USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

I have the latest module installed and it works so much better! I want to offer flat rate priority mail service, but for every cart it offers small, medium and large boxes and I'm sure my customers will choose the cheaper option. Is there a way to control which option is presented to the customers by some attribute?

kwrosenzweig:

For every cart it offers small, medium and large boxes and I'm sure my customers will choose the cheaper option. Is there a way to control which option is presented to the customers by some attribute?
With the current module functionality - no.

The moment one of the dimensions goes over 12" it will disable all the flat-rate or "regular" size options.

I will post an update this weekend which fixes:
The minor bug mentioned in the previous post.
Speed improvement going from checkout_shipping --> checkout_payment page.
Adding USPS specified dimensions to the flat rat boxes so the dimension config can be used to filter them by weight.

I haven't looked into the USPS envelope sizing limits/exceptions for various services. If USPS put all this info in one convenient spot I would really appreciate it. It seems like it's all over the place!

I might add an option that allows people to enable or disable size-limit checking for envelopes and packages so the functionality doesn't get in the way.

Just a quick update.

Weight filtering is going and someone is helping me test that feature.

I also implemented quote caching to speed stop the same quote from being retrieved more than once in a customers session. This should speed up going from 'checkout_shipping' to 'checkout_payment'.

I decided to hold off from releasing to get another option going.
Filtering shipping quotes by volume. (see attached)

To use this feature there is a small patch to apply to the shop database. It's harmless and doesn't change your data. It only converts the products_weight field to "double" precision and keeps all existing data. It allows me to store the volume in the additional digits.

I just thought of this - but if you use product attributes my volume handling code will work for that too, since an attribute can add extra weight to a product it can also add the extra volume simultaneously!

The beauty of this approach: I don't need to edit any core files or change the product admin section to implement it.

Here is the SQL Query you will need to run:

ALTER TABLE products CHANGE products_weight products_weight DOUBLE NOT NULL DEFAULT '0';
UPDATE products SET products_weight=ROUND(`products_weight`,5);
ALTER TABLE products_attributes CHANGE products_attributes_weight products_attributes_weight` DOUBLE NOT NULL DEFAULT '0';
UPDATE products_attributes SET products_attributes_weight=ROUND(`products_attributes_weight`,5);

I am using this module and finally got it to work. Not because of the plugin but stupid USPS took forever to activate my web tools ID.

Now it works I would need to do the following:
I have stuff to ship that needs to be delivered next day.
Therefore I want only rates to show up that makes next day delivery
possible.
How can I narrow down to show only the "1 day" options?
I have to consider also 1 day might be available for one customer but not for another depending where the destination area is.

Thanks for any help

This module can't filter by transit time. You will have to check with usps to find out what areas around your location are covered by 1 day delivery guarantee.

I'm leaning on the side of using another module at the moment, perhaps something like http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63608

Find out if it can disable shipping if it doesn't recognize a zip code and bring up a note saying shipping isn't supported for that region.

I might add filtering by state or zip code ranges to my module at some point. Maybe after I've tested and gotten the product volume/quote filtering system going.

If you really want to use the usps module for this you can modify the module.

Find the following code around line 410.

        for ($i=0; $i<$size; $i++) {
          list($type, $cost) = each($uspsQuote[$i]);

and add the following underneath so it looks like this:

        for ($i=0; $i<$size; $i++) {
          list($type, $cost) = each($uspsQuote[$i]);
          if (!strstr($transittime[$type],'Tomorrow')) {
            if (($i+1)==$size && empty($methods)) {
              $this->quotes = array(
                'module' => $this->title,
                'error' => 'Sorry, Overnight Shipping is not available to your location.');
            }
            continue;
          }

And that should do what you need, though it relies on the 'Display Transit times' option to be ticked in the module config.

And if that works for you buy me a couple drinks!

Thank you for the quick reply.
Understand the logic behind your suggestions and guess it will work this way.
Just have the issue I can't find the code you mentioned above.
I am using the latest update from the plugin and not the one that was posted here in the beginning of the thread. I looked at the PHP file and the version = version $Id: usps.php 65043 2011-26-05.
It seems the coding is a little different.

Could you please point me where I should put your suggested coding?

Thanks again
Michael

Hi Michael,

The new code starts at line 384 in that file version.

Though you could have used the search function in the text editor for that! Thats why I said 'around line 410.'

Since I was working with my current development copy.

Marco

Theres a decent text editor you can use. For windows I recommend Notepad++

Hello everyone,

Using Zen Cart 1.39h and the May 26 version of this module.

We had problems from the beginning. First, I was told I could not connect to the the testing server.

When I registered with USPS, the confirmation email told me to use a different dll for the testing server (shippingAPITest.dll instead of shippingAPI.dll), so I changed the dll name on line 682 and we started connecting.

Now, I'm getting "RateV4 is not a valid API name for this protocol" errors.

For reference, I started with the January 2011 version of this module and received the exact same error with RateV3.

Any suggestions?

Beth

After a lot of head banging, USPS moved me to the production server, which solved the invalid API problem.

I have looked through this thread, I have a stright forward questions, can you advise if the USPS RateV4 Supports Priority Mail Flat Rate package (Small Med Large) rates. I may be missing it but I do not see that this is implemented???

Thanks

vintagenyc:

I have looked through this thread, I have a stright forward questions, can you advise if the USPS RateV4 Supports Priority Mail Flat Rate package (Small Med Large) rates. I may be missing it but I do not see that this is implemented???

Thanks

Ok I belive it does after reading all the interactions....good stuff

One additional question I did see some minor discussion is with regard to the transist time with flat rate, can that be displayed with the shipping options from the USPS server?

I real quick dumb question, what does this module do that is different from what comes with zen?

If I set free shipping for some items on my web, how to add handling charges for these free shipping items, I tried many ways, not work. Need your help!
Thank you!

Emilylee518:

If I set free shipping for some items on my web, how to add handling charges for these free shipping items, I tried many ways, not work. Need your help!
Thank you!
I haven't got a mechanism in this module that adds handling fees for specific products. In shipping modules handling is normally calculated per order or per box.

I suppose you could add the handling fee to the product price.

davalf:

I real quick dumb question, what does this module do that is different from what comes with zen?

Have a look though the beginning of the thread, or check the documentation packaged with the module once you download it. That should help you decide.

Ok, I'm releasing this version for anyone daring enough to test it.

This version has some speed improvements like caching and now requires php 5 or later.

It can filter using volume if you apply the sql patch mentioned earlier.
Filtering parameters haven't been added to the international services yet. It should work for domestic services.

I added quoting for optional services - like insurance etc..

If you want help find bugs - go for it!

Hi I installed this Mod....

and I'm having Trouble.

For example - I sale all different types of items small and Big. Range from ounces to pounds. I sell what is call SETS on my site. These normally are shipped in Priority mail Large flat rate boxes.
How do I Set this only to the type of Product?

I want ALL SETS that are sold to have Shipping Option to Priority Large Flat Rate Mail. How?????

The rest I want First Class mail and if they buy a bunch of stuff Advance to Priority mail, But the Proper Priority mail - Flat rate boxes Small padded Envelope to Small Boxes to large.

I hope I have made it clear on what I would like to do.
if not just ask and i'll fill ya in.

Thank you......... Please I need to fix this Soon.......

For example - I sale all different types of items small and Big. Range from ounces to pounds. I sell what is call SETS on my site. These normally are shipped in Priority mail Large flat rate boxes.
How do I Set this only to the type of Product?

You can use the volume based filtering. That gives you a way to customise the shipping service which is independent from weight.

Just curious. What should happen if multiple 'SETS' are bought? Do you want to send 2 large flat rate boxes? In a normal scenario it would use a different shipping service to handle larger volumes that don't fit in a particular flat rate box.

The rest I want First Class mail and if they buy a bunch of stuff Advance to Priority mail, But the Proper Priority mail - Flat rate boxes Small padded Envelope to Small Boxes to large.

The first class options should not show up once the weight goes over. You can tick/untick the shipping services you want to quote and use the filtering options provided.

volume based filtering. ok I have that set on my site, But it is still not Configuring from small to large items...

What should happen if multiple 'SETS' are bought? Then it will have to go to ups don't know how to do that either.

But I'm having so much trouble since I upgraded. The SETs Are normally 10lbs... I have added this in the shipping weight area : 10.000000600 That seemed to change everything to Regualr Priority mail not LArge FLat rate box.

Now after I did that I tried a smaller Item that ways 1 oz with code 0.0625 and It never shows the first class option it just show regular Priority. I've download - Re-installed - Re-installed and Re-installed. Not working right.......

All I want to do is Have anything over 10lbs (SETS) Ship in a LArge Flat Rate Box..

and everything ounces Ship First Class... Why is it not working? Please Help me.
Thank You.

Turn on XML Debug in the shipping module while you are configuring. It will show you how and why the items are being filtered and what is happening behind the scenes.

Otherwise you can give me your store url and I'll have a quick look at it.