USPS Shipping Module [Support Thread]

[lat9]

I am seeing the following error in the logs:

[12-Aug-2023 05:58:41 America/Los_Angeles] Request URI: /store/index.php?main_page=checkout_one, IP address: 129.222.137.108, Language id 1
#1  usps->quote() called at [/home/domain/public_html/store/includes/classes/shipping.php:201]
#2  shipping->quote() called at [/home/domain/public_html/store/includes/modules/pages/checkout_one/header_php.php:222]
#3  require(/home/domain/public_html/store/includes/modules/pages/checkout_one/header_php.php) called at [/home/domain/public_html/store/index.php:35]
--> PHP Warning: A non-numeric value encountered in /home/domain/public_html/store/includes/modules/shipping/usps.php on line 779.

That part of the USPS.php code deals with Handling Fees. I noticed that this customer is from Canada, and our USPS Handling Fee for International customers was "BLANK". I have gone ahead and put a "0" in the field to see if that corrects the issue, but wanted to log it here just in case having a "blank" handling fee value was causing the non-numerical error in line 779.

That would do it!

[dbltoe]

I don't see how this has anything to do with ShipStation. Our ShipStation rates (when we use ShipStation to print labels) are correct. Zencart doesn't interact with ShipStation to pull up rates for the customer--those come from USPS. Agreed, makes no sense.

I was simply saying that I am not aware of the discount one gets with ShipStation versus USPS.com logged in or not.

[HeleneWallis]

I was simply saying that I am not aware of the discount one gets with ShipStation versus USPS.com logged in or not.

Yes, sorry, I didn't intend that to be criticism of what you said. Just wanted to make it clear that it isn't ShipStation's problem. I'm not sure it's a Zencart problem either, though.

[sammirah]

Is it just me or is First Class Mail options for Domestic Mail not being offered anymore? I really need that for small packages.

This is my recent installation:
USPS Version Date
You have installed:

2023-07-12 K11i

Enable USPS Shipping
Do you want to offer USPS shipping?

True
False

Full Name or Short Name
Do you want to use a Long or Short name for USPS shipping?

Long
Short

Enter the USPS Web Tools User ID
Enter the USPS USERID assigned to you for Rate Quotes/ShippingAPI.
690ATMOS3485


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

test
production

Quote Sort Order
Sorts the returned quotes using the service name Alphanumerically or by Price. Unsorted will give the order provided by USPS.

Unsorted
Alphabetical
Price-LowToHigh
Price-HighToLow

Handling Fee - US
National Handling fee for this shipping method.
1.25


Handling Fee - International
International Handling fee for this shipping method.
3.00


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

Order
Box

Decimal Settings
Decimal Setting can be 1, 2 or 3. Sometimes International requires 2 decimals, based on Tare Rates or Product weights. Do you want to use 1, 2 or 3 decimals?

1
2
3

Tax Class
Use the following tax class on the shipping fee.

11000


Tax Basis
On what basis is Shipping Tax calculated. Options are
Shipping - Based on customers Shipping Address
Billing Based on customers Billing address
Store - Based on Store address if Billing/Shipping Zone equals Store zone

Shipping
Billing
Store

Shipping Zone
If a zone is selected, only enable this shipping method for that zone.

California


Sort Order
Sort order of display.
0


All Packages are Machinable?
Are all products shipped machinable based on C700 Package Services 2.0 Nonmachinable PARCEL POST USPS Rules and Regulations?

Note: Nonmachinable packages will usually result in a higher Parcel Post Rate Charge.

Packages 35lbs or more, or less than 6 ounces (.375), will be overridden and set to False

True
False

USPS Options
Select from the following the USPS options.
note: this adds a considerable delay in obtaining quotes.

Display weight
Display transit time

USPS Domestic Transit Time Calculation Mode
Select from the following the USPS options.
note: NEW and OLD will add additional time to quotes. CUSTOM allows your custom shipping days.

CUSTOM
NEW
OLD

USPS Domestic minimum Length
The Minimum Length, Width and Height are used to determine shipping methods available for Domestic Shipping.
While dimensions are not supported at this time, the Minimums are sent to USPS for obtaining Rate Quotes.
In most cases, these Minimums should never have to be changed.

Enter the Domestic
Minimum Length - default 8.625
8.625


USPS minimum Width
Enter the Minimum Width - default 5.375
5.375


USPS minimum Height
Enter the Minimum Height - default 1.625
1.625


USPS International minimum Length
The Minimum Length, Width and Height are used to determine shipping methods available for International Shipping.
While dimensions are not supported at this time, the Minimums are sent to USPS for obtaining Rate Quotes.
In most cases, these Minimums should never have to be changed.

Enter the International
Minimum Length - default 8.625
8.625


USPS minimum Width
Enter the Minimum Width - default 5.375
5.375


USPS minimum Height
Enter the Minimum Height - default 1.625
1.625


Shipping Methods (Domestic and International)
Checkbox: Select the services to be offered
Minimum Weight (lbs)first input field
Maximum Weight (lbs):second input field

USPS returns methods based on cart weights. These settings will allow further control (particularly helpful for flat rate methods) but will not override USPS limits

Domestic Rates:
MinMaxHandling

0
70
Media Parcel$
0.00

0
70
USPS Ground Advantage$
0.00

0
70
Priority$
0.00

0
70
Priority F/R Env$
0.00

0
70
Priority Leg. F/R Env$
0.00

0
70
Priority Pad. F/R Env$
0.00

0
70
Priority Sm. F/R Box$
0.00

0
70
Priority Md. F/R Box$
0.00

0
70
Priority Lg. F/R Box$
0.00

0
70
Priority Express$
0.00

0
70
Priority Express F/R Env$
0.00

0
70
Priority Express Leg. F/R Env$
0.00


International Rates:
MinMaxHandling

0
.21875
1st-Class Intl Letter$
0.00

0
4
1st-Class Intl Lg. Env$
0.00

0
4
1st-Class Package Intl Service$
0.00

0
66
Priority Intl$
0.00

0
4
Priority Intl F/R Env$
0.00

0
4
Priority Intl Sm. F/R Box$
0.00

0
20
Priority Intl Md. F/R Box$
0.00

0
20
Priority Intl Lg. F/R Box$
0.00

0
66
Priority Express Intl$
0.00

0
4
Priority Express Intl F/R Env$
0.00

0
70
USPS GXG Envs$
0.00

0
70
Global Exp Guar(GXG)$
0.00


Extra Services (Domestic)
Included in postage rates. Not shown to the customer.
WARNING: Some services cannot work with other services.
NY
Certified Mail
USPS Tracking Electronic
USPS Tracking
Insurance
Priority Mail Express Insurance
Priority Mail Insurance
Adult Sig Restricted Delivery
Adult Sig Required
Registered Mail
Collect on Delivery
Return Receipt
Certificate of Mailing (Form 3665)
Certificate of Mailing (Form 3817)
Sig Confirmation Electronic
Sig Confirmation
Priority Mail Express 1030 AM Delivery
Certified Mail Restricted Delivery
Certified Mail Adult Sig Required
Certified Mail Adult Sig Restricted Delivery
Sig Confirmation Restricted Delivery
Sig Confirmation Electronic Restricted Delivery
Collect on Delivery Restricted Delivery
Registered Mail Restricted Delivery
Insurance Restricted Delivery
Insurance Restricted Delivery (Priority Mail Express)
Insurance Restricted Delivery (Priority Mail)


Extra Services (International)
Included in postage rates. Not shown to the customer.
WARNING: Some services cannot work with other services.
NY
Registered Mail
Insurance
Return Receipt
Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International
Certificate of Mailing


Retail pricing or Online pricing?
Rates will be returned ONLY for methods available in this pricing type. Applies to prices and add on services

Retail
Online

Debug Mode
Would you like to enable debug mode? If set to Logs, a file will be written to the store's /logs directory on each USPS request.

Off
Logs

[jeking]

Is it just me or is First Class Mail options for Domestic Mail not being offered anymore? I really need that for small packages.

The USPS does not offer First Class anymore. It's been replaced with Ground Advantage
.
https://faq.usps.com/articles/Knowle...ound-Advantage

[apollowilcox]

I'm having the same issue, except that Shipstation is showing a much lower rate than what our customers are being charged. Tare is zero and even if we eliminated our very small handling charge, our customers' cost is several dollars above what we're being charged.

I tried changing from Online to Retail, and everything except Ground Advantage went up by a couple of dollars. Ground Advantage stayed the same, and in that setting, it was the least expensive. But when I went back to Online and the other prices went back down, Ground Advantage was more expensive than several of the Priority Mail services, when it should have been less expensive. I don't see any way to correct this.

We are experiencing this also. Shipstation is notably lower than what the website calculated, then lowers again when the 'Print Label' button is clicked. (Whereas for UPS, the rate initially retrieved by Shipstation does not change at label print.) The USPS shipping cost calc'd / charged online ends up being far higher than our final cost. Our business model is to simply break even on shipping, so this feels like over-charging. Just started in July/ August time frame. Not sure how to address it.

The website and shipstation are simply retrieving rates from the USPS account, so this feels like something going at the USPS source - and not an issue with either ZC or SS.

[mikestaps]

I don't see how this has anything to do with ShipStation. Our ShipStation rates (when we use ShipStation to print labels) are correct. Zencart doesn't interact with ShipStation to pull up rates for the customer--those come from USPS. Agreed, makes no sense.

I contacted ShipStation about the rate differences a while ago. My original reasoning was for UPS rates, but we have noticed the differences in the USPS rates as well.
Basically ShipStation gets even lower rates (volume discounts?). In order to quote the ShipSt######## rates through ZenCart they want us to use a third party rating service. Unfortunately at this point I do not recall the name of the company, but it was something like $0.10 per rate lookup.

[lat9]

I contacted ShipStation about the rate differences a while ago. My original reasoning was for UPS rates, but we have noticed the differences in the USPS rates as well.
Basically ShipStation gets even lower rates (volume discounts?). In order to quote the ShipSt######## rates through ZenCart they want us to use a third party rating service. Unfortunately at this point I do not recall the name of the company, but it was something like $0.10 per rate lookup.

Thanks for the update, I'm sure that your response will help others (including myself) when trying to figure out why the UPS/USPS/FedEx shipping quotes retrieved by the Zen Cart shipping modules are more costly than those provided by ShipStation.

[CraftCorner]

Good afternoon! Folks that are using the PC version of the stamps.com software may want to be aware that there is currently a bug that causes a complete software crash on import if you're importing a lot of orders to the software. I have spoken extensively with stamps.com Tier 2 support; they are aware of the issue and are working on it. But in discussions with the Tier 2 rep, he suggested that I ask if there was a way to tell stamps.com not to look at the date when importing orders. Pardon my ignorance, but my response back to him was, "I think that process is actually driven/dictated by the stamps.php file." Am I correct? And, is that file generated by the stamps.com developers, or is it written by ZenCart developers?

[gothstone]

The latest version is here https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread....47#post1366247
and was last touched by drbyte, but its not really his he was just updating it. I have it working ok on my 1.5.7/php 7.4 production site, but can't get it to work on my 1.5.8/php 8.2 dev site. We may have to pay more to use shipstation just cuz it works.
Also note, we are off thread topic here. Sorry all.