Stamps.com integration - Couple small bugs need addressing

I was on hold with stamps.com for 30 minutes to ask if they had some way to interface with shopping carts.
They directed me here:
www.stamps.com/pdk

I personally don't want to take this on, but I wanted to share the info.
:hug:

Is anyone considering this?????

I would be ETERNALLY grateful if they would.

I LOVE the stamps.com service - it's soooo easy to use, and I even get a discount on priority mail!

I just went to that URL and it looks like their TOS prohibit a public API sort of thing.

We'll see what they say, but their agreement talks about trade secrets, non-disclosure, and all the sort of thing that lead me to believe that a GPL compatible plugin isn't going to be happening any time soon.

We'll see if they approve my application, but I'm not holding out any great hopes for it.

Their newest version now supports downloading XML. So you can retrieve your order from your website and batch ship them. :clap: I like the newly added feature of sending customers return labels via email. :smile:

Hi Creinold,

So are you saying that we can export orders from Zen Cart in an XML format and upload them to STAMPS.com?

Thanks in advance!

Tanner

Good news! Stamps.com Version 8.5 allows you to import sales order data via XML. We;ll also support ODBC soon as well.

Here is some info on importing data via XML from our support site (go to stamps.com/support and type in "XML")

Importing Orders from an XML file
If Stamps.com is not integrated in to your database of orders you can export the orders into an XML file. Stamps.com provides an XML format that is recognized by the Stamps.com software. Once your data is exported into an XML file using this format Stamps.com will be able to import this XML file and enable you to ship your orders. Once you have shipped your orders you can export the data out into an XML file to import back into your database.

To Add an XML File:
Click Batch in the Main Navigation Bar.
In the Manage Profiles popup that appears, click New.
Select XML Shipping File from the list in the Choose Data Source pop-up, and click Next.
In the New Profile Wizard pop-up that appears enter a name for your new profile and click Next.
Select your XML file by clicking Browse and navigating to the desired file.
On the Profile Options pop-up that appears you can set the Return Address, Sender Phone Number, Return Address Graphic and Hidden Postage fields. (Note: Any return address info on the source XML will override the return address choice entered here.)
Click Done.
You may need to click Refresh on the Batch window to initially display the new profile info.

To Create an XML File:
You will need the Stamps.com format to create an XML file. The specification is available for download Stamps.com XML Format

esupport.stamps.com/outgoing/Documents/Stamps.com%20XML%20Format%20Specifications%20v1.1.pdf

what's the advantage of Stamps.com over Click-n-ship service that USPS.com provides? im looking into it, but so far i only see disadvantages:

• $16 monthly fee for stamps.com
• no zen plugin to easily enter the label data (like USPS Autofill plugin that works very well with click-n-ship)

the only little advantages that i see is that you can hide the price of the label and can print first class stamps.. prices seem to be identical.
Anything other advantages for stamps.com ? am i missing something?

As you mentioned, hidden postage and first class postage are both big benefits.

Stamps.com also provides:
-- Media Mail and Parcel Post label printing
-- Get 10% discounts on package insurance vs. USPS standard insurance
-- Integrated USB connected scale so no retyping of weight
-- Track postage spent by cost codes (product, source, client, dept, etc.)
-- Ability to batch label print with different package weight and service options.

We feel Batch Label printing is huge for ecommerce shippers. Stamps.com allows you to import data via our marketplace integrations or via XML or ODBC.

ClickNShip has limited data import features (you must import CSV files into their Address Book).

Hope this helps!
Eric
Stamps.com

Thanks Eric!

StampsCom:

-- Get 10% discounts on package insurance vs. USPS standard insurance

is this 10% off comparing to the Click-n-Ship rate?
is there a maximum insured amount ? Click-n-ship's is $500.. for anything more, i have to go to the post office.

stamps.com/tools/calculators/postagemeter/ Try their savings comparison tool.

Kim:

stamps.com/tools/calculators/postagemeter/ Try their savings comparison tool.

well.. this just compares it to going to the post office or using the postage meter. im trying to compare it with Click-n-Ship.. I already see that the actual stamp prices are the same.. but wondering if insurance is the same as well.. cant find that info anywhere..

I don't know how Click N' Ship compares - but I've used Stamps.com insurance. Unfortunately, I had to file a claim a year or so on a lost box. It had a retail value of over $500, and was lost in transit.
Stamps.com offers their own insurance - I used it, and although I don't remember the exact procedure, I do know that it was painless.
I had a check for the replacement amount in about a week.

In contrast - I filed paperwork with the USPS for a refund of express mail fees that didn't get there in time - I still haven't gotten my check. Probably lost in the mail.

Oh - stamps.com also allows me to put a graphic (my logo) on the return address label - and hiding the postage is HUGE!

mumzie:

I don't know how Click N' Ship compares - but I've used Stamps.com insurance. Unfortunately, I had to file a claim a year or so on a lost box. It had a retail value of over $500, and was lost in transit.
Stamps.com offers their own insurance - I used it, and although I don't remember the exact procedure, I do know that it was painless.
I had a check for the replacement amount in about a week.

In contrast - I filed paperwork with the USPS for a refund of express mail fees that didn't get there in time - I still haven't gotten my check. Probably lost in the mail.

Oh - stamps.com also allows me to put a graphic (my logo) on the return address label - and hiding the postage is HUGE!

wow.. if Stamps.com offers their own insurance , that is a big plus. Now, if you were able to insure for more than the declared customs value for international packages and the insured amount was not displayed anywhere, this would definitely be a deal maker for me. It would be great to insure items at retail while declaring them at wholesale (or less). In theory , this can be done with regular Post Office shipping; however, custom duties will always be charged on the higher amount..

Stamps.com does offer it's own insurance, but unfortunately only for domestic packages. For international packages, you must go to the Post Office.

Here are the features of Stamps.com insurance vs. USPS insurance on domestic pacakages:
-- 10% discount off US Postal Service’s insurance rates
-- Post Office drop-off is not required.
-- No special forms are required to fill out or attach to your mailpiece.
-- Claims are typically processed in 7 to 10 days.
-- Stamps.com insurance covers up to $2,500 in package value.

Quick update: the latest version of Stamps.com now allows for international insurance. Also, thought I'd mention that Stamps.com now has a Zen Cart addon that integrates Stamps.com directly with Zen Cart.

Chuck
Stamps.com

So where do we find the new Stamps.com module? I didn't see it under "shipping modules" on the contribution section of this site.

Thanks!

mumzie:

So where do we find the new Stamps.com module? I didn't see it under "shipping modules" on the contribution section of this site.

Thanks!

Here's a link to the Zen integration instructions. https://stamps.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1204

zen cart version 1.38a

Merchant Settings ID: 190b855a-f421-47de-8f73-xxxxxxxxx
PHP Plugin Version: 1.0.0.37782
HTTP Method: Get
stamps.com build 8.7.3[build 2024]

Ok. We have been having an increasing number of customers prefer usps over ups lately. We have been using stamps.com for quite some time but manually entering every single customer. I saw the integration and though wow this will be a great time saver.. So I followed all the instructions line for line and we where able to import the orders..

Now here are the bugs.

the batch pulls all of the orders- Including orders that customers opted for UPS shipping. I need to be able to exclude the UPS orders from the auto batch. Its a pain for him to go into the super orders and check every single one too see what the customer picked.

secondly. He had to manually select which shipping method for every single order. I offer a wide variety of shipping options from parcel post to first class ect ect.. and the auto import did not get that data.

also. The postage is showing on these labels. The reason I picked stamps.com is because the postage amount could be masked. I have a handling charge built into the cost and if customers see a lesser amount of actual postage they will be complaining very quickly

The one final thing is the software did send back the tracking info to my shipping status but it did not email the customer that it was shipped or the tracking number. I would like my customers to be notified when there items ship via email. And in the status it shows the red X meaning the customer was not notified..

Thanks in advance for any input on these small bugs.

Take a look on the second page of the profile settings in your Stamps.com zencart batch profile. There is a checkbox for both "hide postage" and "email customer" and by default the boxes are unchecked. This is independent of your regular Stamps.com settings.

Yep, they have several other bugs and unless you call the support phone and have the issue verified and escalated, nothing will be done. Even after that, Tier2 support is slow at best. They only return phone calls once per day and if you miss the call, it may be a couple more days before they try again. I was told that's just the way things work there. If they (Tier2) can't fix it and the issue gets referred to development, things slow down even more.

Another bug to add to your list is that the order status is not always changed to "Delivered" in the zen-cart database after postage is printed.

Stamps.com also releases software edits but never notifies customers that changes have been made. A change in version number doesn't necessarily mean that anything in the file has been changed other than the version number.

Robert,

I am glad to hear that you've implemented the integration. Hopefully I can help with the issues you've reported.

Filtering out UPS orders - at this time, we do not filter out any orders. I have passed your request along to our product team.

Importing shipping method - it is possible to import the ship method. In order to accomplish this, you need to use the correct syntax for Stamps.com to recognize the imported ship method. I am looking into the specifics of this syntax and will post a response once I have it.

You can toggle on/off emails and hidden postage under Profile Options:

To access profile options, click Batch>Manage>Edit>Close the Web Store setup and there should be a "Profile Options" dialog box. Here you can select "Hidden Postage Amount".

Please let me know if changing these settings does not correct the issues you have had with hidden postage or email notifications.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to me let me know.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com