AustPost 2.1.3 Handling Fees

Hi Rod.

I've upgraded to ZC 1.3.8a and AustPost 2.1.3 Thanks for the upgrades.

It seems that Registered Post and Express Post Handling Fees are not added to the basic Parcel or Letter Handling Fee, but replace the base Handling Fees. I post at both 'letter' and 'parcel' rates and the total charges are inconsistent.

For example,

I set the Parcel Handling Fee to $1.00 to cover the cost of the padded bag, and the Letter Handling Fee to $0.20 to cover the cost of the envelope, etc. All other Handling Fees are set to zero just for testing.

A large letter is charged :
Normal = postage + $0.20 (correct)
Registered = postage + $0.00 + registration (no charge for the envelope)
Express Post not offered for letters, should be available.

A parcel is charged :
Normal = postage + $1.00 (correct)
Registered = postage + $0.00 + registration (no charge for the padded bag)
Express = postage + $0.00 (no charge for the padded bag)

Next, I set Registered Post Handling Fee and Express Post Handling Fee to $1.50 for testing, to include the cost of the padded bag.

A large letter is charged :
Normal = postage + $0.20 (correct)
Registered = postage + $1.50 + registration (too expensive for envelope)
Express Post not offered for letters, should be available.

A parcel is charged :
Normal = postage + $1.00 (correct)
Registered = postage + $1.50 + registration
Express = postage + $1.50

Either way, there is no combination of Handling Fees that arrives at correct charges for both "letters" and "parcels".

My suggestion is that the Letter Handling Fee and the Parcel Handling Fee should be the basic charge for that type of item, to cover the cost of packaging. Then add the Registered Post Handling Fee or the Express Post Handling Fee, separately, to the base charge.

Prepaid Satchel Handling Fees work ok.

Thanks, Steve.

Both Tares are set to 0:0 for testing.

FoneGuy:

Hi Rod.

My suggestion is that the Letter Handling Fee and the Parcel Handling Fee should be the basic charge for that type of item, to cover the cost of packaging. Then add the Registered Post Handling Fee or the Express Post Handling Fee, separately, to the base charge.

Thanks, Steve.

That does seem to make sense, and as you are probably aware this is pretty much how it processes the handling fees for insured items.
The question is, I now need to ask myself WHY I didn't use the same method for the registration fees... I'm sure it wasn't an oversight and I would have considered it at the time (I think), so I suspect there is some other reason for doing it differently.

I'll certainly take another look at this when I next revisit the code (alas, I am way to busy with other projects to take a look into it now).

Cheers
Rod