Ecommerce software. Shipping calculations.

[Bones]

Hello All,

I have been running an online store now for about 4 years.

The time has come to give the shop a facelift and I would like to invest in a new software package that will streamline some of my systems and allow a little more growth.

I have examined several options and all seem to be lacking, when I say lacking my main concern is the manner in which freight is calculated. All seem to offer a combination of the following for calculating freight on a customers order.

- Shipping cost is based on a flat charge.
- Shipping cost is based on weight.
- Shipping charge is a percentage of order value.

None of these options work at all well with the Australian Post freight matrix which basically has the following rules;

<1kg then freight is calculated by weight to specified postcode
>1kg then freight is calculated by weight AND/OR volume (whichever is greater), to specified postcode.

I sell a product which is physically large but light. More often then not my orders are calculated by Australia Post based on Volume, not by weight. An example might be an order that which weighs 1.5kg however the physical size of the box is calculated by Australia post to be 18kg's. When sending from one side of the country to the other the freight difference between 1.5kg's and 18kg's could be up to $60 in error. There goes all my profit.....

Basically I am looking for a software/cart package that can make sense of volume and weight and accept rules in order to calculate accurate freight to my customers. I don't want to loose my profit in miscalculated freight and I also don't want to loose orders because I am overcharging freight.

There seems to be a gaping hole in every Australian (and global) software package I have examined. Even when you go to the Australian Post website it will not calculate freight until dimensions are given so I don't know why this has not been addressed by some of the larger names out there.

Can anyone recommend any Ecommerce systems that handle the Australia Post matrix for freight?

[v2Media]

"There seems to be a gaping hole in every Australian (and global) software package I have examined."

For good reason. The problem with AP cubic shipping calculations is multiple item purchases. There's a gaping hole because this kind of 3D cubic calculations are bloody difficult. Companies that outlay thousands to have such a module developed certainly don't want to share. Developers that consider going to the trouble of creating such a module know that the chances of regaining the cost of development are slim.

In short, there's a big demand, but the target market don't want to pay for it - so it's a very rare resource.

The only live AP 3D cubic calculator that I'm aware of is a Zen Cart module, AustPost. Even this is no longer in development due to Zen Cart being such a crap platform for e-commerce. I've customised this module for a few clients to suit their shipping needs, but the same clients hate using zencart.

[Convertology]

Here you go bones: http://www.interspire.com/shoppingcart/

I have used this software for years and it has the features you ask for. It plugins in perfectly to the Australia Post price API. I should mention though that it is often cheaper to use Australia Post satchels which are not considered by Australia Post's shipping calculator.

[v2Media]

Justin, does the interspire calculator merge multiple items into a single parcel where possible or does it just do every item individually? If the latter, I would say it overcharges.

[altima]

We also worked with Interspire, while for US clients so far. Seems that there is a paid module that do calculation for Australian Post, http://www.module-shop.com/advanced-...g-cart-en.html

Based on the description it is not smart enough to merge multiple boxes:

In regards to product dimension and box sizes, Australia Post's API is not very smart and can't pack boxes with multiple products in the most space efficient way (like you can) as a matter of fact Australia Post can just multiply the product size so 2 x product with the individual dimensions of 10 cm width, 26 cm heights and 10 cm length will exceed the maximum dimension height of 50 cm (26 cm + 26 cm = 52cm) and would split this in two 2 parcels even though you as a smart human being could pack this two items next to each other and hence would be able to fit two items in the box. Auspost Maximum Parcels Dimensions are 50cm length, 50 cm heights and 30cm width and a weight of 20kg

Seems that there are 2 ways to not overcharge clients:
- develop custom module which will builds 3D model based on set of items, splits them to optima number of big boxes and requests Auspost API to get a quote, which is quite a complex job as v2Media mentioned;
- tell your customers that the quote is preliminary and most probably they will pay less and charge them final amount after you send the parcel and know exact cost, which is more complex from the business point of view;

[dpixel]

hey, Bones

i suggest you using prestashop they have a module that you wanted here it is http://www.presto-changeo.com/id/shi...alia-post.html

if you need prestashop templates why u not calling us, here at dapurpixel we developing prestashop templates and themes, and if you have an idea of what your shop will look like please share and we will make a special one for you
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