robbie269:
Could you please explain the "Use Core Weight" and "Restrain Dimensions" options to me.
I can try :-)
Under 'normal conditions', the zencart core code calculates the number of parcels needed, and their weights, based on the settings in the shipping/packing configuration. It then makes this information avalaible to the shipping module(s). This isn't/wasn't really suitable for my needs, where the total weight and volume was more important than this simple parcel splitting, so up until recently, the ozpost ignored the zencart supplied values and calculated its own (the main difference being with the tare weights, which many found troublesome anyway).
The "Use Core Weight" setting is giving back the abilty to use the zencart supplied values, which also includes the creation of multiple parcels based on weight. The ozpost method assumes a single parcel only, regardless of weight.
The "Restrain Dimensions" option will limit the dimensions of any given parcel being quoted so that it will never fail a quote due to its size alone, for example, the max length item that australia post will accept is 105cm - so if the ozpost module calculates the parcel as being (say) 120cm long (which would normally fail to produce a quote), it will instead provide a quote for an item only 105cm long ... IOW, it'll be quoted based on weight alone.
This is very useful if you know that your products aren't subject to the cubing rules.
robbie269:
The reason I want to know is that I post these crystal cubes that are quite heavy for their size. The postage works out OK until someone orders more that 17 of them and then it reverts to customer pickup only.
This will almost certainly be a result of 'apparent oversize' due to the cubes being stacked into a single column, and yes, setting the 'restrain dimensions' will alleviate this problem for you. This is exactly the situation that this option was created to for).
robbie269:
To fix this recently I chose "yes" to the core weight and restrain dimension options. This seemed OK and put the postage across multiple parcels as I hoped.
However, when someone ordered a bracelet that should only be a letter it made it a parcel and tried to charge $16.00!
I can only guess that like most other Australian merchants, you haven't set/configured the zencart tare weights yet, and by default, this is set to a value of '3' (whether this is 3kg or 3gms is dependent on the 'Kgs/gms' setting in the ozpost module). Just to confuse matters, it'll probably appear as '3lbs' in some places (unless you've modified your language files).
Anyway, my guess is that this is why the bracelet appeared so heavy.
Another possible, but related reason could be that this is also where the 'max weight' settings are, if this is set at something like '20', and you have ozpost using 'gms', and the bracelet is weighted at 100gms, then the quote will be for 5, probably 6 parcels, each weighing a little under your 20gm maximum.
robbie269:
I have since reverted back to choosing "no" to both options as the majority of the time it calculated correctly.
What is the solution for the cubes when ordered in bulk?
Ideally, if you are doing a lot of bulk sales, then the best method by far is to 'prepackage' the items and use the weights/dimensions for the bulk 'product' as this will give you the greatest accuracy and allow more products into any given cart.
However, if you aren't quite ready for bulk sales, and considering what you are selling, I would suggest that setting the 'restrain dimensions' to 'yes' and the 'use core weights' to 'no' will produce accurate results for all situations... the only time you'll come unstuck is if you do actually sell enough stones/jewelry in a single order that it'll be too large for most carriers to handle, but in that case, I suspect postage costs won't be an issue anyway :-)
Cheers
Rod
