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

Marco B:

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

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.

So are you saying that regular sized products would be priced by actual weight and oversized by the volume value?

In the package with the dimensions given above the ballon rate is 20 lbs. (US Zones 1-4), the dimensional weight is 26 lbs (US Zones 5-8), the international weight (actual) is 5 lbs. How would setting the volume high diffrentiate between these so an accurate shipping fee is charged?

Yes,

The volume is used by the module internally. USPS is told the origin, destination, dimensions, and weight. Shipping quotes are returned based on all that info.

The USPS API Server knows it's own rates for different services and destinations.

I can't seem to figure out how to set this up properly.

The Dimension Calculation is set to volume.

There are three test products:

#1 weighs 5 lbs. and measures 26 x 38 x 5. Product weight is entered at 5.000004940 to represent 5 lbs. & the volume (cubic inches) of 4940

#2 weighs 5 lbs. and measures 29 x 40 x 5. Product weight is entered at 5.000005800 to represent 5 lbs. & the volume (cubic inches) of 5800

#3 weighs 5 lbs. and measures 18 x 22 x 5. Product weight is entered at 5.000001980 to represent 5 lbs. & the volume (cubic inches) of 1980

I guess that the Volume Dimension Config has to be changed from the pre-set of: 12x12x12;+ to something else. It can't just be one setup because each of the above sizes work out to different dimensional weights. Help please?

I'm assuming that you are using my test version though I wonder how you managed to get a copy since I never got a pm from you asking for a copy!

How did you get it?

First turn on xml debug mode and show me what the module does in the debug box.

Marco B:

I'm assuming that you are using my test version though I wonder how you managed to get a copy since I never got a pm from you asking for a copy!

Hi Marco,

Sorry about that - I am using your test version. PM sent.

Hello,

I have decided to release another test version of the module.

This one has a language file included which makes it compatible with the zencart v1.5 beta.

The language file has all the new services added and allows you to customise your shipping service names for each language.

Let me know how it goes in the comments below! There might be some glitches so don't use this on a live site yet.

I've spoken with a few people now and the general consensus is people want volume or dimensions to be a separate field in the products admin section so I have decided to start in that direction with the next release of the module.

Hi Marco,
First I want to THANK YOU for making this module. It's made life so much easier over the "stock" version.

I'm using your ver1.21 dated Aug 29th and trying to use volume filtering. I ran the sql script, activated volume filtering in the module and added the following weight to my test item: 39.40000129920 (Yes, this is a large sucker... dimensions 16x28x29... length + girth = 117")

I only offer 4 USPS services (Priority & Express to non-ContUS) and (Priority & Express International to all non-US countries). No flat rate boxes. I'm still getting quotes for my test item when there's no way USPS will ship it! What am I missing?

THANK YOU again.
Kind Regards,
Scott

scottj:

Hi Marco,
First I want to THANK YOU for making this module. It's made life so much easier over the "stock" version.

I'm using your ver1.21 dated Aug 29th and trying to use volume filtering. I ran the sql script, activated volume filtering in the module and added the following weight to my test item: 39.40000129920 (Yes, this is a large sucker... dimensions 16x28x29... length + girth = 117")

I only offer 4 USPS services (Priority & Express to non-ContUS) and (Priority & Express International to all non-US countries). No flat rate boxes. I'm still getting quotes for my test item when there's no way USPS will ship it! What am I missing?

THANK YOU again.
Kind Regards,
Scott

Also, I manually added max volumes to the 4 methods in the module file arrays and I still get quotes. Hmmm....

Hi Scott,

You are welcome!

Since you have enabled volume based filtering you can do some tweaking in the module to have it filter the shipping services appropriately.

There are 2 large arrays in the module close to the beginning.

Edit the volume values at line 121, 139, 220, 226.

If the volume values are set to 0 the module will not filter those services based on volume. I didn't set values for those services since the dimensions can vary.

Maybe I should set sane maximum values to all those services.

Hope now that it does what you need it to do.

Marco

I tried this module on 3 websites. One is a new installed zencart website. Only the international shipping works. There's no domestic quote at all. Something wrong?

Hi colyield,
You need to give more info about how you configured the module and which version you are using.

My best guess is that you haven't enabled the domestic services or you have the filtering option enabled in a way that everything is filtered.

Getting the following DEBUG error in my cache folder, "[10-Oct-2011 21:13:48] PHP Warning: usort() [<a href='function.usort'>function.usort</a>]: Invalid comparison function in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php on line 481"

-lindasdd

You might need to uninstall/install to get all the required configuration keys. There is a sort function in the latest version and without the config setting you will get that error.

Remember to keep all your settings!

OK so here it goes; fresh install of Zen Cart 1.3.9h with RateV4, IntlRateV2 add-on (Version 1.21). I have installed the SQL patch. I've read through this entire post and cannot find the specific answer I am looking for. I have spent the past 5 days googling things every chance I get. The site is scheduled to go live next Monday. I'm at my wits end. :bangin:

My issue:
I have 2 items but different varieties of each. They all weigh the same amount. The poundage weight when computing it over from ounces is 0.03 lbs. It is 0.5 ounces (for reference). I would like to make use of the Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope. No matter what I do I can't get the padded mailer to show up unless I disable filtering. When I do it's set for $4.95 with a 1 day delivery. That all fine and dandy for about 5 items; once you order 2000 items it wants to package them all in the same mailer. Basically skipping all the bs, I know that 20 will fit into a padded envelope; 3 in a Priority Mail Small Flat Rate; 20 in a Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate (the square box); and finally 40 in the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate (also being the square version).

I want the system to package a qty. of 20 or less into a padded envelope; then have the system ship (2) padded envelopes when 20 or more are ordered. ETC... Basically stay away from the flat rate mailers and just use the padded envelope to do the orders. They are $4.95 and are a perfect price for shipping in the USA.

Sorry this is so long to read but it's better to have more information than not enough. Anything you guys want to know just post back here.

Thanks again.

PS: I have it separating the boxes accordingly using the flat rate mailers but once you get over a qty of 40 it tends to stick them all in the same box. The calculator should start all over again and ship 2 large flat rates if 80 are ordered. That's not happening though. <--------Just as a side note.

DEBUG is on and if anyone wants to take a look the site is "heavenlychicbabybowtique(dot)com".

Hi Patty,

based on what you have written there is no need to enable any service other than the padded envelope and there is no need to enable any filtering.

You can have the functionality you need by changing the shipping configuration in your store.

Log into admin and got to Configuration -> Shipping.
Then set the maximum package weight: 20x0.5oz = 0.625 pounds.
(Assuming your tare settings are zero for simplicity.)

That way the shipping class in the zen-cart core will break up the order putting 20 in each box.

Obviously there are limitations with this workaround. Properly supporting each option is quite difficult since each flat rat box has a different max weight and volume etc.

Eventually I might release an updated shipping class that deals with these scenarios better.

thanks Marco it worked. I had the max shipping weight set to the standard 70 lbs. My next question is can set any other options for flat rate boxes (small, med, large) with the configuration that you just gave me for the padded mailers? Also does your mod know what size the boxes are or is it programmed by whatever weight I give an item?

Thanks again. Really helpful mod.

Unfortunately the configuration you set will not be appropriate for other scenarios since some of the settings you used take effect outside of the shipping module. Those settings in Configuration->Shipping take effect in the shipping class which is part of the zen-cart core. It works at a higher level than the usps shipping module.

I am hoping at some point in the future to upgrade my module with some of this functionality. At the moment it's just me doing the work periodically in my free time.

The functionality you need for the flat rate boxes isn't built into my module at the moment.

Hi, I have my plugin set up working great on the site using volume and flat rate. But one thing I want fixed is that when it shows the more expensive shipping options, is there a way to just have it select the cheapest with the option of expedited? No sense when a item can be shipped in a small flat rate box, yet it shows the options for medium and large. Thanks.

Using Version 1.3.9h

I downloaded and installed the RateV4 module today in the hopes of being able to limit my shipping options to the Regional Priority Flat Rate Box A. Previously with the standard USPS module, the shipping charged was sometimes 2x actual costs.

The only shipping option set within the module is Regional FR Box A. With this configuration I am unable to get a shipping estimate for an order.

The debug error indicates it is missing a value for the service. Any ideas if this issue is with my configuration, the module, or with USPS? I didn't see anything specific to this in the thread, but to be honest - it is quite long.

Thanks,
Matt

@bpoilspill
Hi BP,
Your suggestion has come up previously and I'm going to add that feature in the next version.

@Vendovi
Hi Matt,
Check if you enabled commercial rate quoting in the module config.

Regional Rate boxes are a domestic commercial only service.