ozpost shipping module

jazzah:

Damn that stuffs me up as we don't use regular post anymore,

There has been no change to the way regular post is handled. The changes affect satchels only, so I can't see how it will 'stuff you up'.

As I said, if you wish to revert to the old behaviour just enable ALL satchels.

jazzah:

it must be express or registered so there is some tracking. Also we don't have the Xl satchels.....

I don't currently see your problem, because it was for merchants that don't use the XL satchels that these recent changes were made (The code left a 'hole' whereby if the items were XL sized and these were disabled, as you do/did then if no other valid quotes were possible the static rates were being used). The recent changes fixed this hole by returnting the data for all satchels if some of them are disabled, therefore reverting the filtering back to the client rather than the server.

jazzah:

not sure what to do now.

That makes two of us..... What is worse, having parcels being quoted static rates because they happen to be the same size as a disabled satchel, or having the larger sized satchels shown (where allowed) as well as the most suitable sized one?

Where was you when I was asking for user input and suggestions in regards to this matter?

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpost.php?p=976627&postcount=1405

Anyways, hopefully you can see the problem(s) and again, if you have any suggested solutions I'm all ears..

If I need to choose between the old and the new methods it'll be a case of the vocal majority wins.

Cheers
Rod

Is it necessary to include the following islands in the zones setup, or are they deemed part of the bracketed states shown:

Norfolk Is (NSW)
Cocos (Keeling) Is (NSW)
Christmas Is (NSW)
Antarctic Territories (TAS)

Thanks in advance.

dw08gm:

Is it necessary to include the following islands in the zones setup, or are they deemed part of the bracketed states shown:

Norfolk Is (NSW)
Cocos (Keeling) Is (NSW)
Christmas Is (NSW)
Antarctic Territories (TAS)

Thanks in advance.

The ozpost module doesn't use anything from the zones settings, so the answer has to be 'no'.

However, if you are having problems/issues with these locations it is more than likely that it is somerthing I need to fix or cater for on the server..
I know I had to make some special allowance for Norfolk Island for some reason (I can't remember offhand why), but I don't recall having to do anything special for the others.

Cheers
Rod

RodG:

Apparently :-)

This is the code used for checking the 500gm Satchels

if (($weight <= 500) && ((($width + $height) * 2 ) <= (220 * 2)) && ((($length + $height) * 2 ) <= (353 * 2) ) && ($length <= 353) && ($width <= 220) )

I'm not seeing where I've gone wrong.. can you?

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod, today we had an order for the following,

Debugging informationItem 1-1Tinkerbell Icing SetParcel Weight 90gms Items 1Weight 99gms Dimensions 11.00 x 7.30 x 4.00 11.00 x 7.30 x 4 Cube / Weight 321.2cc / 0.0803Kgs 321.2cc / 0.0803Kgs Item 2-1Tinkerbell Cake TinParcel Weight 160gms Items 2Weight 275gms Dimensions 30.00 x 29.00 x 5.00 30.00 x 29.00 x 9 Cube / Weight 4350cc / 1.0875Kgs 7830cc / 1.9575Kgs Item 3-1Thomas the Tank Happy Birthday BannerParcel Weight 88gms Items 3Weight 371.8gms Dimensions 19.00 x 19.00 x 1.00 30.00 x 29.00 x 10 Cube / Weight 361cc / 0.09025Kgs 8700cc / 2.175Kgs Calculated: Length=30.00cm, Width=29.00cm, Height=10.00cm, Weight=371gms, NumBoxes=1

There is no way this would ever fit into a 500gm satchel but that is what came up. I know it is under 500grms weight but the size does not fit. Is there something I am doing wrong?

re the satchels, we use satchels, but do not offer regular ones, as we register everything or express post orders. So I can't have them all selected.

Here is the other debug info

<quote><id>RPP</id><cost>5.80</cost><days>2</days><description>Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>EXP</id><cost>8.40</cost><days>1</days><description>Express Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>REG</id><cost>8.75</cost><days>3</days><description>Registered Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>RPPi</id><cost>8.75</cost><days>3</days><description>Insured Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>FWS</id><cost>10.10</cost><days>1</days><description>FastWay Satchel (A5/A2 BLUE)</description></quote><quote><id>EXPi</id><cost>11.35</cost><days>1</days><description>Insured Express Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>FWL</id><cost>12.10</cost><days>1</days><description>FastWay Labels (RED)</description></quote><quote><id>PLT</id><cost>12.30</cost><days>1</days><description>Platinum Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>PPSE3XL</id><cost>14.60</cost><days>1</days><description>3kg XL Express Satchel</description></quote><quote><id>PLTi</id><cost>15.25</cost><days>1</days><description>Insured Platinum Parcel under 500gm</description></quote><quote><id>COD</id><cost>16.30</cost><days>3</days><description>Cash On Delivery </description></quote><quote><id>PPSE5K</id><cost>19.10</cost><days>1</days><description>5kg Express Satchel</description></quote><quote><id>PPSE5KXL</id><cost>21.15</cost><days>1</days><description>5kg XL Express Satchel</description></quote><information>
<server>74.55.148.130</server>
<timestamp>Tue Feb 01, 2011 19:36 (SA Server Time)</timestamp>
<requesttime>20:06 (VIC Store Time)</requesttime>
<postdate>Wed 2nd of Feb</postdate>
<insurance>2.95</insurance>
<egoinsurance>0.00</egoinsurance>
<registration>2.95</registration>
<fromsuburb>LANGWARRIN</fromsuburb>
<destsuburb>ADELAIDE</destsuburb>
<expires>221</expires>
</information>
</quotes>

jazzah:

Length=30.00cm, Width=29.00cm, Height=10.00cm, Weight=371gms
There is no way this would ever fit into a 500gm satchel but that is what came up.

According to the debug info you posted the smallest sized satchel that could/should have been displayed was the 3kg XL

jazzah:

I know it is under 500grms weight but the size does not fit. Is there something I am doing wrong?

No, but you are providing conflicting information.

jazzah:

re the satchels, we use satchels, but do not offer regular ones, as we register everything or express post orders. So I can't have them all selected.

Then only select those you allow, and hope your customers are clever enough to select the 3kg option during the times where both are displayed.

jazzah:

Here is the other debug info

Thanks, but according to the debug info you posted the smallest sized satchel that could/should have been displayed was the 3kg XL.

Hmmm, I've been thinking this was a server based error... but for the debug and your statements to both be true it can only be a client side error.

Quite probably nothing that you have done wrong, but I do still need to verify/replicate the problem because presenting satchels that are too small to fit really isn't part of the design (presenting those that are larger, is).

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod, The invoice for that order shows the following
Sub-Total: $52.65 Australia Post (Express Parcel under 500gm): $9.40 GST (10% tax included): $5.64 Total: $62.05 Party Date : 13/02/2011

which is the 500gm express post price.

Also happy for you to give you details to log and see for yourself if you want!

Jazzah

jazzah:

Hi Rod, The invoice for that order shows the following
Sub-Total: $52.65 Australia Post (Express Parcel under 500gm): $9.40 GST (10% tax included): $5.64 Total: $62.05 Party Date : 13/02/2011

which is the 500gm express post price.

Sorry, but I don't see the problem???????

You WERE telling me that the 500gm SATCHELS were incorrectly showing up. This is not a satchel quote.

Rod

jazzah:

Also happy for you to give you details to log and see for yourself if you want!

Jazzah

This shouldn't be neccesary, but it would help if you could clearly explain exactly what your current problem is.

Yes, the code HAS changed. Yes, it DOES work differently now, but you are making claims/statements that are not being supported by the evidence that you are presenting. Logging on "to see for myself" isn't going to help a thing unless I know what I'm looking for.

I've already spent a fair bit of time in your store, replicating the order from the details you provided earlier, and this replication told me exactly the same as I'd theorised, the 500gm Satchels are/were not going show up in spite of your statement to the contrary.

And now, even though you present evidence that you aren't refering to satchels after all <????> "Australia Post (Express Parcel under 500gm): $9.40 " you are happy to state "which is the 500gm express post price".

I don't know if you are intentionally being misleading, or possibly just not aware that "Express Parcel under 500gm" is not the same as a "500gm Prepaid satchel", but so far I've not found a scrap of evidence to support your complaint that the 500gm satchels are showing where they shouldn't, in fact everything you have shown me so far has indicated that this is not the case.

I consider this case closed until/unless you present positive proof of your claim.

Cheers
Rod

The arrogance in your reply obviously shows me you are over defending yourself. The ozpost website when i look had no pricing on it. Actually the thread on this forum you were defending yourself for not having pricing readily available so i gave up. I searched for hours for a clear answer.

As for knowing price as to weather it is suitable to my needs if i didnt know what i was being charged then i have no way of gauging if its suitable to my needs. New businesses starting out need to know how much its going to cost.

On your website now it says 60 days free.Upgrade for $5.00 a month but a 12 month subscription is $94. As a business owner who thinks this could be a good module to use im not willing to take a second look unless the person im doing business with has full disclosure of costs associated with their product.

I dont need to go into any detail on how i intend to ship if the person i would consider doing business with cant even openly disclose how much there going to charge me.

RyanK

First of all I am not associated with Rod but a customer of his for a long time and I know the time and effort over the years that Rod has put into this and the asisstance that he has offered to so many people of the zen community.

You say that the prices are hard to find . They are clearly stated on his web site http://shop.vcsweb.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=43&products_id=207

There, it also clearly states: "under $5.00per month. (36 month subscription)". The 12 months is $94.95 which provides still a nice saving over the other options. How much more clear you need it to be?

Rod has never hidden the prices and has always kept everyone uptodate with everything (sometimes I wonder when does he sleeps). How many other systems are for free with a Post office module (plus everything else) that offer a 60 days trial? Personally I know none and believe me that I have spend plenty of time searching.

By the way I have been using the module for years and never had a problem.

As it looks like that you are new to zen cart maybe you want to try everything first including the free 60 day trial from Rod before you start making complains. Who knows maybe zen-cart is not for you and you can go and find one of the many systems where you can pay for everything huge amounts of money, just a thought :-)

My apologies for going on but when someone is unfair to a member of the community then the community needs to open its mouth and it is nothing personal as such.

hi rod

sometime in the last couple of days the only post method is walk in, everything is set and enabled as it should be for the ozpost module but it only shows walk in

how/why could the ozpost module stop working ?

netgirlz:

sometime in the last couple of days the only post method is walk in, everything is set and enabled as it should be for the ozpost module but it only shows walk in

how/why could the ozpost module stop working ?

I need more info, but the first question is, has your subscription expired? (I can't check this without knowing your store name or URL).

You can also try enabling thje DEBUG option to see if that offers any clues.

Cheers
Rod

RyanK:

As for knowing price as to weather it is suitable to my needs if i didnt know what i was being charged then i have no way of gauging if its suitable to my needs.

Your logic is flawed. The first thing you need to do is determine whether any given software is going to be suitable for your needs. The cost/charges associated with that software should always be of secondary importance.

If the software doesn't do what you need then it doesn't matter if it is free or costs $1million. The cost has no bearing on functionality.

Only AFTER you have identified suitable software for your needs is the time to compare the cost benefits of what is available.

I beleive I have already determined from some of your other posts that ozpost probably doesn't suit your needs, so, since it is of no use to you I will be happy to let you use it** totally free for as long as it is unsuitable.**

There. you can now make your business decision about which shipping module(s) to use without having to worry about the costs and charges. :smile:

Cheers
Rod

I need more info, but the first question is, has your subscription expired? (I can't check this without knowing your store name or URL).

You can also try enabling thje DEBUG option to see if that offers any clues.

Cheers
Rod

Hi rod

we are running an old version of ozpost (v 1.02) and were not aware of the subscription, this morning we took out the 3yr subscription option, but it is still only showing store walk in

the debug info appears to be showing the correct info

the store url = http://www.babycarriages.com.au

the store has been operating faultlessly for over 2 yrs

what else can be causing this error ?

netgirlz:

we are running an old version of ozpost (v 1.02) and were not aware of the subscription,

The subscriptions are for access to the server, not the client software.

I suggest that you check your spam filters and/or the mail originating from the contact form of your website, because I have sent at least three personal mails to you via this method over the last few months and apparently you haven't recieved any of them :-(

netgirlz:

this morning we took out the 3yr subscription option, but it is still only showing store walk in

It should be working now (it can take a few hours for me to process the orders). Yours was done in less than two :-)

netgirlz:

the store has been operating faultlessly for over 2 yrs

Well, ALMOST faultlessly... the shipping module has only been providing static quotes since last September (When your free trial period expired), and it probably stopped working completely just a few days ago. The emails I sent via your contact form was to warn/inform you about these impending actions/changes.

Also, now that I know who you are (or more specifically, the name of your store) you should be pleased to know that I have actually gone out of my way and made special efforts to try to contact you ... The reason... according to our log files, your store is among the top ten most active zencart stores in Australia (#7). congratulations,

Anyway, sorry for any disruption caused, but again, please do check that messages sent via your contact form are being recieved, because if you missed mine you could also be missing many others

Cheers
Rod.

ps. It might also be worthwhile upgrading your ozpost module at some stage in order to take advantage of the various courier options, which will be ideal for some of your larger items.

Hi Rod, It would be great to know who the top 10 most active zencart stores are in Australia, that way we can support them some more. Are you able to share? Would anyone have any concerned about sharing this?

Ok I have done a search and have not been able to locate an answer to my question. But am also here slightly anxious that I am going to ask something stupid and waste your time. Which I honestly never intend to do, even when the bleeding obvious is staring me in the face!

So here goes and please be gentle if I have missed it.

We have had a number of orders recently that have come out flat rate as they have exceeded the girth for Australia Post. The problem is a customer put through a massive order and was only charged $25 postage to get to rural WA from Melbourne and has refused to pay more. This leaves me in a really horrible situation, do I refund the massive order or take it on the chin and not make a profit after postage eats it all? (its not quite that massive to make up for the postage shortfall)

Is is possible to have customers be advised they will be provided with a postage cost within 24 hours? or to contact us for one? instead of the flat rate for exceeded dimensions?

Thanks
Jazzah

jazzah:

Hi Rod, It would be great to know who the top 10 most active zencart stores are in Australia, that way we can support them some more. Are you able to share?

Able, Yes. Willing, No.

jazzah:

Would anyone have any concerned about sharing this?

The reason I'm not willing is because someone in the list is sure to be concerned and possibly claim misappropriate use of data. In reality, the only data kept is a 'hit counter' for each store, and this isn't a valid guide on its own, as some stores display shipping quotes on the shopping cart page, others only show them when the estimate shipping button is clicked, and I haven't taken OsCommerce into account, which only uses the server during checkout.

I'm happy to provide individual store owners their own data if/qhen asked though.

Cheers
Rod

jazzah:

But am also here slightly anxious that I am going to ask something stupid and waste your time.

I'm sorry you feel that way.

jazzah:

Which I honestly never intend to do, even when the bleeding obvious is staring me in the face!

I always have great difficulty telling people they are missing the obvious without causing offense. I never intend to, after all, offense is something taken, not given.

jazzah:

So here goes and please be gentle if I have missed it.

You want me to lie to you, and tell you how clever you are for missing the obvious? Surely you'll see through such obvious falsehoods?

jazzah:

We have had a number of orders recently that have come out flat rate as they have exceeded the girth for Australia Post.

Tip#1: Enable one of the couriers to provide quotes under these conditions.

Tip#2: Setting the static rate to 'per item' or 'per kilo' is a better safety net than the 'per order' setting if this is likely to be a common occurence.

Tip#3: Set the 'constrain dimensions' to "Yes". (This will avoid quotes being rejected based on size alone). The suitabilty of this option depends on 3 factors: 1. the size of your products. 2: your ability to 'pack' the items more efficiently than the computer, and 3. Basic physics.. Items take up space, and the more items you add the more space they will take. sooner or later this option will provide quotes for physically impossible to create parcels.

jazzah:

The problem is a customer put through a massive order and was only charged $25 postage to get to rural WA from Melbourne and has refused to pay more.
This leaves me in a really horrible situation, do I refund the massive order or take it on the chin and not make a profit after postage eats it all? (its not quite that massive to make up for the postage shortfall)

I would be assuring the customer that the quoted shipping cost was a mistake and informing them of the actual shipping cost (keeping in mind that if the girth is too large you won't be able to use AustraliaPost anyway).

If they aren't willing to negotiate a compromise then cancel the order and run like hell, they are probably trying to scam you anyway.. Besides, do you REALLY want a continuing relationship with such an unforgiving customer?

How much of a compromise is something only you and they can decide. It is rarely ever worth taking a full loss in these situations because the customer is unlikly to return anyway, and if/when you do come to a compromise the customer will still see that you have given them a break and they will look favourably on you in the future... possibly more so than if the transaction went without an issue.

jazzah:

Is is possible to have customers be advised they will be provided with a postage cost within 24 hours? or to contact us for one?

This is very ill advsed... Online shoppers want to buy it now and have it shipped tomorrow... telling them to wait 24 hours in order to get final costs is akin to putting up a closed sign on you store,

jazzah:

instead of the flat rate for exceeded dimensions?

As well as the options/tips mentioned above, if you enter a value of zero in the static rate field it will effectively disable the module if a valid quote cannot be obtained.

My personal preference is to enable one of the online couriers.. Although I've never actually USED one of them, the quotes they provide are not subject to the Australia Post limitations so a valid quote is almost always available... and if someone does happen to order using one of these couriers, then why not? It's not like you need to sign your life away to set up an account with them...

My next personal fav setting is 'cost per kg', because this is the closest to reality...

Ideally, a pair of settings would provide the best solution.. $xx for 1st Kg and $yy for each subsequent kg. This isn't on any future plans though, after all it IS only supposed to be a fallback setting and not something designed for daily use.

Cheers
Rod