UPS XML: Support Thread

[lat9]

If you want to use negotiated rates, UPS requires that the state and zipcode be provided. You could update the language text for the shipping estimator to reflect that restriction.

[Phil S]

Rats. That's not the answer I was looking for. (grin)
I prefer to offer the negotiated rates but realize that many of my customers have a habit of not reading and will miss any instruction to enter their state. I'll massage the insurance requirement, residential/commercial setting and handling fee to get the rate down.

Thank you so much for your help!

[lat9]

@Phil S, I've noted your request in the plugin's GitHub repository (https://github.com/lat9/upsxml/issues/6).

[Phil S]

Thank you again!
I'm certainly feeling special!

[lat9]

The change (for v1.7.2 of UPS-XML) is available on the plugin's GitHub repository. I haven't yet packaged the changes as a release, but you can test-drive the updates by replacing your version of /includes/modules/shipping/upsxml.php with the version currently on GitHub.

[Phil S]

That certainly solves the problem of no rate being returned and cart abandonment.
I use the product_groundonly option to prevent USPS shipping from being offered on certain items that are prohibited by the Post Office. As a result potential buyers that are not logged in or haven't entered a State were getting no shipping quote at all and leaving.
That's a bad thing....

My problem is this all could be a non-issue if UPS would auto-populate the state based on the zip code instead of returning an error code. They already do that with their clunky Worldship software and it seems to me they could easily do the same here. Then again, we are talking about UPS.

Thank you once again for the time and effort you've put into this!

[lat9]

That certainly solves the problem of no rate being returned and cart abandonment.
I use the product_groundonly option to prevent USPS shipping from being offered on certain items that are prohibited by the Post Office. As a result potential buyers that are not logged in or haven't entered a State were getting no shipping quote at all and leaving.
That's a bad thing....

My problem is this all could be a non-issue if UPS would auto-populate the state based on the zip code instead of returning an error code. They already do that with their clunky Worldship software and it seems to me they could easily do the same here. Then again, we are talking about UPS.

Thank you once again for the time and effort you've put into this!

The client for whom I originally made this change uses a sweet little service called City/State Autofill from ZipCodeApi.com, using their ZipCode to Location API.

It's a pretty easy integration, requiring their jQuery/javascript interface and a re-ordering of the address-gathering pages' (3 of them, not counting the admin) forms to have Country/Zip/City/State instead of City/State/Zip/Country.

[lat9]

I've just submitted v1.7.2 to the plugins for review. This release addresses the following issues, as identified by their GitHub issue number:

#6: Use non-negotiated rates if the state is not supplied.
#7: Defer messaging about invalid UPS currency until the plugin is installed and enabled.

I'll post back here once it's available for download.

[Phil S]

I talked to a friend/competitor this morning and mentioned this issue. He ships 100% UPS but goes directly through their web site and does not use Worldship. He told me that up until recently, he could simply enter a zip code and UPS would automatically populate the city and state. Now, he has to enter all 3.

UPS changed/broke something on their end.

[lat9]

I've just submitted v1.7.2 to the plugins for review. This release addresses the following issues, as identified by their GitHub issue number:

#6: Use non-negotiated rates if the state is not supplied.
#7: Defer messaging about invalid UPS currency until the plugin is installed and enabled.

I'll post back here once it's available for download.

Now available: https://www.zen-cart.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=126