USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2

18 May 2011, 02:07

#1

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USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Hi All,

This is the official support thread for my USPS shipping module:
USPS - RateV4, IntlRateV2

I just got a support request in my email so I'll resolve things here for others to see.

18 May 2011, 02:26

#2

marco_b

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I just installed your newest USPS shipping mod for Zen and thought you may want to know that it will not function with the Optional insurance mod. Though insurance is visible for USA shipping it is not for International shipping though USPS shipping does offer insurance in international priority mail shipping. Has anyone else experience this? Also when I enter pound limits this does not stop the estimated shipping from showing shipping options such as priority med flat rate when the weight is over for this type of box dimension weight limit. Great mod though. I hope there is some way to work around this insurance thing.

At the moment the only way around it is to add an extra handling fee to cover insurance cost. It's not optimal though.

The new module will not work with the other separate insurance module since the shipping service names have changed. Also there are a heap of new shipping services available with the previous version didn't offer.

The modules current behaviour is to select the dimensions used for the heaviest weight specified in dimensions config.

eg:

4x4x4;10;N
7x7x7;20;N
15x10x17;25;R

With this config setting:
5lb box will set the box dimensions at 4"x4"x4" with container type ignored since no dimensions are greater than 12".
60lb box will set the box dimensions at 15"x10"x17" with container as RECTANGULAR.

This behaviour is expected. If your dimensions configuration is bad the module will use default a setting of 12"x12"x12" - which keeps the module working.

Insurance quoting is not finished yet.

24 May 2011, 02:47

#3

rixstix

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Module installed and the only options setup for domestic USA customers to select is FIRST CLASS PACKAGE and PRIORITY MAIL. Regardless of customer's selection, Priority mail is shown on payment page and charged to the customer.

package sizing default install.

Uninstall and reinstall, same effect.
Add addtional selection options for customer and same effect. Only Priority Mail is charged. Other rates do not appear to be correct. Parcel Post is being quoted the same as Priority Mail.

Uninstall and install default zencart USPS module with identical setup and all functions as expected.

Ideas? Suggestions? More questions?

24 May 2011, 04:09

#4

marco_b

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Yeah, I'll need more info on the configuration you used.

I tested the basic domestic shipping functionality and didn't find a problem like what you just described.

What was the order weight? and what dimensions config did you use?

If your dimensions are set to large then you would limit the options.

What I find strange is that the options in my module admin and what the customers see don't have "FIRST CLASS PACKAGE" or "PRIORITY MAIL" showing in the text. I don't know how you managed to get that...

All the service names in my module are precisely labelled and there are a heap or additional options available.

It sounds like you are not using the right module. Maybe you should paste the whole module config so I can see what's going on..

24 May 2011, 14:15

#5

rixstix

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Sorry,

I typed the 2 mail classes from memory, not the exact wording from the module. I should have known better than to do that.

I hope that the issue is just me not being able to see the forest because of the trees. I have installed the mod on 2 different carts that use different templates and different set of addons.

TNX for the help

RICK

Remove current USPS shipping from zencart admin
Delete usps.php from server
Change admin folder name after unzipping usps shipping module -RateV4....
FTP package to server.
Install usps module within zencart admin
Change settings to those listed below.

Order Weight that generated the images below was 0.1 Pound

Install USPS shipping within zencart admin
Enable USPS Shipping
Do you want to offer USPS shipping?

True

Enter the USPS Web Tools User ID
Enter the USPS USERID assigned to you for Rate Quotes/ShippingAPI.
MY USPS USERID HERE

Which server to use
An account at USPS is needed to use the Production server

production

Handling Fee
Handling fee for this shipping method.
2.48

Handling Per Order or Per Box
Do you want to charge Handling Fee Per Order or Per Box?

Order

Tax Class
Use the following tax class on the shipping fee.
NONE

Tax Basis
On what basis is Shipping Tax calculated. Options are

Shipping

Shipping Zone
If a zone is selected, only enable this shipping method for that zone.
NONE

Sort Order
Sort order of display.
10

All Packages are Machinable

True

USPS Options
Select from the following the USPS options.
BOTH UNCHECKED
Display weight
Display transit time

Package Dimensions Config

regular;+

Enable Commercial Shipping
Use USPS Commercial Rates?

N

Domestic Shipping - Commercial Services
You must enable commercial rate quoting for these services to be quoted.
Select Commecial only shipping services:
ALL UNCHECKED

Domestic Shipping Methods
Select the domestic services to be offered:

Priority Mail
First-Class Mail Package

International Shipping Methods
Select the international services to be offered:

Priority Mail International
First Class Mail Int Package

Debug Mode
Would you like to enable debug mode? A complete detailed log of USPS quote results may be emailed to the store owner. Alternatively the XML data can be dumped in the catalogue directory as uspsSend.xml and uspsRecieve.xml
==========================

http://www.srevaewniahc.info/zen139/images/customerselection.jpg
http://www.srevaewniahc.info/zen139/images/paymentscreen.jpg

25 May 2011, 15:45

#6

bc

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I have the current zen cart version and May 14th USPS module,

This is a USPS Domestic shipping problem:

When an order is placed the customer is offered various USPS shipping methods to choose from, i.e. express, media, library...
If you select media or library (haven't tried it with other options) and continue on it applies the express rate instead of the chosen one.

I can't seem to find a post discussing this problem.

Any thoughts

25 May 2011, 20:15

#7

rixstix

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I've added other USPS methods and it doesn't matter which option is chosen by the customer, whatever option is TOP on the list presented is always the option applied in the payment screen.

I haven't tried an International address yet.

26 May 2011, 02:13

#8

marco_b

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

You are correct - I found the bug in domestic shipping - where the first option is always selected regardless of the selection on the previous page.

I attached a bugfix version here.

I didn't expect zencart to retrieve the quote twice.

It seems that when the shipping selection page is loaded all quotes are retrieved.
Once the customer makes a selection that shipping module is loaded again and asked to retrieve that specific selection again. I would understand retrieving quotes again if the address or order quantity changed. I don't understand why it's done in this scenario.

It needlessly adds an extra few seconds to the load time.
After displaying shipping quotes on the 'checkout_shipping' page:
Customer -> ZenServer: submits selected shipping option
ZenServer -> USPS-APIS: additional quote request to USPS
USPS-APIS -> ZenServer: Quote Response
ZenServer: Stores selected quote in customer session variable.
ZenServer -> Customer: Send redirect header to "checkout_payment" page
Customer -> ZenServer: Send request for "checkout_payment" page
ZenServer -> Customer: Send "checkout_payment" page

It's a little inefficient

Really the shipping quotes could be stored server side in the session and cleaned up when they are no longer needed. If people are already going to the checkout they are worth more than a couple kb (max) of session storage when you can save a few seconds on a pages load time. Especially load times in a checkout process.

26 May 2011, 13:14

#9

rixstix

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

TNX

That resolved the issue.

30 May 2011, 00:01

#10

spembleton

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I installed the 1.3.9 version and the international priority mail rate is much higher than can be found on the USPS website. In fact it is higher than the Express Mail option!

30 May 2011, 09:48

#11

marco_b

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

SPembleton:
I installed the 1.3.9 version and the international priority mail rate is much higher than can be found on the USPS website. In fact it is higher than the Express Mail option!

I can't find your problem with international shipping. I attached a screenshots of the quote options output and compared the priority mail quote with USPS online quote tool. It looks like it's all correct from what I see.

Perhaps you should set the debug option to "XML Dump" in shipping module admin. Then put the contents of: http://pathtoyourzencart.com/uspsSend.xml in a post here.

Remember to remove the xml files and turn of debugging afterwards. Also remove USERID="asdfjkhsadkjfh" from the request before posting here.

05 Jun 2011, 14:01

#12

spembleton

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Sorry it has taken me a while to respond. I think I have some of the issue figured out. I corrected some settings based on your posting above. Right now, the only price that does not show up correctly is the Canadian and International GXG prices. My site is quoting a price about $20 higher than USPS Click n Ship. Not sure why.

For the Priority Small Flat rate box, my site quotes the correct price, but when I go to click n ship, it says the price is not available. When I go to my local post office they say that it is available. They suspect that USPS shut it off on their site because of a potential Canadian Mail Carriers strike, but they have no idea why it is not available Internationally.

06 Jun 2011, 03:11

#13

marco_b

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I'd like to get to the bottom of this.

Give me your usps configuration, shop zone, zip-code, and an example address for test data.

09 Jun 2011, 22:59

#14

liquid214

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Installed USPS Shipping Module - RateV4, IntlRateV2
The estimator and the shipping module both estimate the weight at 4 lbs even though it is one pound. Please advise.

09 Jun 2011, 23:10

#15

ajeh

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Peek in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ... that is the Tare Rate setting adding in 3lbs ...

11 Jun 2011, 00:01

#16

chrystilell

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Marco B:
Hi All,

This is the official support thread for this shipping module:
USPS - RateV4, IntlRateV2

I just got a support request in my email so I'll resolve things here for others to see.

Zen Cart Version: 1.3.9
USPS Shipping Module Version: 1.02 (May 26, 2011)

I am losing my mind and all my patience.

My site, kkwools.com, sells yarn. Sometimes the yarn sold weighs less than the .375 pounds the USPS module recognizes as machinable.

An Example:

2 skeins of Wildfoote Sock Yarn weigh .22 pounds.

When I ask for a shipping rate estimate based on a zip code in CT - 06525 it gives me all the options I have selected but it is charging for 3.22 pounds (when I turn on the display weight option in the module, this is the amount it is basing the shipping on - I have turned off the display weight for now). Where is it getting the extra three pounds?

If I put the 2 skeins of yarn in a box and take it to the post office, the shipping costs $5.38 to ship it parcel post, not the $10.76 the shipping calculator is trying to charge.

How do I fix this?

Please help... :frusty:

Christina Lell
K & K Wools
Store Manager/Website Manager/General Crazy Person

11 Jun 2011, 00:16

#17

rixstix

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

Hi Christina,

Take a look at the post just above yours

Peek in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ... that is the Tare Rate setting adding in 3lbs ...

In our case, we set the tare weight to add 0.1 pound to account for the packaging weight instead of the default 3 pounds

11 Jun 2011, 00:35

#18

chrystilell

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

RixStix:
Hi Christina,

Take a look at the post just above yours

Peek in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ... that is the Tare Rate setting adding in 3lbs ...

In our case, we set the tare weight to add 0.1 pound to account for the packaging weight instead of the default 3 pounds

Now... I feel like an idiot. I didn't even see the second page of comments.

Thank you so much. :D

11 Jun 2011, 09:04

#19

marco_b

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I'm getting this debug error:
[QUOTE]PHP Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach()

and it points to this in usps.php

[PHP] //Get value of package - used for insurance and cod.
$value=0;
foreach ($order->products as $p) {
$value+=$p['final_price']*$p['qty'];
}
$this->_setValue($value); [/PHP]
Any ideas?
[/QUOTE]

I found this one interesting! It looks like this only crops up when using shipping estimator while no one is logged in!

[PHP]
//line 276 - usps.php
//Get value of package if this isn't an estimate - used for insurance and cod.
if (isset($order->products)) {
foreach ($order->products as $p) {
$value+=$p['final_price']*$p['qty'];
}
} else { //shipping estimator requested a quote and user isn't logged in - so estimate!
$value=$_SESSION['cart']->show_total(); //Shipping estimator constructs an artificial $order object without a products array when a user isn't logged in.
}
$this->_setValue($value);
[/PHP]

So try that code - and if all is good I'll create another update.

14 Jun 2011, 14:01

#20

divinelighting

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Re: USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

No more debug files after making the recommended changes. It's been 3 days:

[PHP]//line 276 - usps.php
//Get value of package if this isn't an estimate - used for insurance and cod.
if (isset($order->products)) {
foreach ($order->products as $p) {
$value+=$p['final_price']*$p['qty'];
}
} else { //shipping estimator requested a quote and user isn't logged in - so estimate!
$value=$_SESSION['cart']->show_total(); //Shipping estimator constructs an artificial $order object without a products array when a user isn't logged in.
}
$this->_setValue($value); [/PHP]