Stamps.com integration - Couple small bugs need addressing

roberttimmons:

glad to see this thread is still going and we are all still working toward the same end goal. Today we got this error

Stamps.com will not let me get the wholevacuums mailing infor tell me this This webstore misbehaved and was disabled. Reason: TooManyFailedJobs

So i went ahead and downloaded the latest plugin. - will update back

Well, I hate to say I'm happy you got that error, but that's the problem I have and since I first got that error, over two weeks ago, I haven't been able to get it working again. The development team is supposed to be working on it, but I haven't heard a word in over a week.

This is definitely their problem and I have a feeling everyone's going to run into it unless they find out what's causing it. It shouldn't be rocket science and I'd think they should be able to fix it within a day, but it certainly hasn't happened yet.

I was just going to ask you to get details on your error in the manage/edit Zencart in Stamps.com batch, and when I went in there the error wasn't there anymore. It said it had downloaded 4 orders, but nothing new was showing, but possibly that's because I already manually processed those orders. Anyway, the one order that was "stuck" when all this happened and I couldn't do anything with it, I was now able to cancel. I am not getting the error anymore. I haven't updated the plug-in for at least a week. If they fixed something, I sure wish they'd report it here.

Well unfortunately today I received a new order and now stamsp.com isn't working. It wont import the sale so I can print up postage. Last week it worked for 2 sales and today it keeps saying There are no new items for Zen Cart webstore.

Nothing has been changed in my store so I have to assume its Stamps.com that is broke...

Anyone have any ideas what is wrong?

nohart:

Nothing has been changed in my store so I have to assume its Stamps.com that is broke...

Anyone have any ideas what is wrong?

How long has it been since the order was placed? It can take up to two hours before stamps.com will download an order, which I was told was a business decision by stamps.com. What the reasoning was I have no idea. I strongly suggest everyone complains about this. As I stated in an earlier post, this is close to, or may be, a deal breaker for me. The Internet is all about instant service, and imposing an arbitrary delay just makes no sense at all.

I called customer service at a number I found on the web site and it magically started to work. This was after I tried about 5 times. Then I called and asked what the issue may be and just like magic all of a sudden it downloaded the sales? I don't know go figure must have been internet wookie wookie! lol

RixStix:

I don't understand why Stamps.com need to access the ShippingZZencart.php file 195 times every 2 hours.

RixStix,

For each order we import and post back information for, there can be back and forth communication resulting in multiple calls to your server. Are you seeing this type of traffic during periods when you do not have orders that are imported or shipment info that is being posted back? Is this traffic typical, or does it occur only when you have a number of orders?

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

RixStix:

Re: 2 hour time delay. The development team told me that was a hardcoded business decision by Stamps.com & was not going to be changed. Like you, the expected behavior when I click the "Refresh" button is a Refresh, RIGHT NOW.

RixStix,

I've passed your concerns to our developers regarding faster import times. One thing I should mention is that this is less of a business decision and more to do with technical limitations of how the import works. We recognize the preference to cut that delay down to allow for real time imports.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

badarac:

I just added first class mail as an option and have uncovered a problem. I imported an order and in batch mode it added a 19 cent charge to the rate for delivery confirmation. Using the manual mode to calculate shipping (packages - thick envelope 8oz) to the same address did not add that fee. The USPS rate calculator also did not add this on the website. In batch mode adding a manual entry first class is not even selectable regardless of weight.

Currently, all packages sent in batch, or using the "Packages" tab in Stamps.com automatically add on Delivery Confirmation. For Priority, DC is free for online postage (like Stamps.com). For Express, tracking is in included (tracking differs from DC in that the USPS is only required to scan at delivery whereas tracking scans throughout the packages route).

For other mail classes (such as First-Class packages or thick envelopes, Media Mail, or Parcel Post), we currently require the purchase of 19 cent DC with the option to upgrade to Signature Confirmation. We are looking to change this to an optional service.

For the order that did not charge $.19, which mail class was it? I just checked out a test order using the manual entry and for First-Class, I was charged $.19 for DC but for Priority it was free.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

nohart:

Well unfortunately today I received a new order and now stamsp.com isn't working. It wont import the sale so I can print up postage. Last week it worked for 2 sales and today it keeps saying There are no new items for Zen Cart webstore.

Nothing has been changed in my store so I have to assume its Stamps.com that is broke...

Anyone have any ideas what is wrong?

As bpryor mentioned, there can be a delay between when the orders are placed and when Stamps.com imports them. Are you still experiencing a problem with importing orders?

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

bpryor:

The other problem with doing it that way is that there is no confirmation for the store owner that the e-mail was actually sent, nor does the owner have any control over what is said in that e-mail.

If you would like, you can CC yourself on the emails that are sent. I realize this does not address all of the problems expressed, but it is something you can do immediately. To do this, go to File/Preferences/Email from within Stamps.com. There are also limited customization options and I should mention that we are working on additional customization of emails sent from Stamps.com.

nohart:

I really would want these emails to be relayed out of my Zen Cart store as the post above indicates. I want the experience for the shopper to be seamless. When they start getting emails coming from all over it gets confusing to the customer as to whom they are dealing with. I want all communication to come or to be relayed through my store. Anything that can be done to improve this would be greatly appreciated.

nohart,

I appreciate your feedback regarding the ability to have emails generated from your Zen Cart store and I've passed this on to our product development team to investigate whether or not it is feasible to have our software initiate email sent through Zen Cart. Currently, we post back information to Zen Cart at which point merchants can send emails from Zen Cart. As an option to merchants, Stamps.com can send out emails to your customers.

Based on your comments in this thread, we will investigate a solution which will have Stamps.com prompt Zen Cart to send the email.

StampsCom:

Currently, all packages sent in batch, or using the "Packages" tab in Stamps.com automatically add on Delivery Confirmation. For Priority, DC is free for online postage (like Stamps.com). For Express, tracking is in included (tracking differs from DC in that the USPS is only required to scan at delivery whereas tracking scans throughout the packages route).

For other mail classes (such as First-Class packages or thick envelopes, Media Mail, or Parcel Post), we currently require the purchase of 19 cent DC with the option to upgrade to Signature Confirmation. We are looking to change this to an optional service.

For the order that did not charge $.19, which mail class was it? I just checked out a test order using the manual entry and for First-Class, I was charged $.19 for DC but for Priority it was free.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

Hi Chuck,
It may in fact have been applied to the first class mail postage in manual mode. I tried to test it again and it's there but it doesn't jump out at you on the menu. Since I generally ship priority mail I've never noticed a change. I'll just need to figure out how to add a little extra to the rates calculated by USPS for first class only.

StampsCom:

Currently, we post back information to Zen Cart at which point merchants can send emails from Zen Cart.

Actually unless I've missed it, ZC does not have the functionality to send an order shipped e-mail to the customer without a change of status. The only way to do it would be to change it from the shipped or the delivered status which is set when stamps adds tracking info to the comments. It would seem to be a better solution to have stamps trigger the e-mail at the time they add the tracking number.

StampsCom:

RixStix,

For each order we import and post back information for, there can be back and forth communication resulting in multiple calls to your server. Are you seeing this type of traffic during periods when you do not have orders that are imported or shipment info that is being posted back? Is this traffic typical, or does it occur only when you have a number of orders?

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

Hi Chuck. TNX for being involved.

This appears to be typical. I just checked and the latest call list was over 6 dozen calls for only 4 orders that had not been previously downloaded.

Also, on an unsecure connection there is quite a bit of data being requested that is not necessary for printing postage in addition to the 56 digit Access Token being transmitted in each of those calls. I don't understand the need for a 56 digit password when you transmit it on an unencrypted connection. Sorry, that's just the skeptic in me asking the question.

badarac:

Well I was hoping for something a little more specific than that. What are they testing for? The USPS delivery method name? The value of a DB variable? What values are they expecting for Zen Cart? How can I check my install to see if me settings are what is expected?

As it stands now orders import in batch mode. For each order I must select the shipping method (which I must to each order in Zen Cart to find), adjust the weight of the package since that doesn't seem to come across either, and then print the labels.

The order is then updated in the comments with the tracking info and an e-mail is sent from stamps.com to the customer with tracking info. Even though I have a package tracking add-on installed I cannot add a trackable link to the order so my customers can login and track their order. There is also no order shipped e-mail sent from Zen Cart to my customer.

All in all a pretty sloppy implementation which is just moderately better than cut and paste. I don't mean to be harsh but the settings file that we have to update for the order status could be used to map the other settings which you expect to be defaults At the very least if I knew what may have been modified I could make a decision if I want to set things back to defaults or live with the batch processing the way it is.

I appreciate your participation here but you really need to give your programmers a little whack for us.

I've been looking into this with our technical team. Here are some more specifics on importing shipping methods to Stamps.com.

When integrating your ZenCart shopping cart with Stamps.com, your shipping modules should use the following mail classes in order to be imported correctly. The documentation provided with your shipping modules should contain information on how to edit these choices. Note: You can present these to your customer in any format, so long as this exact syntax is what gets stored in the ‘shipping_method’ column of your orders table.

USPS First Class
USPS Priority
USPS Media Mail
USPS Parcel Post
USPS Express
USPS Bound Printed Matter
USPS Library Mail
USPS Intl Express
USPS Intl Priority
USPS Intl First Class

The default shipping methods provided by ZenCart are defined in the following four files in the directory below. For additional information on editing these files, we recommend that you consult ZenCart’s documentation or contact their support team.

<zencart_root>\includes\languages\english\modules\shipping\

flat.php
item.php
perweightunit.php
table.php

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

Chuck,

I'm not sure that I follow the logic. I use ZenCart without any shipping mods. I assume that since ZenCart sends USPS PRIORITY MAIL as the shipmethod, that S.com logic is supposed to use USPS Priority instead of FirstClass. There seems to be a bug if that is the case.

Data requested by Stamps.com (1st few lines) Notice Ship Method

<ShipmentOrders>
−
<ShipmentOrder>
<OrderDate>2010-10-18T21:25:22Z</OrderDate>
<ItemsTotal>50.89</ItemsTotal>
<Total>58.01</Total>
<ShippingChargesPaid>7.12</ShippingChargesPaid>
−
<ShipMethod>
United States Postal Service (Priority Mail (2 - 3 days))
</ShipMethod>

Entered into Stamps.com application from the data downloaded

Postage cost $1.42
Mailpiece: Package
Mail Class: FIRST CLASS MAIL

Rick,

It looks like the ship method that is being passed is "United States Postal Service (Priority Mail (2 - 3 days))". The syntax recognized by Stamps.com is "USPS Priority". Because "United States Postal Service (Priority Mail (2 - 3 days))" is being passed, Stamps.com is defaulting to First-Class Mail.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

Hi Chuck,

Since I don't believe that I've made changes to zen default code, maybe it would be better for Stamps.com to pull the default zencart codes. or provide the necessary override files.

TNX
Rick

I appreciate your feedback regarding the ability to have emails generated from your Zen Cart store and I've passed this on to our product development team to investigate whether or not it is feasible to have our software initiate email sent through Zen Cart. Currently, we post back information to Zen Cart at which point merchants can send emails from Zen Cart. As an option to merchants, Stamps.com can send out emails to your customers.

Based on your comments in this thread, we will investigate a solution which will have Stamps.com prompt Zen Cart to send the email.

Thanks so much Chuck for your prompt attention. I really appreciate it! Also thanks for the info about cc the email and allowing us to customize to a certain extent the Subject and From info. Looking forward to further options as this is turning out to be a great shipping module/Add on!

RixStix:

Hi Chuck,

Since I don't believe that I've made changes to zen default code, maybe it would be better for Stamps.com to pull the default zencart codes. or provide the necessary override files.

Same here. I'm using the unmodified USPS shipping module in ZC and it passes the same the same text for the shipping method. I agree that modifying stamps is a better solution than having every ZC user overide the shipped code. I still think adding this stuff to the settings file or some mappings in the db that are retained is the best way to go.

badarac:

Same here. I'm using the unmodified USPS shipping module in ZC and it passes the same the same text for the shipping method. I agree that modifying stamps is a better solution than having every ZC user overide the shipped code. I still think adding this stuff to the settings file or some mappings in the db that are retained is the best way to go.

Thank you for the feedback.

Our development team is investigating a solution to simplify shipping method imports.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

I am still getting too many failed jobs error.. any idea?