jasmel:

I did call Stamps.com two days ago and was told that their Tech Support will call me within 24 hours. (which hasn't happened as of yet)

Finally got a call back from Stamps.com! I was instructed to download the Zen-Cart files which were put up on May 10th.

I did so and completed a winmerge. I didn't see anything that was updated other than the version number at the top:

"SHIPPINGZMESSAGES_VERSION","2.0.0.43278

from

"SHIPPINGZMESSAGES_VERSION","2.0.0.41590

This was the case for all the files:

• ShippingZClasses.php
• ShippingZMessages.php
• ShippingZSettings.php
• ShippingZZencart.php

hmmm....

***Calling them back now... hopefully I can reach somebody. (crossing fingers) listening to piano music now <insert elevator music>

Stamps.com updated their software yet again (May 27th) - or should I say ShipRush.... telling me it will now be fixed. However, still nothing has changed in the file set.

... other than the version number.

Now the version number is 2.0.0.43832 (I don't think just simply changing the version number will correct the issues with not bring in the correct rate/class for USPS) hmmm...

Do you think it will be best if I install the stamps.com module or should I just install order exporter and then import my orders using the file created?

I feel its more complicated installing the stamps.com module and the fact that it seems buggy, maybe I am better off with Order Exporter Module.

Let me know please.

I've been one of Stamps.com worst critics but must say that I've had no issues for quite a while. They finally have the Regional Flat Rate boxes coded into the system. Still waiting for the O-1096L large video box to show up in the International selection as a SmallFlat Rate option.

I have never looked at the OrderExporter that you mention but you'll have a manual process to follow each time that you use Stamps.com. Using the module, you'll only have to open Stamps.com and click "Refresh" once everything is all setup.

Once installed, when they update the code there are only 2 edits to make before uploading the update.

The folks at Stamps.com reached out to me. Well... it's fixed. The First Class and Priority now is correctly retrieved by Stamps.com when I use the Stamps.com Batch selection.

The only thing is that is works very well with the International selections (since there are so many in the USPS module for Zen-Cart) however, the Domestic selections are just very generic like:
EXPRESS
PRIORITY
FIRST CLASS
PARCEL
MEDIA
BPM
LIBRARY

Whereas International has this:
Global Express
Global Express Non-Doc Rect
Global Express Non-Doc Non-Rect
USPS GXG Envelopes
Express Mail Int
Express Mail Int Flat Rate Env
Express Mail Int Legal
Priority Mail International
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Small Box
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Med Box
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Lrg Box
Priority Mail Int DVD
Priority Mail Int Lrg Video
Priority Mail Int Legal Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Padded Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Gift Card Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Small Flat Rate Env
First Class Mail Int Lrg Env
First Class Mail Int Package
First Class Mail Int Letter

I would love to see:
Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Flat Rate Small Box
Priority Mail Flat Rate Med Box
Priority Mail Flat Rate Lrg Box
to name a few...

Any ideas how I would add these to the current USPS module?

In summary: Stamps.com integration works well now! :clap:

That's great news.

Those additional options are available in this addon USPS module
The module also has the Commercial, Regional flatrate box shipping calculations.

Also included are optional weight or volume filtering for the flatrate boxes, insurance calculations, delivery/signature options.

Option to sort the options presented to the customer from lowest to highest instead of the default order.

Volume filtering requires a small database mod and a change in product weight formatting to use decimal places 6-10 to store the product volume. It's been working nicely for us to remove shipping options presented to the customer if their order will not fit within the smaller boxes.

What version are you using of the Stamps.com batch? I just downloaded the current version and there is no difference other than version number in any of the zencart files from my current version.

Or is the difference in the main Stamps.com software? What version number?

Need some help installing stamps.com.
Info:
1.3.9H
Installed mods: Superorder 3.0, captcha using guest reviews, and Quantity by Attribute. + more.

Okay so I think I installed the files to the correct folder. Its in my public_html folder. This folder contains the index.php So it must correct based off following the directions. I also configured the key correctly.

Anyways Im on the stamps.com program running the wizard and on the step where you enter your key and store URL I got the following error:

The webstore URL is incorrect or webstore is not configured properly. Please verify this is the correct URL. ERROR: "admin/includes/classes/object_info.php" is not accessible. 

My guess as to why i am getting this error, maybe because in step 3 in read me I did not follow the directions as I am confused what to do here. I believe that this step is only to prevent unauthorized use, so I didnt get into it. I am using filezilla.

step 3: .NIX systems: In your store root directory, where these Shipping*.php files are, set all the Shipping*.*

files to permission: 444.

This can be done from many FTP clients.

From a shell prompt, in the directory where the Shipping*.* files reside, run this chmod command:

chmod 0444 Shipping*.php (This sets the files to read only, no-execute, required by SuExec and other systems)

It could also be b/c I dont have SSL? Any ideas?

EDIT: I FOLLOWED step 3 detailed above, I was kinda of confused, although I did change every .php file to 444 via filezilla and tried again. Did not make a difference, same error.

Did you change admin in the following line to match your renamed admin folder name?

Step 2: ZenCart, OSCommerce & CRE Loaded: If your "admin" directory has been changed from "admin"

(hint: it usually IS changed), this needs to be set in the relevant "ADMIN_DIRECTORY" setting below.

It's the last line in the #############"Only for Zencart Users"################ section of the ShippingZSettings file.

define("ZENCART_ADMIN_DIRECTORY","[B]admin[/B]");  // = /[B]admin[/B]/

Silly mistake on my part. My admin folder was not admin. Thank you.

Seems to be working.

However I dont think its getting the weights in correctly. I use the usps shipping module (default) and I have the free shipping option.

I know for free shipping the package becomes 1 oz. I was hoping it would put in the correct weight.

And I think the problem persists with even the usps shipping options(First class, priority etc).

So I did a test and made a fake order myself.

I got stamps.com and hit the refresh Icon and it says no new orders. I read through the help in stamps.com and it says there is a black arrow by the refresh icon where I can select intervals, however I do not see a black arrow.

Does stamps.com include the package tare weight when putting in the weight automatically? B/c My test order, based off my admin weighed at .72 lbs. .72 lbs = 11.52 ounces. Stamps.com put in 10 ounces for the packages.

My tare weight is .1

so that is .62 lbs (9.92 ounces) which stamps.com calculated. Is what I am saying true?

I've found the shipping weights to be quite accurate. Yes, what you say seems to be correct. The customer is charged the total including tare. It gives you a bit of surplus for those times that there is an unforeseen issue and/or includes the weight of the packaging.

Refresh actually does nothing. My expected response when I click that button is "Go get all orders right now and refresh the batch". That's not what it does. You just have to wait until a normal Stamps.com refresh cycle. You can help things by

• within batch
• click manage
• click edit
• click "Show system info"
• Set "Max hours" to 24
• Save
  That will prevent Stamps.com from attempting to download all orders for the past 7 days and 1 day into the future every time their server checks for new orders.

An unknown fact:
If you send customers an order shipping confirmation email from the Stamps.com software, the Order Details are automatically appended to the email. If you use Zen-cart attributes, the order details WILL BE WRONG. That's a bug that was confirmed today. If you use the checkbox to NOT send order details, Order details will be sent regardless. That's also a bug confirmed today. That checkbox currently does nothing. That's a result of a 2 hour phone call with the Stamps.com zencart plugin guru. You wouldn't believe how many grumpy customers call when the shipping confirmation details does not match their order.

Per Stamps.com the following is not an accurate statement. All of those items are not available as options and are not currently being addressed.

jasmel:

Whereas International has this:
Global Express
Global Express Non-Doc Rect
Global Express Non-Doc Non-Rect
USPS GXG Envelopes
Express Mail Int
Express Mail Int Flat Rate Env
Express Mail Int Legal
Priority Mail International
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Small Box
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Med Box
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Lrg Box
Priority Mail Int DVD
Priority Mail Int Lrg Video
Priority Mail Int Legal Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Padded Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Gift Card Flat Rate Env
Priority Mail Int Small Flat Rate Env
First Class Mail Int Lrg Env
First Class Mail Int Package
First Class Mail Int Letter

Interesting. I always had hoped stamps.com would work the way I want it when I hit refresh. This is a big downer. Seems so simple not to make it sync all the details.

I am looking into Trueship and shiprush. Both seem like great programs.

The funny thing is I found out about trueship from stamps.com(they were advertising it). And shiprush requires you get a membership from stamps.com for usps postage. I think I will check out shiprush b/c they seem to have a lot of user videos online on youtube.

If you have any info on these two programs, please share.

ps shiprush does not use encidia for shipping, they use stamps.com. So perhaps its included for us to use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjA9eTIC1qc This video got me sold on it and gave me some huge inspiration on owning a massive warehouse one day.

wildchick:

ps shiprush does not use encidia for shipping, they use stamps.com. So perhaps its included for us to use.

Actually, it's the other way around. Endicia uses the exact same ShipRush files that Stamps.com uses. The difference is in how Endicia and Stamps.com implement the code within their systems.

One day, being ticked off at Stamps.com, I created an Endicia account and took the software for a testdrive. I didn't even have to edit the files used by Stamps.com because they were identical... down to the token and admin settings. It was an easy decision to remove all traces of Endicia and resume using Stamps.com

wildchick:

I always had hoped stamps.com would work the way I want it when I hit refresh.

The automated order fetch is actually much more frequent than it was a year ago; possibly 1 hour or less intervals.

One thing that is very useful to me is that Stamps.com Insurance is less than USPS insurance and can be applied to EVERY class of postage, domestic and international..... unlike the USPS insurance.

Does anyone know how to make the free shipping option in zen-cart to be considered Priority mail by stamps.com batch mode.

Usually, stamps.com turns free shipping option into first class mail. I now need it to be priority mail. Its very tedious to go through each customers order to see who did free shipping so i can turn it into Priority mail.

Thanks!

wildchick:

Does anyone know how to make the free shipping option in zen-cart to be considered Priority mail by stamps.com batch mode.

Usually, stamps.com turns free shipping option into first class mail. I now need it to be priority mail. Its very tedious to go through each customers order to see who did free shipping so i can turn it into Priority mail.

Thanks!

I would be interested in this as well. - Would like to offer free shipping during the last week before Christmas.

*as a user of Stamps.com I am pretty impressed with their support. I have actually received multiple calls from them. Some concerning Zen-Cart and Priority shipments, and others with eBay and how all orders from eBay have the same ID number which is the listing ID and not the unique ID for the actual order. They are working on a fix for this as I am writing this post.

I have been using the presets for Priority Padded, Priority Sm Box, and Priority Video Box - I had help with a customer service agent that helped me even create a preset for International orders. Now I just checkbox all International and go to Apply: and drop down to International and click. Poof! all international packages have been set to International with my customs numbers etc... preloaded. All I have to do is fine tune the other small details if needed.

in Summary:
I would be interested in finding out how to code the free shipping to show up as Priority as well. - Would like to offer free shipping during the last week before Christmas. (I do know how to set a preset to change all orders to Priority if I have too) :blush:

Before I invest a lot of time looking into how this integration works, I want to ask: Does it work with Zen Cart 1.5.0?

I'm still using v1.3.9h but

I configured the Stamps.com ecommerce files for zencart, uploaded to my v1.5 Sandbox server root folder and Added a new zencart tab within the Stamps.com desktop software yesterday.

Stamps.com appears to be functioning as expected with zencart V1.5 without SSL enabled. I don't have an SSL cert for my sandbox and I am not ready to begin the v1.5 update on our live site just yet.

As far as the time that it takes to integrate the files; it takes longer to download the Stamps.com desktop software, setup an account with them and get it configured than it takes to edit the Add-in files and FTP them up to your server's root folder. Editing the files is only changing the ADMIN folder name and pasting the "TOKEN" that you have generated for the password into the file.

How does the integration actually work? This is for a client's site who currently has a Stamps.com account that he copy/pastes the info into from his order email... does the integration allow for him to do something like click a button and be taken to Stamps.com with the info filled in already?