USPS new rates May

[yodamo]

Greetings Kim!

95% of all of our shipments are envelop mailings, either First Class or International Airmail. The remaining 5% are flat rate Priority Mail... about 1,000 pieces per month.

[Kim]

http://www.usps.com/prices/prices_shape.htm - Really not *that* different from the old.

[stagebrace]

Is there a new API for getting postage costs? I have not found a new one at USPS. I am sure I will need to tell the code to get the "package rate" for first class mail. Or is the current module already asking for the package rate?

[ronlee67]

Any new news on this yet? I ship to a great many international customers, all packages sent USPS with Airmail Letter or Priority... plus quite a few USA shipments using First Class Mail.

Any news on an update for the built-in USPS shipping module...?

I notice that Endicia has only just now (within the last week or so) released their update for their program, and OUCH those extra fields for package size definitely put a drag on shipping speed here. :-/

[edited to add:]

Just a thought... but I already track or book internally the dimensions of each product we sell. Something that added dimensions to the product database might be useful? eg. if a customer adds just one item to their cart, then the cart would know to go with xxx size envelop/box, etc. but if the customer added 100, then the cart could calculate what size of envelop or box should be used. Of course, I have no idea on how to implement this, but would sure like to see something like that available at some time.

I agree. Perhaps the team could consider that for a future ZenCart version?

[DrByte]

Is there a new API for getting postage costs? I have not found a new one at USPS. I am sure I will need to tell the code to get the "package rate" for first class mail. Or is the current module already asking for the package rate?

Apparently there *is*, but there is *no* documentation on it.
Their posted documentation is for API v1.0. But this month's changes relate to their API v3.0.

[IHaveADotCom]

I'm just going to either add a heck of a surcharge or remove the USPS as a shipping method until they get their poop in a group.

[stagebrace]

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
Web Tools APIs release.


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Kim E) - 05/13/2007 10:47 AM
Dear DENNIS SAYER,

I have researched into when the new documentation will be available. The new user documentation for web tools will be available on our website by noon on Monday May 14, 2007.

If I can be of assistance to you in the future, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for choosing the United States Postal Service®.

Regards,

Kim E

[stagebrace]

I called USPS last night. They agree there is no API update on there site. And they would give me nothing over the phone. I asked who I need to call for this info. the answer was basically "don't call us, we will call you". They took my email address. And that was it.
After playing with settings I agree there are no changes required if you are going to use the First Class Parcel rate. Because the First class settings will default to the higher Parcel rate. If you want to test and make a display change do the two following changes in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php.
With no other changes, USPS returns First Class - Package rates. Which is what I needed.

Change this:
$usps_server = 'production.shippingapis.com';
To this:
$usps_server = 'stg-production.shippingapis.com';

This:
'First Class' => 'First-Class Mail',
To This:
'First Class' => 'First Class Parcel',


Other things I learned yesterday by process of expimentation, but not needed for Monday are.
// old
// $request = 'API=Rate&XML=' . urlencode($request);
// change to
$request = 'API=RateV3&XML=' . urlencode($request);

// old
// $request .= '</RateRequest>';
// change to
$request .= '</RateV3Request>';

// old
// $request = '<RateRequest USERID="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_USERID . '" PASSWORD="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_PASSWORD . '">';
// change to
$request = '<RateV3Request USERID="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_USERID . '">';

// old
//'<Service>' . $key . '</Service>' .
//'<ZipOrigination>' . SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP . '</ZipOrigination>' .
// change to
'<Service>' . $key . '</Service>' .
'<FirstClassMailType>(1 of 3 new terms we dont know yet)</FirstClassMailType>' .
'<ZipOrigination>' . SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP . '</ZipOrigination>' .

[spf]

I called USPS last night. They agree there is no API update on there site. And they would give me nothing over the phone. I asked who I need to call for this info. the answer was basically "don't call us, we will call you". They took my email address. And that was it.
After playing with settings I agree there are no changes required if you are going to use the First Class Parcel rate. Because the First class settings will default to the higher Parcel rate. If you want to test and make a display change do the two following changes in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php.
With no other changes, USPS returns First Class - Package rates. Which is what I needed.

Change this:
$usps_server = 'production.shippingapis.com';
To this:
$usps_server = 'stg-production.shippingapis.com';

This:
'First Class' => 'First-Class Mail',
To This:
'First Class' => 'First Class Parcel',


Other things I learned yesterday by process of expimentation, but not needed for Monday are.
// old
// $request = 'API=Rate&XML=' . urlencode($request);
// change to
$request = 'API=RateV3&XML=' . urlencode($request);

// old
// $request .= '</RateRequest>';
// change to
$request .= '</RateV3Request>';

// old
// $request = '<RateRequest USERID="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_USERID . '" PASSWORD="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_PASSWORD . '">';
// change to
$request = '<RateV3Request USERID="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_USERID . '">';

// old
//'<Service>' . $key . '</Service>' .
//'<ZipOrigination>' . SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP . '</ZipOrigination>' .
// change to
'<Service>' . $key . '</Service>' .
'<FirstClassMailType>(1 of 3 new terms we dont know yet)</FirstClassMailType>' .
'<ZipOrigination>' . SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP . '</ZipOrigination>' .

When I use their staging environment, US domestic priority works ok. However, I am getting the following error for international priority mail

-----------------------------
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.)
----------------------------

Anyone has a workaround?

[Ajeh]

We, the Zen Cart Development Team, have a release that will be coming out shortly ...

staging server is working fine with Monday rates ... and if USPS manages to flip the switch correctly ... all will be right in the world for both US and International ...

We have some folks testing as are we ... and all is looking good ...