Weight of all items

Pack into boxes with weights and dimension (Recommended)

Box-Packing

The box packer included with this shipping method lets you group items into packages of which you define the height, width, length, weight and max weight. The packing is mainly volume based, but does also consider item sizes too.

The box packer is volume based. This will in most cases provide good results, but will never be as accurate as a real person packing a box (see BIN Packing Problem). Therefore it is important you understand that packing results are as accurate as they can be and any anomalies should be accepted.

Within the settings, look for the boxes setting. Click ‘add box’ to set up the boxes dimensions:

Box settings

Outer dimensions are used for parcel dimensions and are passed to the API.

Inner dimensions are used for packing, and items will be fit within these.

Weight of box is the weight of the actual box, and will be added to the weight of the contents.

Max weight is the maximum weight your box can hold. This includes contents weight and box weight.

Type: This checkbox determines whether your package is a box, envelope, packet, or tube.

How the calculation works

The packer does the following:

1. Finds boxes which fit the items being packed (uses H x W x D).
2. Packs all fitting items into boxes (using volume).
3. The largest box which fits 100% of items is used *or* use the highest % packed box, and then pass unpacked items back (and repeat the process)
4. Unpackable items are packed alone, using the item dimensions.
5. All packed boxes are returned.

The Australia Post API requires that your non-virtual products have weights and dimensions set. 

Satchel Rates

Satchel Rates are flat rates that you can use, instead of defining box sizes. If Satchel Rates are enabled on your site, then items are calculated based on one of three satchels available:

• 500g satchels are 335mm x 220mm ( W x H ) and are suitable for shipping CDs, iPods, mobile phones.
• 1kg satchels are 385 x 265mm ( W x H ).
• 3kg satchels are 405mm x 310mm ( W x H ) and are suitable for Fashion, books, digital cameras, toys.
• 5kg satchels are 510 x 435mm ( W x H ).

There are three options regarding the Satchel Rates dropdown:

• Enable Satchel Rates – Uses the above satchels to calculate shipping, which ignores your custom boxes.
• Prioritize Satchel Rates – Uses Satchel Rates when applicable, but if your item does not meet criteria or fit in the satchel box, it will use a custom box size.
• Disable Satchel Rates – Ignores Satchel Rates and uses your own boxes.

If you don’t intend to use the pre-defined satchels and want to use your own box sizes for the calculator, you need to select the option Disable Satchel Rates.

In the Services section of the menu, you can choose which Australia Post services you want your customers to receive.

There are a few fields to note:

• Extra Cover is an optional selection that will increase the price of your shipping by adding additional insurance during transfer.
• Signature / Registered is another optional selection to cover tracking and (if purchased) signature at delivery.
• The Adjustment fields increase shipping by a flat amount or percent. A blank field leaves rates untouched.
  
  • i.e. Your shipping is $10 with $5 in Adjustment ($) – the customer will be charged $15 for shipping.
  • i.e. Your shipping is $10 with %15 in Adjustment (%) – the customer will be charged $11.50 for shipping.

Customer Usage

Customers will get quotes (after inputting their address) from two places:

• Cart page – by using the shipping calculator
• Checkout page – by filling in the shipping and billing forms

Troubleshooting this feature? Click here