Stamps.com integration - Couple small bugs need addressing

I have now thoroughly looked through this thread. I have reviewed henry3's helpful comments and see my "table" language file is already set with the exact phrase "USPS First Class" and my created "prioritytable" language file is set with the text "USPS Priority".

is the problem maybe I need to have that called properly somewhere? it seems to me like the info should populate from the order, which is already reflecting the priority table I added properly, with the language I mention above - "USPS Priority".

I hope someone can assist me or provide the fix to this bug soon. I am the one that sold my customer on using stamps.com and he is not thrilled right now.

Can't really help with this other than, don't call Stamps.com support with known bug issues because you will end up more frustrated than before the call.

Personally, I wouldn't start making changes to the Stamps.com files because they update the files frequently and you'll be customizing things everytime they implement a change.

As you've seen in this entire thread, Stamps.com is very slow to unresponsive to fixing issues. That may be because they're relying on a 3rd party to work on their ecommerce integrations (Z-firm/ShipRush) and ShipRush is partnered with Endicia in their ecommerce app.

My workaround is to build 'Pre-sets', highlight the orders and Apply the presets to the highlighted orders. ie: Small Flat Rate w/Signature, Small Flat Rate w/o signature, etc. It's only a couple of clicks.

no, I have not called customer support. I haven't made any mods either, only to zen parts.

it had seemed like the s.com guys were doing pretty good answering here for a while but now they are mia I guess?

thanks for the tip on the presets! :clap: it has been especially difficult to advise on this because I do not have the software installed. my customer is operating on a single license so he has had to figure out a lot on his own.

if this software is to continue I think they should also make some allowance for non-order processing web developer use or something. it is very hard to tell him what to do when I cannot see the interface myself. :shocking:

just wanted to update for everyone that may run into the same trouble with Stamps.com not working suddenly. The files changed (I was unaware) So when it stopped working I updated files and found I needed to update the order statuses in 2 files. Note: I also had to delete everything stamps.com off the server and then upload everything, it would not allow me to just overwrite...still didn't work.
hope this helps someone else.

dontflinch:

it has been especially difficult to advise on this because I do not have the software installed. my customer is operating on a single license so he has had to figure out a lot on his own.

if this software is to continue I think they should also make some allowance for non-order processing web developer use or something. it is very hard to tell him what to do when I cannot see the interface myself. :shocking:

If your customer will give you the account name/password, you can install the Stamps.com software and use his account/password to look at things within the batch download.

Afterwards, the customer can always change the password so that you cant use their postage.

is that right rix? even with him only buying the "one computer" license? he gave me his login info but I didn't want to use it and jam him up on that.

from their pricing page: "Small business/ home office (single user single location)" my emphasis

p.s. when I passed on your suggestion about presets he said he knew about them but he said that it is a hassle to have to look through the zencart orders line by line to ascertain the method on each one.

obviously the best answer is to have the software import it correctly. hopefully we will hear from stamps.com soon here. thanks for you help though!

My interpretation is that only my business is using the account to ship packages generated by single business and that it doesn't matter whether I print the postage using my computer or my wife prints the postage from her computer. We only mail from a single zipcode.

Technically, you won't be printing any postage; just troubleshooting and ensuring that the Stamps.com software is functioning properly.

Our operation is small and most packages either go out SmFlatRate or PriorityVideoBox. It's pretty quick for me to glance through the list, delete the non-stamps.com shipping and apply the presets.

We would use the new Regional Flat Rate boxes but it will be another couple of months before Stamps.com updates their software to handle that postage category that went into effect Jan2011.

Good luck but don't hold your breath.
Rick

Just installed this today and used it for one test order.I noticed something odd.

1. The weight was correct when I printed the label but now in the "Printed" it shows that the package went from 3oz to 2,685.0lbs! and is accompanied by a red x.

2. I noticed that it correctly updated my orders' status to DELIVERED however, it left a message like this (with a Customer Notified X):

Shipped on 02/16/2011 via USPS [USPS First Class], Tracking number 9101010520000000000000 

Would it be possible to have Stamps.com add this before the tracking no.?

http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInternetWeb/InterLabelInquiry.do?origTrackNum=

... so it would update zen-cart with (easy clicking for a customer viewing their order status):

Shipped on 02/16/2011 via USPS [USPS First Class], Tracking number http://trkcnfrm1.smi.usps.com/PTSInternetWeb/InterLabelInquiry.do?origTrackNum=9101010520000000000000 

*last 13 digits of the tracking number was replaced by zero's on purpose. :wink2:

Other than those two things... It looks like I will have to bag my Brother QL-570 as it isn't compatible with Stamps.com. *Looking into the 4 label sheets (SDC-4100) - Or even maybe those fancy labels where half the sheet is the shipping label and the other half is the packing slip like Amazon does with the book boxes. hmmm

dontflinch:

I installed the stamps.com integration just a week or two ago and all orders are importing as first class. I have scanned through this thread and don't see any update on the issue. can you please advise if this is still be addressed?

dontflinch:

I have now thoroughly looked through this thread. I have reviewed henry3's helpful comments and see my "table" language file is already set with the exact phrase "USPS First Class" and my created "prioritytable" language file is set with the text "USPS Priority".

is the problem maybe I need to have that called properly somewhere? it seems to me like the info should populate from the order, which is already reflecting the priority table I added properly, with the language I mention above - "USPS Priority".

I hope someone can assist me or provide the fix to this bug soon. I am the one that sold my customer on using stamps.com and he is not thrilled right now.

stamps.com? help please? any updates on fixing this bug? my customer emailed me yesterday "this is getting old fast!"

Hello,

Sorry for the delayed response! If possible, can you please email me at [email protected] so I can have a member of our technical team reach out to you?

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

@ StampsCom,

I was wondering something about the Stamps.com software. How quickly should I be able to see a new order id show up? (seconds/minutes)

I had an order come in at 12:18PM Pacific and wasn't able to view it in the Stamps.com software until almost 1:00PM Pacific. (Even if I manually refreshed the application)

Thanks!

Stamps.com checks for orders every 2 hours and the timer is not adjustable, so every 2 hours they check for orders from the past 4-5 days and for orders 1 day into the future (tomorrow).... not just orders since the last query.

Your server stats should show upwards of 200,000 hits from them every 2 weeks.

is there a way for stamps.com to allow the "ty package tracker" to pick up the tracking information so that the customers get the tracking info as a link and it is a link in the shop admin? i haven't yet found out where stamps is storing the tracking id it sends to zencart.

I emailed [email protected] on wednesday at around noon and have yet to receive a reply. this system is starting to not look as attractive as it did at first. my customer is threatening to leave it now as well. =(

if one would only know where and they store the data sent from stamps back to zen-cart... that might open the door to redirect the data into the database so that package tracker can pick it up

Look in

orders_status_history table in the COMMENTS field for the USPS tracking number

RixStix:

Stamps.com checks for orders every 2 hours and the timer is not adjustable, so every 2 hours they check for orders from the past 4-5 days and for orders 1 day into the future (tomorrow).... not just orders since the last query.

Your server stats should show upwards of 200,000 hits from them every 2 weeks.

wonder what's the point in having a refresh button in the stamps.com software? One would think it would pull a manual query for orders at the time of clicking [Refresh]. *maybe this could be a feature enhancement.

StampsCom:

On Dec 2, 2010 CHUCK SAID
Currently, it seems that this functionality is not working as it should; all orders seem to be defaulting to First-Class Mail. Hopefully we'll have this sorted this out in the near future. Once everything is fixed on our end, I'll be sure to update here and provide any necessary instructions to make it easy to get it working for everyone.

Thanks!
Chuck
Stamps.com

Any update? 3 months doesn't fit the definition of "near future" but the developers can implement changes to the Magento code weekly and nary a change to the zencart code.

Weekly connectivity problems between Stamps.com and Shiprush.com are becoming more irritating, especially when the response is "Sorry you can't print postage, keep retrying until you can. Tier2 says the error you're getting does not exist."

I couldn't agree more rick.

I feel like an idiot recommending this software to my customer and now after 4 or 5 posts here and an email to which I have never even received a reply I can say I won't be recommending stamps.com to anyone else.

I don't what else I can do to resolve my customer's issue and I don't know what kind of supposedly reputable business just ignores their customers' (and resellers) requests for KNOWN BUG FIXES FOR MONTHS. it doesn't bode well for their future imo.

This week, I asked "What is Chuck's position within the Stamps.com organization?"

The answer was "I've been here a while and I don't know anyone named Chuck."

I have not received any response to previous escalations nor to this week's email to "Chuck".

All of the updates for the last few months have been to the Magento version.

(Rick's opinion) Most of the issues stem from Stamps contracting ShipRush/Z-firm for the ecommerce addins. ShipRush software uses Endicia as their USPS partner. Endicia is Stamps.com main competitor. Sounds like a conflict of interest to me but explains why the zencart addin takes back seat to problem resolution.

For the amount of headache, maybe the resolution is to pay a slightly higher monthly fee for the convenience and replace the Stamps.com addin with the Endicia addin.