Fastway Courier, PostCode based shipping method

Okay, I finally found some time to get the Fastway shipping modules working for NZ with the new postcodes.

You can download the SQL file from here.

This postcodes are built from scratch using bits of information I managed to get hold of. I have installed it on my site and with limited testing it seems to be working fine.

I have set it up as regions, although Fastway essentially only use four zones but wanted to do this for my own reasons, such as development in the future. You can change this if you don't like it.

Here are the regions I set up and the code in the file.

1 Northland NTL
2 Auckland AUK
3 Waikato WKO
4 Bay of Plenty BOP
5 East Cape GIS
6 Hawke's Bay HKB
7 Taranaki TKI
8 Manawatu-Wanganui MWT
9 Wellington WGN
10 Tasman TAS
11 Nelson NSN
12 Marlborough MBH
13 West Coast WTC
14 Canterbury CAN
15 Otago OTA
16 Southland STL

And my zones:

1 = North Island
2 = South Island
3 = Auckland
4 = Rural (RD)
L = Local (Not used but plan to).

The Fastway Shipping module I used is here.

http://www.newmediastudio.com.au/zencart/fastsway_v1.0.1.zip

Just replace the 4 SQL Aussie scipts with the one above.

I do not guarantee that the zones in the SQL are 100% correct, although zone 4 (Rural) should be. There may be zones missing or incorrectly allocated to regions. If anyone notices anything then let me know.

John

Hey mate I'm trying to give you fastways mod a go but I seem to be getting some weird values on my shipping quotes ????

What global settings are you using in the admin/packaging & shipping ?

Also do I need to change my weights from grams back to kg for it to work ????

P.S. Nice to have some kiwi support on here :D

Cheers

Rian

Just wondering if anyone has managed to adjust the code of the Australian Fastway Module so that it checks the postcode AND the suburb/town ? I would think that this would be essential with so many suburbs (with differing rates) using the same postcode. Any ideas?
piker is offline Report Post Reply With Quote

Just wondering if anyone has managed to adjust the code of the Fastway Module so that it checks the postcode AND the suburb/town ? I would think that this would be essential with so many suburbs (with differing rates) using the same postcode. Any ideas?

:thumbsup: ok, I've managed to fix that..myself..now I want to fix the OTHER annoying feature of this mod - that ALL orders get quoted for a "Next Day" delivery, regardless of what the database says.
Again....any ideas?

Hi,

I've just started using the fastway module in NZ. I'm getting confused as to the meanings of f_delivery & f_zone. What I want to know is should it be possible to set a handling fee (for Rural Delivery) in say zone 4 and then add that to a Local delivery charge.

I note that the sql file has different codes for f_delivery & f_zone. But these don't seem to make a difference.

Any Ideas?

Mike.

does anyone know if there is a couriers please module?

Hi, ive been looking for a couriers please shipping module for quite some time and cant find one. if anyone can help or has any information, it would be greatly appreciated.

I am also looking for a couriers please shipping module.
Is there one available for sale or download anywhere?

Hi Piker,

How did you get the fastway module to check Postcodes against suburbs?

I've put a link to a postcode finder on my site, but customers are still entering the wrong postcodes - which in turn leaves them stuck in checkout.

Regards,

Mike

Morning,

It appears this thread is dead...but I shall try my luck.

I've been using the Fastway NZ module for a while now - and its mostly been working well. However, it breaks when someone enters and incorrect postcode.

Does anyone have any ideas of how to put a check in place when the customer enters their postcode or how to put a warning in place when the shipping screen come up telling them that they have entered an incorrect postcode?

Thanks,

Mike.

Hi Mike,

I have not noticed any problems with the fastway module up to now. Mind you putting in all the postcodes was a bit of a nightmare and I am sure some of it is incorrect.

I think on reflection it would be easier to divide the country up into areas and apply a shipping fee based on areas. Like or me I am in Auckland so I might have one for Auckland, Another for the rest of the North Island and another for the South Island. Trying to get the extra for rural shipping is hard also so may have to just go with the swings and roundabouts.

Do you sell by weight, quantity etc?

John

Hi,

We are based in Auckland. I have zones related to post code for the Fastway zones ie, metro, SH, NI, SI and also Auckland Rural, SHR, NIR and SI Rural - and all is working well - apart from those who enter an incorrect postcode getting stuck at checkout.

I though this code would stop that...

// First get the dest zip and check the db for our dest zone
$topcode = $order->delivery['postcode'];

if ( $topcode == '' ){
// Something is wrong, we didn't find any dest zip
$this->quotes['error'] = MODULE_SHIPPING_FASTWAY_NO_POSTCODE_FOUND;
return $this->quotes;

but apparently it doesn't do what I thought it did...

Thanks,

Mike

Oh, sorry, forgot to answer your question, I charge by weight.

Regards,

Mike.

Your not reading all the code required.

// First get the dest zip and check the db for our dest zone
    $topcode = $order->delivery['postcode'];

if ( $topcode == '' ){
// Something is wrong, we didn't find any dest zip
    $this->quotes['error'] = MODULE_SHIPPING_FASTWAY_NO_POSTCODE_FOUND;
        return $this->quotes;
}

// This section has been modified so that the delivery days will display as expected.
//The original code is still shown for reference.
//
//$sql = "SELECT * FROM " . DB_PREFIX . "fastway_zones WHERE $topcode >= f_postcode and $topcode <= f_postcode";
//$rec = $db->Execute($sql); 
//
//    if ($rec->fields['f_delivery'] = 'S/D') {
//    $days = 'same';
//    }
//    if ($rec->fields['f_delivery'] = 'N/D') {
//    $days = 'next';
//    } else {
//    $days = $rec['f_delivery'];
//}
//
$sql = "SELECT * FROM " . DB_PREFIX . "fastway_zones WHERE $topcode >= f_postcode and $topcode <= f_postcode";
$rec = $db->Execute($sql); 

    if ($rec->fields['f_delivery'] == '') {
    $days = 'unknown';
    }
    if ($rec->fields['f_delivery'] == 'S/D') {
    $days = 'same';
    }
    if ($rec->fields['f_delivery'] == 'N/D') {
    $days = 'next';
    }
    else {
    $days = ($rec->fields['f_delivery']);
    }
    if ($rec->fields['f_zone'] == '1') {
        $shipping = -1;
        $dest_zone = 1;
        $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_1_COST');
        $zones_handling = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_1_HANDLING');
}
elseif ($rec->fields['f_zone'] == '2') {
        $shipping = -1;
        $dest_zone = 2;
        $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_2_COST');
        $zones_handling = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_2_HANDLING');
}
elseif ($rec->fields['f_zone'] == '3') {
        $shipping = -1;
        $dest_zone = 3;
        $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_3_COST');
        $zones_handling = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_3_HANDLING');
}
elseif ($rec->fields['f_zone'] == '4') {;
        $shipping = -1;
        $dest_zone = 4;
        $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_4_COST');
        $zones_handling = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_4_HANDLING');
}
elseif ($rec->fields['f_zone'] == 'L') {
        $shipping = -1;
        $dest_zone = 5;
        $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_LOCAL_COST');
        $zones_handling = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_LOCAL_HANDLING');
}
elseif ($rec->fields['f_zone'] == 'S/H') {
        $shipping = -1;
        $dest_zone = 6;
        $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_SHORT_COST');
        $zones_handling = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_ZONE_SHORT_HANDLING');
} else {
        // Something is wrong, we didn't find any zone
        $this->quotes['error'] = MODULE_SHIPPING_FASTWAY_NO_ZONE_FOUND;
        return $this->quotes;
       }

You will note that I have modified part of my code so that the delivery days tests and displays properly. This may be your problem.

Regards

Fred

Hi,

Thanks Fred, I've sorted that bit of code, but it doesn't address the problem I'm having.

What I need is a piece of code that says: If the post code the customer has entered doesn't exist in the database, display an error and a link to the postcode finder. I've tried, but I'm not that good at (read not any good) at PHP. Any ideas?

Thanks,

Mike.

I have tested my fastways module and it does the following:

Displays the following error if the postcode is invalid or there is no other valid shipping method available. This message appears at step 1 of the checkout process.

Shipping Method:

This is currently the only shipping method available to use on this order.

Regards

Fred

After checking the code I noted that the module actually doesn't test for the postcode, it only checks for a valid zone.

I will add some new code so that it tests for a valid postcode over the next few days. I can't do it immediately as I am busy fixing a problem with my primary server. That's unless someone else wants to volunteer to write the new bit of code themselves.

Regards

Fred

Thanks Fred,

Send me a PM with your address and I will send you a jar of Honey.

I've changed define('TEXT_ENTER_SHIPPING_INFORMATION' to have a message about why the customer can not proceed with their order (IE issue with their postcode) and to please update their account with their correct postcode from NZ Postcode finder.

Just wondering how many other people have this issue - I've had it come up a few times. Customers have contacted me after being able to proceed with their orders - all of whom have entered incorrect postcode details at the login stage. I know it has also cost me a few orders...

Now I just have to find a way to stop customers entering invalid postcodes in the first place - but I guess that will have to happen in another thread.

Regards,

Mike.

As the module stands, and please remember I am not the author. This is from testing. If a customer enters a postcode that isn't in your database then the customer will receive the following message.

Shipping Method:

This is currently the only shipping method available to use on this order.

Your list of shipping methods will appear without the fastways module. We have fastways and store pickup only.

However, this does mean that your database must be accurate and have only valid postcodes for the zones you are using.

So in effect the fastways module is working, it just isn't telling anyone why it isn't available if an invalid postcode is used.

But as stated, I will have a go at seeing what I can do to remedy that problem.

Regards

Fred