Australian shipping rates and dimensions

Hello,

I would like to hear from Australian shops regarding their shipping mods they are using.
Does anyone uses the Auspost mod? I want to use it but a lot of the threads out there say its buggy.
My customer does not want to pay a monthly fee for the Ozpost mod.

Does anyone know of a dimensions mod? My client has a pawn shop and an item may be bulky but light.

I was planning on using the table rate using Australia post pre-paid satchels as a guide and adding a handling fee as the customer says thats for bubble wrap etc.. We will be shipping to all over Australia.

What do other Zenner's suggest? I keenly await your answers :smile:

Zone Rates only.

Have been using Australia Post (satchels, both Express and Parcel Service) since 2007. To OS destinations only shipping Express Courier International or Registered Air Mail Intl (up to 2kg). All of these mods are cloned Zone Rates modules with different language files.

Just need to update my rates as they change with Australia Post - no big deal.

Also offering Store Pickup / Local Delivery to local post codes only (see PDP in my signature).

I think what I'll be doing is setting up table rate for pre-paid satchels up to a certain weight then for the parcels after that weight I will use their experienced "guesstimate" on how much it costs to ship items from each category and see how that goes.
It would be good if there was a dimensions mod. I saw one by numinix but it's for UPS and other USA style couriers.
I am planning on adding on the austpostcode mod too.

Annie_zaz:

Hello,

I would like to hear from Australian shops regarding their shipping mods they are using.
Does anyone uses the Auspost mod? I want to use it but a lot of the threads out there say its buggy.

Not only buggy - but this is a RIPOFF of my own ozpost code - Hacked and released to avoid paying the modest subscription fees that cover the ongoing updates, support and the running of the ozpost servers.

Annie_zaz:

My customer does not want to pay a monthly fee for the Ozpost mod.

Most Ozpost subscribers are happy to pay because it SAVES them money. It'll never underquote (as long as product data is correct). It is also 100% tax deductible.

Annie_zaz:

I was planning on using the table rate using Australia post pre-paid satchels as a guide and adding a handling fee as the customer says thats for bubble wrap etc.. We will be shipping to all over Australia.

The Ozpost module is rather unique. It is the only module (for any Ecommerce system) that takes product dimensions into account when it comes to prepaid satchels. All others I've seen go by weight only - and anyone with experience will tell you that a product (or products) weighing under 500gm doesn't always fit the 500gm satchels - So a 3kg Satchel is needed instead - Loss to merchant = $5.15 per order.
Sometimes even a 5kg Satchel will be needed - Loss to merchant ~$9.00.

The merchant only needs to suffer 10 of these losses a year before they start costing more the the ozpost subscriptions.

The ozpost module also has some very powerful packing algorithms. Whereas many modules perform a simple 'stack', the ozpost module will 'pack' as many items into a given size satchel that will physically fit - Other modules will require either multiple stachels, a satxchel that is larger than actually needed, or negate the satchels entirely and fall back to parcel rates.

Annie_zaz:

What do other Zenner's suggest? I keenly await your answers :smile:

The old hacked 'auspost' still mostly works - it is no worse than any other 'simple' module.
Frank18 has a Zonerates module that he's developed for Australian users,

.... but for serious merchants - Nothing comes close to ozpost - (not just ZenCart, but for any of them).

The ozpost system (it is far more than just a 'shipping module' - has been designed specifically for merchants (as opposed to just supplying customer quotes). It has be devised with two 'prime directives'

1. PROTECT THE MERCHANT. (It will NOT underquote)
2. Provide the best possible quote for the customers. Regardless of the size, weight and quantity of the product(s) added to the cart.

Ozpost subscribers also get support above and beyond the ozpost module itself - Many supporters have had custom modifications added to cater for specific needs, and I've even provided free help and support for any other issues they've had with their store (beyond the help I provide in the forums).

..... and guess what - after taking the running and maintenance costs of the three independent ozpost servers and the ongoing development and updates to the various ozpost modules, I've still yet to turn a profit.

Just my 2cents worth. :-)

Cheers
RodG

RodG:

Not only buggy - but this is a RIPOFF of my own ozpost code - Hacked and released to avoid paying the modest subscription fees that cover the ongoing updates, support and the running of the ozpost servers.

Most Ozpost subscribers are happy to pay because it SAVES them money. It'll never underquote (as long as product data is correct). It is also 100% tax deductible.

The Ozpost module is rather unique. It is the only module (for any Ecommerce system) that takes product dimensions into account when it comes to prepaid satchels. All others I've seen go by weight only - and anyone with experience will tell you that a product (or products) weighing under 500gm doesn't always fit the 500gm satchels - So a 3kg Satchel is needed instead - Loss to merchant = $5.15 per order.
Sometimes even a 5kg Satchel will be needed - Loss to merchant ~$9.00.

The merchant only needs to suffer 10 of these losses a year before they start costing more the the ozpost subscriptions.

The ozpost module also has some very powerful packing algorithms. Whereas many modules perform a simple 'stack', the ozpost module will 'pack' as many items into a given size satchel that will physically fit - Other modules will require either multiple stachels, a satxchel that is larger than actually needed, or negate the satchels entirely and fall back to parcel rates.

The old hacked 'auspost' still mostly works - it is no worse than any other 'simple' module.
Frank18 has a Zonerates module that he's developed for Australian users,

.... but for serious merchants - Nothing comes close to ozpost - (not just ZenCart, but for any of them).

The ozpost system (it is far more than just a 'shipping module' - has been designed specifically for merchants (as opposed to just supplying customer quotes). It has be devised with two 'prime directives'

1. PROTECT THE MERCHANT. (It will NOT underquote)
2. Provide the best possible quote for the customers. Regardless of the size, weight and quantity of the product(s) added to the cart.

Ozpost subscribers also get support above and beyond the ozpost module itself - Many supporters have had custom modifications added to cater for specific needs, and I've even provided free help and support for any other issues they've had with their store (beyond the help I provide in the forums).

..... and guess what - after taking the running and maintenance costs of the three independent ozpost servers and the ongoing development and updates to the various ozpost modules, I've still yet to turn a profit.

Just my 2cents worth. :-)

Cheers
RodG

Hi Rod,
Thanks for your response. I would happily use the Ozpost mod but unfortunately my client is a bit on the cheap side.
I have already mentioned this Ozpost mod to my client.
We'll see how we go with their shipping costs and if they are taking losses I will remind them of this mod.

RodG:

....
Frank18 has a Zonerates module that he's developed for Australian users, ....

Just for the record, the only shipping module I have ever developed is PDP (Product Delivery By Postcode - local delivery only) and it is not only for Australian stores - and not related to or cloned from OzPost

Annie_zaz:

Hi Rod,
Thanks for your response. I would happily use the Ozpost mod but unfortunately my client is a bit on the cheap side.
I have already mentioned this Ozpost mod to my client.
We'll see how we go with their shipping costs and if they are taking losses I will remind them of this mod.

I ran that module once on a trial basis but found it a bit of an overkill for my personal purposes (my items are small and predictable).

But, having said that, I would recommend that module to anyone with very variable item sizes / weights etc. Also gives you the options to make use of many courier services. And as a heads up for your client, it would save him/her plenty - well worth the few bucks a year.

frank18:

Just for the record, the only shipping module I have ever developed is PDP (Product Delivery By Postcode - local delivery only) and it is not only for Australian stores - and not related to or cloned from OzPost

Apologies for the incorrect reference/name I gave to your PDP module. Thanks for the enlightenment that it isn't only for Australian Stores (I honestly thought it was) - Either way, I was pretty sure that it was all your own work and unrelated to the ozpost module, and hopefully I didn't imply or insinuate otherwise.

I am aware that it is an option that Australian merchants have available to them though, because I'm not (never have been) happy that 'ozpost' had a virtual monopoly - Which is why although I may gripe about the hacked 'AustPost' module I would never seek to have it removed from the ZenCart Add-ons, because it does provide that option to those that need 'free'.

One of these days I'm going to have to check out PDP for myself and hopefully I'll then feel a lot more confident in recommending it to other Australians as viable option to those (many) that don't need all the options/features that ozpost provides.

Cheers
RodG

RodG:

Apologies for the incorrect reference/name I gave to your PDP module. Thanks for the enlightenment that it isn't only for Australian Stores (I honestly thought it was) - Either way, I was pretty sure that it was all your own work and unrelated to the ozpost module, and hopefully I didn't imply or insinuate otherwise.

LOL, no probs RodG

RodG:

I am aware that it is an option that Australian merchants have available to them though, because I'm not (never have been) happy that 'ozpost' had a virtual monopoly - Which is why although I may gripe about the hacked 'AustPost' module I would never seek to have it removed from the ZenCart Add-ons, because it does provide that option to those that need 'free'.

One of these days I'm going to have to check out PDP for myself and hopefully I'll then feel a lot more confident in recommending it to other Australians as viable option to those (many) that don't need all the options/features that ozpost provides.

PDP also deals very well with the "odd" British postcodes. Feel free to incorporate it into OzPost if it appears handy for bulky or time / temperature sensitive products. In fact I recommend it for the use of my ASOC module - (auto store open close) which ties in well with a take-away shop.

frank18:

Just for the record, the only shipping module I have ever developed is PDP (Product Delivery By Postcode - local delivery only) and it is not only for Australian stores - and not related to or cloned from OzPost

Thanks for your post frank18 would you recommend your PDP for this store I am working on?
Does it help with setting up shipping rates for different states? I have created 3 hypothetical customers, Hannah, Fred and Wilma they all live in different states of Australia but they get charged the same shipping rate at checkout.
Does it let you set up a table rate with dimensions?
This shipping bizzo is doing my head in :dontgetit

Annie_zaz:

This shipping bizzo is doing my head in :dontgetit

Question. How many hows have you spent (so far) trying to get a suitable shipping solution? How much per hour are you charging the client for the effort that you are putting in?

Lets assume 4 hours @AU$25 p/h - Cost to the client so far = $100. Cost to the client if they allowed you to install the ozpost module ~$100.

You still don't have a viable solution.

OK, so ozpost requires a yearly subscription. Australia Post tend to increase their prices twice a year (around April & November), if you use a zone/table rate system you (or someone) will need to update this data twice a year. Who is going to pay for that, and will those costs exceed the ozpost annual subscription? Perhaps not if you do it, but personally I charge between $80-$100p/h for this kind of support (Yeah, I think I'm worth it. I can solve problems in 30 minutes that will take a less experienced person several hours). 30+ experience goes a long way.

My advice to you if the customer can't be convinced of the benefit of the ozpost service - Use the old/hacked 'AustPost module'. It does work well most of the time (after all, I created it with the same philosophy as the ozpost modules). its biggest issue being that the Australia Post quotation server is notoriously unreliable and a single point of failure (ozpost uses 3 independent servers so as to not replicate the flaws of the Australia Post servers/system), and that the Australia Post servers don't supply quotes for their satchels - The AustPost module has these rates 'hard coded' (so they need to be kept up to date. Not a difficult task, but something to be aware of). The packing algorithms used in the AustPost module aren't as good as the current ozpost methods either - so 'minimal' quotes for a given parcel can't be assured, but they are still good enough for most clients' needs.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make here is that if ozpost isn't suitable for your client, your next best option really is the AustPost module (for ease of use and minimal maintenance). Zone/Table rates are (in my experience) difficult to maintain, and depending on the packing algorithms used they are prone to quotation errors - sometimes underquoting, sometimes over quoting. It is the packing code that is the most complex part of any shipping module (which is why most will quote purely on weight alone, and where the errors tend to occur).

Just a little more food for thought.

Cheers
RodG

Annie_zaz:

Thanks for your post frank18 would you recommend your PDP for this store I am working on?
Does it help with setting up shipping rates for different states? I have created 3 hypothetical customers, Hannah, Fred and Wilma they all live in different states of Australia but they get charged the same shipping rate at checkout.
Does it let you set up a table rate with dimensions?
This shipping bizzo is doing my head in :dontgetit

PDP is designed to restrict certain products to local delivery only. As an example, someone may be selling packs of party ice. It is unlikely that this product would survive shipment over a long distance. So if the store is based in Sydney and the customer is located in Brisbane then they won't be able to use the cheaper 'local delivery only' method.

Basically PDP is an extension of the Store Pickup module. The PDP package contains a modified 'Store Pickup' module and the new 'Local Delivery Only' module.

To make either of the 2 work, they need to be installed and activated (naturally) and then certain delivery postcodes must be specified in the admin. If the customer resides within that postcode range then the methods are available to them. If they are outside that range then the modules won't show up during checkout.

If you want to set up table rates with dimensions then PDP may not be suitable for you. But Ozpost would do the trick hands down.