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

I am using 1.3.9h
I added the following mod's in this order:
*Column Layout Grid
*Buttons from zen button construction (not really a mod)
*Online Group Pricing
*image handler 3
*USPS Shipping Module - RateV4, IntlRateV2

Since others are successfully using this mod, I must conclude that I am doing something wrong, or not understanding it correctly.

It appears I have a successful install, however, none of the domestic quote options appear during checkout. Additionally, all of my shipping rates have doubled since installing. Prior to install, first class and priority were showing as they should in the standard zen version of USPS shipping.

I have very lightweight products, and set the weight of each to .0625 (an ounce). I really only installed this mod to be able to add insurance. The insurance mod didn't seem to be a viable solution as it appears out of date and not compatible with 1.3.9h.

Store is live. Shipping rates with one .0625lb item show as follows:
First-Class Mail Package (2 days) $4.66
Priority Mail (1 day) $8.05
Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box (1 day) $8.15
Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (1 day) $13.90
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box (1 day) $17.90

help please?

Bonkycat-
My advice is to ALWAYS install mods in a test store to work out any "bugs" you may have.
in the mean time...
make sure to check the configuration -> shipping/packageing -> tare percentages in your admin.

Are you quoting commercial or retail rates?

Bonkycat:

The insurance mod didn't seem to be a viable solution as it appears out of date and not compatible with 1.3.9h.

If you are talking about the optional insurance mod I mentioned earlier, my live store is 1.3.9h and I have that mod installed with no problems...

Bonkycat:

none of the domestic quote options appear during checkout

If by domestic quote options you mean insurance, signature confirmation, etc. they do not actually show up when using this mod. by checking those in the set up of this module it will automatically add them on to the shipping price. this could explain the increased quote displays.

mikestaps:

If you are talking about the optional insurance mod I mentioned earlier, my live store is 1.3.9h and I have that mod installed with no problems...

If by domestic quote options you mean insurance, signature confirmation, etc. they do not actually show up when using this mod. by checking those in the set up of this module it will automatically add them on to the shipping price. this could explain the increased quote displays.

Thank you Mike!!! :hug:

Option 2 was that I wasn't understanding something, and I think you explained it. I want the insurance optional, and by the looks of the prices, you are dead right. I am also thrilled to hear you are using the optional insurance mod with no trouble, so I have uninstalled this one and will try that one.

On another note.... I have heard mention of "test store" before... no laughing now... but I haven't a clue how to do that. :blush:

Thanks again for sorting this out for me so quickly. Now I can go back to the other issue I was working on before I played with this.

Ok, so this is me opening my mouth and inserting my foot!!!! FIRMLY!! :oops:
The optional insurance mod DOES NOT work with this mod. I'm going to get on that and see what I can do...

LOL! Your foot is fine. I actually read every post in this thread before posting my own question and did see they won't play nicely together, but that is ok. I can tweak the standard zen shipping to work for me by playing with weight. The optional insurance is a necessity for my business, so I will install it without the other.

Bonky-
sent PM with tips on setting up test store...

I'm going to release an update which will allow you to easily customise the shipping service names using an updated language file. It allows for multi-language support if anyone wants to implement USPS in other languages.

Also if insurance or other options are enabled it can show on the quote with price being optional. It can be fully customised in the language file.

Making insurance optional is tricky. I'm experimenting with another way of selecting shipping services instead of using tickboxes.

It would be another text area field where a quote option will be entered on each line with parameters. This would replace the tick boxes if it is used. It would allow a flexibility that I cant get with the standard shipping module config methods.

fcm-le,sig (First-Class Mail Large Envelope with Signature Confirmation)
pri-hfp,ins (Priority Mail - Hold for Pickup with Insurance)
pri-hfp (Priority Mail - Hold for Pickup)
pri-lfrb,ins (Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box with Insurance) 

It should allow for every possible combination people would want.

The update with the language file will come first. I'm still thinking about the draft concept above for shipping options.

jasmel:

My USPS Priority orders has more than quadrupled since I installed this mod! I think it is due to the fact that the USPS first class estimated delivery time shows either 6 days or 7 days, when in fact it is more like 3-4 days from West Coast to East Coast. Have I done something wrong which causes the First Class to show up with higher estimated times?

Wondering if my orders are being affected by the longer estimated times. *old USPS module had 2-5 days listed.

Thanks.

I'm not sure why that would be happening. If you give me a couple zipcodes I'll see if there is a problem.

When it says 7 days it might mean that the module had trouble retrieving the estimated shipping time since 7 days is the fallback value if it fails.

Marco-
So I have managed to add the products volume to the product set up page in the admin. From testing all seams to be good. I uploaded all of the files I edited to here if you want to check it out. Now to look at implementing it into the USPS module (right after I finish with the opt. ins., if its even possible)

After some extensive testing I have found the the Optional Insurance Mod DOES in fact play nice with this USPS module. :bigups:
check it out here (it automatically tuns off if you select UPS, but works for USPS...)
The optional ins. mod is an order total mod and is independent of the USPS shipping module.
Now back to the volume checking "hack" of this USPS module...

Marco B:

I'm going to release an update which will allow you to easily customise the shipping service names using an updated language file. It allows for multi-language support if anyone wants to implement USPS in other languages.

This would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
lindasdd

mikestaps:

After some extensive testing I have found the the Optional Insurance Mod DOES in fact play nice with this USPS module. :bigups:
check it out here (it automatically tuns off if you select UPS, but works for USPS...)
The optional ins. mod is an order total mod and is independent of the USPS shipping module.
Now back to the volume checking "hack" of this USPS module...

You'll find that your method of implementation will require more 'hacks' of core zen-cart files. Thats why I re-tasked the weight field.

It's not just a matter of getting the field in the database and having it editable in the admin section. Now you either have to edit the shipping and/or order class to retrieve the volume field for the products array. Or you have to do another database lookup in the shipping module code to retrieve and add up the product volumes.

Once I've improved the framework for my module I will start looking at writing an improved shipping class that can properly handle volumes and drop shipping. I'm not at that stage yet...

Hmm, what I would like about a separate volume field is that it would be easier for people to use.

The drawback is in maintaining the code because core files are being modified.

I'd like to hear from a few people on this. What do you think is better?

Well, you know my vote!!! LOL

Separate field definitely more user friendly.

Core file mods are not as user friendly for casual users, especially when it comes to zencart upgrade time to a different version.

Since I have the volume working at present, it's not an issue for me 'as-is' and we don't have a couple gazillion products to modify the weights on.

Optional insurance would be nice but it's difficult to implement since Stamps.com provides insurance for every domestic and international class and the USPS does not. I would like to be able to offer insurance as an option for domestic but require it for international. I looked at the other addon for that but didn't implement it for some reason or another. It may have been that it didn't play well in my sandbox and I didn't have the patience to troubleshoot.

I am trying to see if this mod would work for us for dimensional weight. Most of the products that are oversized are different sizes and we make the boxes to accommodate them so there is no standard box size.

The only way I see to set it up would be in the shipping mod configuration and not by product. Is there a way to set up the box size by product so that if the product is oversized it would bump it into dimensional weight?

bigbusybee:

I am trying to see if this mod would work for us for dimensional weight. Most of the products that are oversized are different sizes and we make the boxes to accommodate them so there is no standard box size.

The only way I see to set it up would be in the shipping mod configuration and not by product. Is there a way to set up the box size by product so that if the product is oversized it would bump it into dimensional weight?

Have you had a look at this modules volume support?

I would ignore the box dimensions and look at it in terms of volume. Most shipping providers will charge based on overall volume unless the shape is really unusual.

The next version will allow you to set dimensions based on volume. As long as the quoted price is right you don't have to worry about the actual box dimensions. The minor differences in shape shouldn't effect price if it's configured right.

Marco B:

Have you had a look at this modules volume support?

I would ignore the box dimensions and look at it in terms of volume. Most shipping providers will charge based on overall volume unless the shape is really unusual.

Hi Marco,

I am new to Zen Cart but think that you created this module and thank you for it.

Regarding volume, I assume that it means shipping in volume which we don't.

The products that dimensional weight applies to are framed items that are large and relatively flat. It would not be unusual to have a box that is 26" x 38" x 5". We certainly wouldn't have them in volume as most of the items we ship are unframed and rolled in tubes. Some times it is more economical to ship large items via UPS or Fedex so we do that as well. However, International shipments will always go via USPS.

In order to use dimensional weight we would really need it to be per over sized product. We cannot compensate by just upping the weight of the item to the dimensional weight because Zone 1 & 2 Domestic use Balloon Weight versus Dimensional Weight for the other Zones and International shipping does not use dimensional weight at all.

Using the box size above the weight gets bumped up to 26 lbs. to Zone 8. If I marked the product at 26 lbs. the price for shipping to Canada would be $69.10 vs the correct price of $28.65 and to the UK $103.65 vs the correct price of $41.70.

Any ideas how we could make this work?

My module allows for a volume value (cubic inches) which is separate from weight.

I have a test version of my module for dimensions based on volume.

What you can do is set volume high for items that are oversized. Then apply a set of dimensions for orders above volume x that allows you to qualify for balloon rate.

If you are interested in trying the test version of my module send me a pm with your email address. Just don't apply the test version to a live site. Use a test store for this sort of thing.