the boxes to enter the L W H for the product. I have the SORT BOX and WEIGHT box but no LWH entry boxes.

The live shop is still processing all existing products re freight etc (correctly) so I am trying to find where I have messed up! If I edit an existing product, it doesn't show the LWH boxes either.

I will go through all the updates now, but any idea? I received this reply to a post I entered on zen forum/adding products etc:

"Since Zencart doesn't include that in the stock version, it must be an add-on or shipping module that provided those boxes. You might try uninstalling and re-installing your shipping module (after noting your configuration information)."

I updated to the latest Zen cart version from the changelog for vs "d" to "1.3.9.e". I have not this before and may have slipped up here. Will double check it all today, but any point in the right direction to solve this would be appreciated.

Thanks again for the great module! :clap:
Cheers
Sandy

A friendly observation Rod!

On your VCS WEB site, the deep blue background and black font makes it difficult to read the text or perhaps it just me LOL!

Cheers - have a great DownUnder Day!
Sandy

Hi again!

Think I have it sorted: I had criss crossed the latest Zen update (re changelong) with your latest ozpost update:

I tried this: I uploaded to overwrite the latest zen cart changelong file of same name:

admin/includes/modules/product/collect.info.php to my zen cart admin folder

The LWH boxes are visible again in my shop backend when adding/editing products.

Cheers
Sandy
...sorry I don't have tech eloquence! - but do my best!

ozmosaics:

"postage module expires in x days"

and the text is linked back to VCS website. How do I turn this off from customer view?

Currently the only way will be to modify the code (not difficult). The plan is to have this is a constant reminder / feedback for merchants that don't regularly check their admin functionality so they don't get caught short when the free trial period is over. After the initial transition period future upgrades will either have this removed or disabled, or possibly set to only show during the final few days..

ozmosaics:

Also, I have upgraded my zen cart to latest zen release and am using your latest version of ozpost.

In my zencart tore back end, when I add a new product, I can't see the boxes to enter the L W H for the product. I have the SORT BOX and WEIGHT box but no LWH entry boxes.

You'll need to re-upload the files from the /admin/ folder of the ozpost distribution archive, ensuring they overwrite the zencart originals (make a backup copy first, just in case).

Cheers
Rod

I can't see the count down timer for how many free days there are left..is it in Admin Shipping or in the shipping page of checkout.
Thanks
Renz

Renz:

I can't see the count down timer for how many free days there are left..is it in Admin Shipping or in the shipping page of checkout.
Thanks
Renz

Both.
In the Admin Shipping yoiu need to select the ozpost module to see the info.

On the checkout page a small 'ozpost' icon will generally (but not always) appear at the top of the quote seletor box - You need to hover over this to make the information appear.

Cheers
Rod

Rod when updating my zen cart the manager popped up a warning that there was a ozpost module upgrade Version V2.0.9
I am looking to download it but can only seem to find version V2.0.8 please could you point me to the very latest update as this module is so good and works well for me.
Thank
Steve

Bexley:

Rod when updating my zen cart the manager popped up a warning that there was a ozpost module upgrade Version V2.0.9
I am looking to download it but can only seem to find version V2.0.8 please could you point me to the very latest update as this module is so good and works well for me.
Thank
Steve

I've no idea why the site admins are taking so long with releasing this update, but the latest version can always be downloaded from ozpost.net

Cheers
Rod

Dear Rod

I am testing out the ozpost and I tried to checkout an item 36 x 13 x 17 cm , the 3kg regular satchel option still appears however in fact this item can't fit entirely inside 3kg regular satchel. I need to adjust by changing one side 13cm to 14cm.

I am wondering how does ozpost calculate whether item fit or not fit in satchel? what volume does ozpost use for 500g and 3kg satchel?

Thanks.

zekin:

I am wondering how does ozpost calculate whether item fit or not fit in satchel?

Good question. I don't think anyone has asked before.

It was a tough call on how to make this determination, and I ended up using the length and girth measurements. I then used a number of objects to pack the bags out to various shapes (eg, teatowels, books), taking note of how much of the length was being lost due to distortion and then adjusted numbers down to suit.

Example: The 3gk bag measures 40x30 'flat' - This gives a (theortical) max length of 40 and girth of 60 (think of a single sheet of paper)

Packed out with teatowels to produce a tubular shape (like a rolled up sleeping bag) distorts the ends so the max length that will actually fit is about 37cm, so this is what the module uses (along with weight).

zekin:

what volume does ozpost use for 500g and 3kg satchel?
Thanks.

Don't know, I haven't factored that in. Also, be aware that the Fastway satchels are a different size to the Australia post ones. I am assuming you are referring to the AustraliaPost ones?

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod, yes I meant AUpost's satchel.

Satchel is useful IF the customer is so far away from you. eg WA vs QLD. However if the software judges the items can fit in satchel but in fact it can't, there will be a little problem because need to communicate with customer for postage correction etc.

When you say about max length of 40 and girth of 60, I do have some thought and I like to share with you.

A 30x40 satchel's max length is 40 when you are sending a sheet of paper. in reality the box is 3D, so the 40 x 30 satchel should be able to fit a box with (sum of its length and width) x 2 equals to 80, and (the sum of last side and width) x 2 equals to 60.
So having this sort of algorithm, maybe we could validate if the items can be fit in the satchel.

I have thought about using volume to validate but i realise there will be a problem. Since (W+L)x2 = 80 and (W+H)x2 = 60, so we can work out what the W, L and H be and then work out the possible volumes. But... now i did some mathematics.
If a box has 20 x 20 x 10 (this can fit the satchel by checking with above formula), it has 4000cc.
if a box has 15 x 25 x 15 (this fits too), but it has 5625cc

So my conclusion is that maybe we can just validate the L , W and H and forget about volume.

FYI In case anyone has a problem fitting items in the 5kg bag.

My Australia Post office tells me that with the 5kg Express satchels, you are allowed to leave the perferated confirmation slip on the bag if required to fit something in the bag. I only asked this as I have one product that will not fit by about 3cm in length. The only problem with this being you will need to right down the details which normally goes on this slip and get it stamped for tracking.

Cheers

zekin:

When you say about max length of 40 and girth of 60, I do have some thought and I like to share with you.

Sure... :no:

zekin:

A 30x40 satchel's max length is 40 when you are sending a sheet of paper. in reality the box is 3D,

Yes, so is a sheet of paper (3D)... and 2 sheets, 5, 10, and 500 sheets.

The 'problem' is that we need to fit a 3d object into an object with only 2 known dimensions.

zekin:

so the 40 x 30 satchel should be able to fit a box with (sum of its length and width) x 2 equals to 80, and (the sum of last side and width) x 2 equals to 60.

Errr, why are we doubling the sum of the length by width? I don't quite follow.

Girth = L x (2W + 2H)
The largest item that will fit (theoretically) is Length 40cm x Girth 60cm

zekin:

So my conclusion is that maybe we can just validate the L , W and H and forget about volume.

Consider the volume as being forgotten already. :smile:

The current code already does what you are suggesting, namely, comparing the length (which has a known limit of 40cm max). and the width/height of the actual parcel (by calculating the girth) and comparing it with the max girth that will fit into the satchel.

It isn't possible to use the absolute values for width or height, because the satchel itself is variable in that it can range anwhere between 0 x30cm to 30x0, with a mid value being 15x15.

Using this method, your parcel measuring 36 x 13 x 17 cm should just fit. Clearly this isn't the case, so which dimension do I need to adjust in order to force a pass/fail ?

You previously stated "I need to adjust by changing one side 13cm to 14cm".
Just to clarify, you need to do this to make the Satchel to not appear as an option? - Which means the server needs to test against lower values to force a 'fail' status.

This is entirely possible; for 2 reasons. 1. The 'worst possible length' check wasn't necesarily taken under the worst possible condition, and 2, I haven't made any allowance for 'tightness of fit' of the girth. I am quite happy to adjust any/either of these (downwards) in order to avoid false positives. All I need know is by how much and in what dimension.

Using your numbers as an example, in order to make it work for you the server will need to fail the 'isSatchel' if it tested against a girth of 59cm rather than the current 60cm?

If I do that, will the length also be an issue?

<30 seconds later>
OK, I've tweaked the girth check .. Please lemme know if your parcel succesfully fails now.

Cheers
Rod

ps. One of the aims of the ozpost module is to 'protect the merchant', so on this basis I'd rather have the module NOT show an option where it could rather than show it when it shouldn't. (is that double speak or what?)

rick99:

FYI In case anyone has a problem fitting items in the 5kg bag.

My Australia Post office tells me that with the 5kg Express satchels, you are allowed to leave the perferated confirmation slip on the bag if required to fit something in the bag. I only asked this as I have one product that will not fit by about 3cm in length. The only problem with this being you will need to right down the details which normally goes on this slip and get it stamped for tracking.

Cheers

Thanks for the advice, but this tells me that I need to tweak the pass/fail figures a little in order to avoid this situation. As of now the check for valid length has been reduced by 4cm (from 50 to 46). Like the satchels themselves, this isn't set in concrete and may be subject to further tweaking if and when advised.

Cheers
Rod

RodG:

Errr, why are we doubling the sum of the length by width? I don't quite follow.

Because a satchel when it is flat it's 40cm long right? , but it actually have two sides, front and back, so, imagine this 40cm of front and back form a 3d shape, then this 3d shape must have 80cm , theoretically 2 x one side and 2 x adjacent side (a rectangle has 4 sides) formed by the back of satchel (40cm) and the front of satchel (another 40cm).

hmm headache. :blink:

Am I on right track?

RodG:

<30 seconds later>
OK, I've tweaked the girth check .. Please lemme know if your parcel succesfully fails now.

Hi, just to report you, yes it fails now.

zekin:

Because a satchel when it is flat it's 40cm long right? , but it actually have two sides, front and back, so, imagine this 40cm of front and back form a 3d shape, then this 3d shape must have 80cm , theoretically 2 x one side and 2 x adjacent side (a rectangle has 4 sides) formed by the back of satchel (40cm) and the front of satchel (another 40cm).

hmm headache. :blink:

Am I on right track?

Oh yes I think I can explain with girth

Let's assume L is the longest, L > W > H

Girth = (W+H)*2
see max girth is 60cm because it's satchel's width 30cm x 2. If you take object's Length in consideration, it can work the same way, the max "(L + H) x 2" should be 80.

I believe this is the validation check that you can make sure the box can fit in a satchel or not.