Shipping charge by category

Ok, so I am thinking to charge shipping rate by category as described in this article by adding the shipping price into the weight field.
https://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?215-would-like-to-set-up-individual-shipping-charges-per-item-that-is-item-a-will-cost-2500-per-item-to-ship-and-item-b-would-cost-3000-per-item-to-ship-how-can-this-be-done

But I'd also need to charge differently for different states.
Am I correct in my thinking that I would need to clone a table rate for each state and add different dollar amounts to each one so it charges a bit more/less for the states.?

This store will only be selling to Australia but nationwide.

At the moment I have zone definitions done for each state in Australia but it would charge the same shipping if you lived in NSW or WA.

The shipping methods are independent of each other. so if you set up perweightunit and table rate, I don't think it would do what you want.

But if you meant clone the code and combine with perunitweight, you might do better looking at zone rates. Here you could set up your zones and then add in the code for the item. Like:

New rate = zone rate + item weight*number of items.... Less code to add in than if you took the zones and added that into the perunitweight.

Or maybe use the tax code to define a new "tax" which you could use to adjust the different states shipping fee.

Lruskauff

lruskauff:

The shipping methods are independent of each other. so if you set up perweightunit and table rate, I don't think it would do what you want.

But if you meant clone the code and combine with perunitweight, you might do better looking at zone rates. Here you could set up your zones and then add in the code for the item. Like:

New rate = zone rate + item weight*number of items.... Less code to add in than if you took the zones and added that into the perunitweight.

Or maybe use the tax code to define a new "tax" which you could use to adjust the different states shipping fee.

Lruskauff

Hi thanks for your response.
I think what I meant to say was add the category price into the weight field (making the weight meaningless) and then using a table zone rate with the states shipping charges.
I don't want to touch coding I want to create this via the admin and modules available.
I think you're probably telling me to do this but I have become brain fried and just staring at the screen blank.
I wish someone would make a free Australia post mod that was kept current. I am willing to contribute money to this cause to keep it updated.

Annie_zaz:

I wish someone would make a free Australia post mod that was kept current. I am willing to contribute money to this cause to keep it updated.

Both the AustPost and the ozpost modules are free. They wouldn't be accepted into the zencart addons otherwise.

What do you think the subscriptions to access the ozpost servers are for if it isn't to keep the servers and client modules constantly updated? (just wondering)

How many hours have you spent on this now?

BTW, the idea of cost per category (nullifying the weight field couldn't possibly provide accurate quotes because Australia post charges primarily by weight, so that data is kinda essential.

The situation is (and always has been) is that shipping calculations are not the simple thing that most people assume them to be. They are without a doubt the single most complex aspect of an e-commerce system.

I will urge you once again, try the AustPost module. You really won't find better for the price. It comes with no strings or fees attached, it is currently used by more zenners than the ozpost module (as far as I can determine) :-(

I don't like having to recommend this module (after all, it really was only hacked to circumvent the ozpost servers) , but as I've stated previously, I won't object to its use because I don't like the virtual monopoly that ozpost would otherwise have.

Before you ask why I don't release a 'free' cut down version of the ozpost module to avoid this hack vs monopoly situation there's actually three reasons.

1. I simply don't have the time
2. The ozpost servers are needed because they provide data that isn't available from the Australia post servers (most notably the satchel prices) and the ozpost servers are an all or nothing affair (they will take a lot of recoding to differentiate between a 'free' user and a subscribed user), and unfortunately it is only the Zenners that don't have much in the way of alternatives, and
3. The zencart rules specifically disallow 'teaser' modules (IOW, any such cut down version of the ozpost module would be seen as a 'teaser' for the full blown module, so even if I could solve reason #1 it could well be a complete waste of time anyway.

So, once again, I can only direct you to the AustPost module as being your best option at this time.

Do you have a reason for not even wanting to try it, or have you already tried it and found it lacking? If so in what way?

Cheers
RodG

Ps. Have you ever looked at what other e-commerce systems use for Australia Post? Almost all of them have a price attached, typically ranging between $80-$500, So although zenners don't have much in the way of options, the situation is generally worse for the other systems. At least zenners have one viable free option. Count your blessings.

RodG:

Both the AustPost and the ozpost modules are free. They wouldn't be accepted into the zencart addons otherwise.

What do you think the subscriptions to access the ozpost servers are for if it isn't to keep the servers and client modules constantly updated? (just wondering)

How many hours have you spent on this now?

BTW, the idea of cost per category (nullifying the weight field couldn't possibly provide accurate quotes because Australia post charges primarily by weight, so that data is kinda essential.

The situation is (and always has been) is that shipping calculations are not the simple thing that most people assume them to be. They are without a doubt the single most complex aspect of an e-commerce system.

I will urge you once again, try the AustPost module. You really won't find better for the price. It comes with no strings or fees attached, it is currently used by more zenners than the ozpost module (as far as I can determine) :-(

I don't like having to recommend this module (after all, it really was only hacked to circumvent the ozpost servers) , but as I've stated previously, I won't object to its use because I don't like the virtual monopoly that ozpost would otherwise have.

Before you ask why I don't release a 'free' cut down version of the ozpost module to avoid this hack vs monopoly situation there's actually three reasons.

1. I simply don't have the time
2. The ozpost servers are needed because they provide data that isn't available from the Australia post servers (most notably the satchel prices) and the ozpost servers are an all or nothing affair (they will take a lot of recoding to differentiate between a 'free' user and a subscribed user), and unfortunately it is only the Zenners that don't have much in the way of alternatives, and
3. The zencart rules specifically disallow 'teaser' modules (IOW, any such cut down version of the ozpost module would be seen as a 'teaser' for the full blown module, so even if I could solve reason #1 it could well be a complete waste of time anyway.

So, once again, I can only direct you to the AustPost module as being your best option at this time.

Do you have a reason for not even wanting to try it, or have you already tried it and found it lacking? If so in what way?

Cheers
RodG

Ps. Have you ever looked at what other e-commerce systems use for Australia Post? Almost all of them have a price attached, typically ranging between $80-$500, So although zenners don't have much in the way of options, the situation is generally worse for the other systems. At least zenners have one viable free option. Count your blessings.

Hi Rod, I truly thank you for your response as I have already spent too much time on this. It's not me who doesn't want to pay for Ozpost its the people I'm doing this for. I tell you what though, I have learnt something already. Just tell the people next time it's Ozpost or nothing.The reason I haven't used the Auspost plugin yet is because I am scared. On the download page it says "
ALERT: THIS MODULE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO INTERMITTENTLY DELIVER WRONG QUOTES.
However if you say to give it a go I will and if there are any problems I will direct them to Ozpost. You don't need to explain your charges it's fine and the charges are worth it for me..but it's not me I'm doing this for.
Once again I thank you for your time and patience for answering my request for help. It is appreciated and nice to hear from a fellow Aussie.
I will try the Auspost mod and see how it goes.

Update: I have added the Auspost mod in and it seems to be working ok. Just the handling fee is not displaying at checkout. I have the Hide Handling Fee option set to No.

Annie_zaz:

Update: I have added the Auspost mod in and it seems to be working ok. Just the handling fee is not displaying at checkout. I have the Hide Handling Fee option set to No.

Ok the handling fee is now showing. It is written not added on as $7.00 in the itemised checkout and that's what I had been looking for.

For any one else reading this that is worried about installing this mod. I have installed the Auspost mod and it seems to be working ok.:smile: