USPS Shipping Not Working?

15 Feb 2010, 17:32

#1

New Zenner

Join Date:: Feb 2010
Posts:: 23
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USPS Shipping Not Working?

Using 1.3.8a....

So I'm trying to figure out USPS Shipping, the shipping tools module only asks me to enter a user ID (not a password), so I enter the username from my USPS web tools account. Now, whether it's set to testing or production, when I look at the front end of my web site I'm always getting the following in the shipping page:

We are unable to find a USPS shipping quote suitable for your mailing address and the shipping methods we typically use.
If you prefer to use USPS as your shipping method, please contact us for assistance.
(Please check that your Zip Code is entered correctly.)

I know that my address is correct.

Regarding the USPS patches, I believe that 1.3.8a is all current with the USPS API, but if I' wrong please let me know. What am I doing wrong here?

15 Feb 2010, 18:17

#2

ajeh

Oba-san

Join Date:: Sep 2003
Posts:: 62,757
Plugin Contributions:: 1

Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Make sure that you have updated to the January 4, 2010 update of USPS ... it is included in the list of Security Patches and Updates at:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131115

This is also a good time to apply the Known Bug Fixes for v1.3.8 at:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82619

Then, be sure that you have emailed or called USPS to activate your account on the Production server ...

Also check that you do not have a Zone set on the USPS shipping module that is preventing it from working ...

What are your settings in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ...

What is the Ship From and Ship To address and the weight of the order that you are testing?

18 Feb 2010, 14:18

#3

sawtooth500

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Thanks, that did it!

18 Feb 2010, 16:49

#4

ajeh

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Join Date:: Sep 2003
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Was that needing the new USPS January 4, 2010 shipping module or activating your account with USPS? :smile:

22 Feb 2010, 05:29

#5

sawtooth500

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Both, I was confused though, because the module has a test option in it. I thought that it should work in test but just not give accurate quotes, if not what's the point of test!

22 Feb 2010, 15:00

#6

ajeh

Oba-san

Join Date:: Sep 2003
Posts:: 62,757
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

There was a time the Test Server was for that ... currently, the thing is unpredictable ... but we try to have hope for USPS that it will one day work again properly ... :smile:

26 Feb 2010, 12:42

#7

delia

Totally Zenned

Join Date:: May 2006
Posts:: 2,383
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

I have several customers who are complaining that this is happening occasionally to them with the updated file. Has anyone else complained of problems recentlyl?

26 Feb 2010, 14:51

#8

ajeh

Oba-san

Join Date:: Sep 2003
Posts:: 62,757
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Could you perhaps be a tad more specific about what "this" is?

There are numerous things that can happen with shipping modules that get real time quotes and the more details that you provide, the easier it is to diagnose ... :smile:

26 Feb 2010, 15:02

#9

delia

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Posts:: 2,383
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Hey, Linda!

Talking about USPS giving the notice that it can't find the customer address as if it wasn't activated for the US. It's an intermittent thing and 2 of my customers have just let me know.

I put the new file in place for both of them.

26 Feb 2010, 16:25

#10

ajeh

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Join Date:: Sep 2003
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

If it is sporadic, it could be:

1 communication with USPS server is not working ...

2 USPS server is having issues ... usually this is more obvious due to time delays on page response ...

3 Customer Address is not valid for USPS ... would need to know the Ship From and Ship To and the weight and shipping options enabled

The more clues on this the better ...

26 Feb 2010, 16:29

#11

delia

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

My thought was that it is on the USPS end. I was just wondering if you have had any recent reports of USPS problems - if they had more difficulty lately. I don't always get the zip code in these reports to check that.

26 Feb 2010, 17:30

#12

ajeh

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Join Date:: Sep 2003
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

I get periodic updates that USPS is down ... but usually just for a couple minutes ...

Unfortunately, as of late, this has not always been universal, but rather, it has been more likely based on routing issues ...

Usually, this does get corrected quickly, if not, it is best to contact USPS and alert them to the problem and if you find it limited to some domains and not others then to let them know that as well ...

26 Feb 2010, 17:31

#13

delia

Totally Zenned

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Thanks, Linda!

(my hope is to become the zen cart master you are!)

26 Feb 2010, 23:57

#14

david_canham

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

I have the newest mod install from Jan 4th and I can seem to get an accurate shipping charge,

As far as I know I have everything configured correctly

27 Feb 2010, 00:04

#15

ajeh

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Join Date:: Sep 2003
Posts:: 62,757
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

David,

Are you saying you "can" or "cannot" get quotes from USPS ... :unsure:

If you cannot, what are the:
Ship From
Ship To
Order Weight

Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging settings ... on your site?

27 Feb 2010, 00:35

#16

david_canham

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

The product weight is 0.3 and the shipping charges are $0.06

I configured the setting under admin/shipping/packaging

small and med 50:0
and large 10:1

zip code is
from 33710
to 33584

and the shipping is $0.35

27 Feb 2010, 03:52

#17

ajeh

Oba-san

Join Date:: Sep 2003
Posts:: 62,757
Plugin Contributions:: 1

Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

So you are adding 50% of the weight to the shipping ...

What is your Maximum Weight set to?

27 Feb 2010, 04:03

#18

ajeh

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Join Date:: Sep 2003
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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

I get:

United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (Express Mail (1 - 2 days)) $13.65
United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (First-Class Mail (2 - 5 days)) $2.41
United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (Priority Mail (2 - 3 days)) $4.90
United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (Parcel Post (4 - 7 days)) $4.90
United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (Media Mail) $2.38
United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (Bound Printed Matter) $2.33
United States Postal Service (1 x 0.45lbs) (Library) $2.26

USPS shows the .45lbs as:

available for a Package of 0 lbs 7.2 oz
mailed from SAINT PETERSBURG FL 33710 to SEFFNER FL 33584 on March 1
Express Mail® [More info about Express Mail®]
Tue, Mar 2 by 3 PM $13.65 $12.96
Express Mail® Hold For Pickup [More info about Express Mail® Hold For Pickup]
Tue, Mar 2 by 3 PM $13.65 $12.96
Priority Mail® [More info about Priority Mail®]
1 day $4.90 $4.80
Parcel Post® [More info about Parcel Post®]
2 days $4.90
Media Mail® [More info about Media Mail®]
Restrictions Apply
2 days $2.38
First-Class Mail® Package [More info about First-Class Mail® Package]
1 day $2.41

27 Feb 2010, 10:28

#19

david_canham

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Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

Max Weight is set to 100lbs

and I don't get any of the shipping options you described.

All I get is per unit best way $0.75 for an 8oz test product

27 Feb 2010, 13:29

#20

ajeh

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Join Date:: Sep 2003
Posts:: 62,757
Plugin Contributions:: 1

Re: USPS Shipping Not Working?

USPS cannot do a Maximum of 100lbs ... I believe the high is 70lbs that would mean that your small packages would be 70lbs plus the Small/Medium Tare and over that would use the Large Tare ...

If you use the 100lbs, then when you get over 70lbs you will not get a quote ...

Next, make sure you have the new version of USPS installed ...

Check the file on the server and check its version ...

Make sure that you did a REMOVE, INSTALL and reconfigure of the USPS shipping module ...

Then, make sure that you have called USPS or emailed and activated your account for the Production Server ...

If you are not sure, call again ...

If you have other shipping modules installed, make sure that if you are using Sort Orders that all shipping modules are using unique Sort
Orders ...

As a test, install UPS and make sure that you get quotes from them to rule out issues on contacting outside servers from your site ...