Webservice for NZ Post codes

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nate

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#22278 22-May-2008 17:51

I'm looking for a webservice that I can pass an address, and it gives me back the proper suburb and post code.

Have already spoken to NZ Post, but don't feel like paying $1k for the whole database when the volumes I'm looking at will not be worth it.

Anybody here offer this service, or know of someone who does?

JAMMAN2110

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#132584 22-May-2008 18:06

They have a free one on their website, perhaps you could rig something?

zocster

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#132610 22-May-2008 19:53

Manually? Or as a batch Nate? Manually here just in case you didn't know?

davidcole

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#132619 22-May-2008 20:19

tried these guys? ACXIOM

But probably similar pricing, not really designed for "small frys" - designed for people putting out $350+ envelopes a day

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wazzageek

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#132629 22-May-2008 21:28

NZPost used to have the lists available for free.

In theory, those numbers aid NZ Post in delivering mail ... i.e. saves them money. If you can find the old numbers, you could potentially use them - nobody seems to have managed to start using the system successfully. (although, that assumes you don't mind the occasional piece going missing).

My cynical sides is basically thinking that this is all bought upon by the stupidity at NZPost - if they really wanted people to utilise the codes and have them work effectively, why did they change from a 4 digit postcode to a ... 4 digit postcode???? Was there not a committee that was formed to ensure that changing systems wouldn't be a complete screw up?

(Sorry for the rant ... it had to come out somewhere)

davidcole

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#132631 22-May-2008 21:35

you don't know the half of it....we're about 4 and a half weeks before large mail houses have to be using their new postcoding and mail standard, and the "standard" is still changing..

Things like font size, "acceptable" fonts window sizes, number of lines for an address. This is not a small change.

And with the potential for full $0.50 envelopes being sent if you screw is up - i.e. don't follow their rules, some businesses are going to be up for big mailing costs.

And I agree, the 4 digit to 4 digit postscopes are one or their stupider ideas, same with suburbs based postcodes, if you're gonna do it, why not do it properly and go down to a couple of houses per postcode...

End rant

nate

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#132637 22-May-2008 21:55

davidcole: you don't know the half of it....we're about 4 and a half weeks before large mail houses have to be using their new postcoding and mail standard, and the "standard" is still changing..

Hence why I want to get this done - WxC has the requirement now for post codes, plus a couple other suppliers, so we have to integrate this into our customer management system.

zocster: Manually? Or as a batch Nate? Manually here just in case you didn't know?

I pretty much want to duplicate what they have on their site in our internal systems. If it comes down to it I could always do a screen scrape, but a web service is so much easier.

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davidcole

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#132690 23-May-2008 07:51

There are a couple of other companies that perform this service, and you may be able to get your web service that you wont, they they are all on a paid basis...

nate

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#132746 23-May-2008 11:04

davidcole: There are a couple of other companies that perform this service, and you may be able to get your web service that you wont, they they are all on a paid basis...

Do you have any companies in mind?

lapimate

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#132778 23-May-2008 12:41

wazzageek: ... stupidity at NZPost - if they really wanted people to utilise the codes and have them work effectively,
why did they change from a 4 digit postcode to a ... 4 digit postcode???? ...

I agree. It is impossible to tell from immediate visual appearance whether one has amended a postcode to the new set.
Why did NZ Post not use an initial letter for example instead of a digit to remove the ambiguity and signal the new set?

Perhaps it is not too late. Perhaps NZ Post could let us know that a new postcode could be preceded (or followed) by an optional
string eg "#" or "# " or "NZ" or ... which would be ignored by their processing systems.

Although postcodes may be aimed at large mailings, many smaller commercial and personal customers use postcodes to assist;
NZ Post's unhelpful introduction of the new postcodes has treated these customers with disdain.

davidcole

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#132783 23-May-2008 13:06

lapimate:
wazzageek: ... stupidity at NZPost - if they really wanted people to utilise the codes and have them work effectively,
why did they change from a 4 digit postcode to a ... 4 digit postcode???? ...
I agree. It is impossible to tell from immediate visual appearance whether one has amended a postcode to the new set.
Why did NZ Post not use an initial letter for example instead of a digit to remove the ambiguity and signal the new set?

Perhaps it is not too late. Perhaps NZ Post could let us know that a new postcode could be preceded by an optional
string eg "#" or "# " or "NZ" or ... which would be ignored by their processing systems.

Although postcodes may be aimed at large mailings, many smaller commercial and personal customers use postcodes to assist;
NZ Post's unhelpful introduction of the new postcodes has treated these customers with disdain.

Have a look in : Data Soltuion providers

You possibly want to look at Postcoding (but this seems to be "post code you database" or Rapid Addressing systems would sounds like your online verification.

idlearts

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#135036 2-Jun-2008 20:39

nate: I'm looking for a webservice that I can pass an address, and it gives me back the proper suburb and post code.

Have already spoken to NZ Post, but don't feel like paying $1k for the whole database when the volumes I'm looking at will not be worth it.

Anybody here offer this service, or know of someone who does?

I can remember coming across a post where someone was offering such a service but I can't remember where or when that was, but I did file it in the must remember category, now where is that again?

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/freitasm/838

http://www.noodles.net.nz/postcodes/

that might help

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nate

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#135074 2-Jun-2008 22:58

You legend Andrew, just what I was looking for.

Thanks.

idlearts

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#135111 3-Jun-2008 09:13

nate: You legend Andrew, just what I was looking for.

Thanks.

Your welcome, please remind me where they are, when I go looking for them, as I'm sure to forget!

cheers Andrew

veoremote

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