USPS is unable to recognize a valid address in Australia

I have a store which regularly receives order from International addresses including Australia. But a customer tried to enter the following address and USPS does not recognize it
12 Riverdowns Cr
Helensvale,
Helensvale, 4212
QLD, Australia

I thought the problem might be QLD for Queensland but the store abbreviates it to QLD. Both my customer and myself have tried it number of times without being able to have USPS recognize the address.

Ajey you are the authority on USPS module. So I hope you will be able to shed some light on this problem,

The version is 1.3.9f and we have received many good orders from Australia. It must be this particular address that is causing the problem perhaps because of abbreviation. Please help.

What is the weight that you are trying to ship?

What is the Ship From?

Do you have the current January 2, 2011 version C from post #26 installed:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171314

The weight is just under 5 pounds. I have the latest update. Recently I have received several orders from Australia, New Zealand etc. The only thing I can think of is QLD for Queensland but even that is forced by the store.

What shipping methods do you have active on the USPS shipping module ...

I do not understand. Just the regular USPS module without any changes from me.

Here is the detail
SPS Options
Display weight, Display transit time

Domestic Shipping Methods
PRIORITY, FIRST CLASS, PARCEL, MEDIA

International Shipping Methods
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Small Box, Priority Mail Int DVD, Priority Mail Int Lrg Video, First Class Mail Int Package

Debug Mode
Off

Here is message from USPS
United States Postal Service
We are unable to find a USPS shipping quote suitable for your mailing address and the shipping methods we typically use.
If you prefer to use USPS as your shipping method, please contact us for assistance.
(Please check that your Zip Code is entered correctly.)

I haven't used the shipping module to send to AU, but I have shipped many packages down under and that address doesn't look right. Especially the two Helensvales. Looking at the addresses for packages I've mailed it should be something like:

Name

Street (or PO Box)

Helensvale, QLD 4212
Australia

I don't know if the territory (Queensland) needs to be spelled out or not for the software - doing it by hand you can spell out or abbreviate, but in all the packages I've sent it's on the same line as the place (Helensvale).

tried the following address
Ian Bell
12 Riverdowns Cr
Helensvale, 4212
QLD, Australia

but it too fails.

These are what I get on 4lbs to that address:

United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (First-Class Mail International Large Envelope** (Varies by destination)) $32.45
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (First-Class Mail International Package** (Varies by destination)) $32.87
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Envelope** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Gift Card Flat Rate Envelope** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Padded Flat Rate Envelope** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Large Video Flat Rate Box** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International DVD Flat Rate Box** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Box** (6 - 10 business days)) $13.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Medium Flat Rate Box (6 - 10 business days)) $45.50
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International Large Flat Rate Box (6 - 10 business days)) $58.50
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Priority Mail International (6 - 10 business days)) $43.30
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Express Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope (3 - 5 business days)) $29.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelope (3 - 5 business days)) $29.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Express Mail International (3 - 5 business days)) $51.85
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (USPS GXG Envelopes** (1 - 3 business days)) $101.30
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Global Express Guaranteed Non-Document Non-Rectangular (1 - 3 business days)) $101.30
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Global Express Guaranteed Non-Document Rectangular (1 - 3 business days)) $101.30
United States Postal Service (1 x 4.00lbs) (Global Express Guaranteed (GXG)** (1 - 3 business days)) $101.30

Go to the Modules ... Shipping ... and save the current settings you have to NotePad ...

Then, can you try to hit REMOVE, INSTALL and reconfigure your USPS shipping module?

I was able to get an estimate for that address without signing in. The problem starts only after you establish an account using that address. Did you create an account using that address?

Yes I have tried both the shipping estimator and creating an account ...

Have you an URL where we can try this?

www,arunachala.org/bookstore

I will PM the email and password. The items are in the cart

Arunachala:

www,arunachala.org/bookstore

I will PM the email and password. The items are in the cart
That should be https://www.arunachala.org/bookstore

What are your settings in the Configuration ... Shipping/Packaging ...

Be aware ...

with the current weight in your cart, these are the only shipping methods that will work ...

United Parcel Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Worldwide Saver) $181.94
United Parcel Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Worldwide Expedited) $174.36
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) (1 - 3 business days)) $130.85
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Global Express Guaranteed Non-Document Rectangular (1 - 3 business days)) $130.85
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Global Express Guaranteed Non-Document Non-Rectangular (1 - 3 business days)) $130.85
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (USPS GXG Envelopes (1 - 3 business days)) $130.85
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Express Mail International (3 - 5 business days)) $69.40
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelope (3 - 5 business days)) $29.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Express Mail International Legal Flat Rate Envelope (3 - 5 business days)) $29.95
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Priority Mail International (6 - 10 business days)) $58.65
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Priority Mail International Large Flat Rate Box (6 - 10 business days)) $58.50
United States Postal Service (1 x 6.95lbs) (Priority Mail International Medium Flat Rate Box (6 - 10 business days)) $45.50

I see the problem. Donuts and coffee on the way.:clap:

I only have
International Shipping Methods
Priority Mail Int Flat Rate Small Box, Priority Mail Int DVD, Priority Mail Int Lrg Video, First Class Mail Int Package
Is this a recent change? I will add more options. Sorry for all the trouble.

It might be that you have not had a large enough order to get the weight higher than the limit for the shipping methods that you have chosen ...

I was able to fit the order in two flat rate envelopes costing 13.95 each. It appears we can save customers money on shipping internationally if we can force USPS to a maximum weight of 3.75 pounds per box internationally. However that will affect the domestic rates unfavorably. It appears a simple change in code can allow different weight limits per box for international and domestic packets. Does Ajeh's beta version of USPS mod include a built-in option to set different maximum weights for domestic and international.