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

[Marco B]

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.

[Marco B]

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.

[RixStix]

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?

[Marco B]

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..

[RixStix]

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
==========================

[-bc-]

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

[RixStix]

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.

[Marco B]

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.

[RixStix]

TNX

That resolved the issue.

[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!