USPS not adding insurance

[dlt101]

The USPS module is not adding insurance to the shipping cost.
We have a $2 handling charge. The only Extra Services checked are:
Insurance
Priority Mail Insurance
International Insurance

Please see attached USPS debug log. It looks like USPS is returning insurance rates but Zen is not adding them before displaying.
In this example, the displayed MEDIA postage is $5.22. That looks like a basic $3.22 plus our $2 handling fee.
Why no Insurance???

[Ajeh]

You are setup for Online ...

If you try this quote on the USPS site ...

You will notice Standard is not available for Online

You will then see that for Priority, if you try to add extra service and enter 12.00 for the value, that there is no insurance charge at the value, and probably won't be until you reach $100.00

You will notice that on the Media if you try to add the extra service for insurance that, again, there is no Insurance for the Online ...

[dlt101]

Still confused.
Here's another quote.
-------------------------

616116408686VARIABLEREGULAR3Media Mail Parcel6.72100Insurancetrue3.50truefalse107Return Receipt for Merchandisetrue4.40173Signature Confirmation<sup>™</sup> Restricted Deliverytrue8.15156Signature Confirmation<sup>™</sup> Electronictrue2.45174Signature Confirmation<sup>™</sup> Electronic Restricted Deliverytrue7.60155USPS Tracking<sup>™</sup> Electronictrue0.0-2147219385DomPostageLibrary;RateV4.ProcessRequestThe requested Mail Service is only available when Ground Transportation is required, when the Zone is 1-4, or the mail piece is Oversized.616116408686VARIABLEREGULAR3Priority Mail 2-Day<sup>™</sup>12.708.452015-07-022-Day119Adult Signature Requiredtruetrue5.505.50120Adult Signature Restricted Deliverytruetrue5.755.75125Insurancetruetrue3.503.50truefalse107Return Receipt for Merchandisetruetrue4.404.40173Signature Confirmation<sup>™</sup> Restricted Deliverytruetrue8.158.15156Signature Confirmation<sup>™</sup> Electronictruetrue2.452.45174Signature Confirmation<sup>™</sup> Electronic Restricted Deliverytruetrue7.607.60155USPS Tracking<sup>™</sup> Electronictruetrue0.00.0



View Source:
USPS build: 2015-05-31 Server: production Quote Request Rate Type: Online Quote from main_page: popup_shipping_estimator USPS Options (weight, time): Display transit time USPS Domestic Transit Time Calculation Mode: CUSTOM Cart Weight: 6.7 Total Quote Weight: 8.34 Pounds: 8 Ounces: 6 Maximum: 34.5 Tare Rates: Small/Medium: 20:.3 Large: 10:.2 Handling method: Order Handling fee Domestic: $2.00 Handling fee International: $2.00 Decimals: 2 Domestic Length: 8.625 Width: 5.375 Height: 1.625 International Length: 9.50 Width: 1.0 Height: 5.50 All Packages are Machinable: False Enable USPS First-Class filter for US shipping: True Sorts the returned quotes: Price-LowToHigh ZipOrigination: 61611 ZipDestination: 64086 Order SubTotal: $0.00 Order Total: $155.00 Uninsurable Portion: $0.00 Insurable Value: $155.00 RESPONSE FROM USPS: ==================================


616116408686VARIABLEREGULAR3 Media Mail Parcel
6.72
100Insurancetrue3.50truefalse 107Return Receipt for Merchandisetrue4.40 173Signature ConfirmationTM Restricted Deliverytrue8.15 156Signature ConfirmationTM Electronictrue2.45 174Signature ConfirmationTM Electronic Restricted Deliverytrue7.60 155USPS TrackingTM Electronictrue0.0

-----------------------------------

What I see here is for 8lbs, 6oz, USPS returns $6.72 for Media mail with $3.50 for insurance.
Yet Zen only quotes $6.72 + $2.00 handling == $8.72. Why does it not add the $3.50 insurance?

[Ajeh]

It is difficult to interpret the information returned by USPS as it shows that insurance charge, but does not clearly indicate it is only for Retail and not for Online ...

If you check at the USPS website and try to calculate a quote and add Extra Service for Insurance you will see:

Extra Services
Media Mail®, Package, weight 1 lb 4 oz (0.567 kg), mailed on June 30 after 1:00 PM from EAST PEORIA IL 61611 to HIGH POINT NC 27265	Make smart choices with Extra Services

Category	Extra Services	Price	Online Price
Protection in Transit	Insurance	$2.20	Not available
Confirmation of Delivery	Return Receipt for Merchandise	$4.40	Not available
	Signature Confirmation™	$3.00	Not available
	Signature Confirmation™ Restricted Delivery	$8.15	Not available
	USPS Tracking™	No charge	Not available

Media Mail®	$3.22	Not available
Total	$5.42	Not available

[dlt101]

So what does "Not Available" mean?
You can't buy insurance?
Or that they won't quote it for online customers?

I'm guessing it means they won't quote it.
So why can't we use the Retail rate to at least estimate what the insurance will be?

[Ajeh]

You would need to ask USPS why insurance is not there for Media rate Online ...

[dlt101]

I see that USPS fails to return an insurance rate in this case.
But if you subscribe to stamps.com they give you the online rate for shipping and still quote an amount for insurance. Clearly they are quoting the retail insurance rate, since nothing else is available.

So .... what's stopping Zen from passing thru the retail insurance amount ?
How would we patch the module to do that?

[lruskauff]

Hi

Stamps.com and others have special arrangements with the USPS directly and have their own rates, as does Endicia and others. This module goes thru the USPS directly which as it says on its website does not offer online insurance. If you wish to get a contract with Stamps.com, you might have this option.

As Ajeh said, you will need to ask the USPS directly as to why they do not offer insurance for online purchases anymore.


Linda

[RixStix]

Are you talking about USPS insurance or Stamps.com insurance? Stamps.com will insure items that the USPS will not insure. If you are talking about Stamps.com insurance rates, that is independent of USPS servers & less expensive.

Stamps does not provide rate quoting service.

[Ajeh]

Did you try changing your USPS from Online to Retail so that you have Insurance rates that are available to Retail?