USPS Problem with large order 389 lbs

I love the new module. Great to have more accurate time in transit figures. More configurable. Great job guys!

I have a small problem. I have an order from Egypt - haven't checked other countries for same bug. When asking for a quote, the quote comes up. But after logging and trying to order, there is no results for USPS. Only for UPS at 3X the cost. The order is large. 389 lbs.

I tried changing the max weight to 1000 lbs for International Priority in settings but that didn't do it. Note, before I changed that setting, I was getting the quote for 389 lbs before logging in. I guess the system is automatically allowing for multiple shipments.

ZC version is 1.3.9h,
PHP Version: 5.2.17 (Zend: 2.2.0),
USPS Module - latest as of right now: USPS v15 Ratev4 2013_0127 R2013_0729_J5

Set the Maximum weight to 70 ...

What are your Tare Rate settings?

After you make that change ... could you go to the Modules ... Shipping ... and EDIT the USPS and turn on the DEBUG to LOGS ...

Next, try your quote again when NOT logged in ...

Then, login and try the quote again ...

In your /logs directory (that will be /cache in older versions of Zen Cart) you will see the shipping logs that start with SHIP ... please Zip the logs and attach them to your post here ...

Thank you very much. Linda, first of all, I must confess: I have to think. I am not yet Zenned. :)

But I can envision a time where I can just know. :)

Ok, I did as you asked. Here are the results:

Tare settings:

Enter the Maximum Package Weight you will ship 65
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 11:.32
Larger packages - added packaging percentage:weight 10:2
Display Number of Boxes and Weight Status 2
Order Free Shipping 0 Weight Status 0
Shipping Estimator Display Settings for Shopping Cart 1
Display Order Comments on Admin Invoice 1
Display Order Comments on Admin Packing Slip 1
Country of Origin

I'm sorry, but since I updated from the 28 July 13 version to the latest version, now I don't get a rate when I use the "Estimate Shipping" button when not logged in anymore. So the log file is from when i'm logged in and trying to get a rate quote.

Additional info: I actually have 2 sites running. The 2nd site has the version of the USPS module from 28 July 13, and it will still give me a rate quote for 352 lbs for USPS Priority Mail to Egypt. So, I'm attaching the log file for that site. This 2nd site has the same behavior I originally reported. When not logged in, I get a quote successfully, and when I am logged in, I no longer can get a USPS price.

While I am looking at this, can you check your two sites in ...

Go to your Zen Cart Admin and go to Tools ... Developers Tool Kit ...

In the bottom input box enter:
usps.php

Then, select Catalog ... click SEARCH ...

What comes up on the lines for:

• @version $Id: usps.php

back in a few ...

Site 1: (with latest USPS mod:)

Site 2: (With USPS Mod of 28 July 13)

You do not have USPS July 28, 2013 J5 on both servers ...

See if that helps ...

Yesterday, both sites used the J version of the software - 28 July 13. They both would allow me to see the cost of USPS shipping for orders of 323 lbs.
When I upgraded site 1 to J5, I lost the ability to use the estimate shipping option when not logged in. Now I can't see shipping whether logged in or not logged in. This is a step in the wrong direction for me. I would like to resolve this on site 1, and then I will do the fixes to both sites.

But for sure, the upgrade to J5 doesn't fix this particular issue.

I am using USPS J5 with your settings and I am working ...

Let me go install that again on another server and configure USPS J5, and a Product, and Address Boook etc. etc. etc. and test again and see if I can be broke like you or if we have to look deeper at your server ... :blink:

Drat! I was hoping this was just about the larger weight. I'll dig around and see if I can figure out a way that my setup isn't standard. I don't think any mods would affect this, but I'll dig into that too.

By the way, I'm able to work with a shipment of 88 lbs. But when I double that size, it breaks. I'll find the exact point where it breaks. That may suggest a problem.

When you actually walk into USPS or the nice USPS man comes to the door ... is that 389lb in 1 big box or a lot of little box keeping under 70lbs each?

What is the total value of that Order?

If I am not mistaken, your shipping available methods are hitting limits on the amount of the Order Total and cannot be shipped ...

So I really need to know how your total $$$ and weight per box work ...

Ajeh:

If I am not mistaken, your shipping available methods are hitting limits on the amount of the Order Total and cannot be shipped ...

So I really need to know how your total $$$ and weight per box work ...

Ajeh:

If I am not mistaken, your shipping available methods are hitting limits on the amount of the Order Total and cannot be shipped ...

So I really need to know how your total $$$ and weight per box work ...

This particular order is 4 systems, and each system will ship separately. Each system is $2,400 each, but he gets 15% off of this order. Total Value is about $9K or so.

By shipping each system separately, we don't have any trouble with USPS limits. The dollar value has never been an issue, at least insofar as USPS accepting the shipment. We don't buy insurance, so I think the value isn't an issue.

But I think customers should be able to get the USPS ship option even if the weight is high. It would be up to us to break it down into USPS eatable boxes.

The new USPS July 28, 2013 J5 version passes a lot more information to USPS for the quotes ...

The 2013 January 27 version passed less than the 2013 March 28 version ...

Because this information is all being passed to USPS, it is seeing either the $9600 to $8160 amount and both are exceeding an USPS limit ...

We know that when we "talk" about it that you know what happens when you break the Order up for the 4 packages, as you just described ...

The problem is, the code does not address that issue ...

I am going to have to fool with this code to figure out how to make this "work around" the issue ...

Off the top of your head ... do you know what quotes this order would "normally" result in for you?

Ajeh:

Off the top of your head ... do you know what quotes this order would "normally" result in for you?

Thank you very much.

I'm not sure I understand your question perfectly. I think you need the data to program this function into the module. The module would have to know how many packages I would break the shipment into, because in general, the more packages that are sent for the same total weight, the more the postage would cost. Is that the basic programming question you are trying to resolve?

For me, on large orders like this, if I don't get all the shipping expenses back, I'm still OK. Because these are big profitable orders. So this is not a big concern for me. But for others it would be I think, so must be confronted.

I believe, if there were a setting that gave the maximum box weight to be used in large orders, that would work. For instance, lets say that the max box weight is 50 lbs. Then if the module got pricing for 7 boxes @ 50 lbs and 1 box at 39 lbs, that could work (total weight of 389 lbs). I would make that setting close to the USPS maximum weights, and this would keep the shipping cost to the customer low. But that should make a doable function to calculate what to ask USPS for and should be configurable for any user so that they are asking the correct amount for shipping.

I don't know if I answered your question or not. The USPS module, before logging in, gave me a price of $1440 to ship that order, which is 6 boxes @ 66 lbs. And that would work I checked with USPS and the cost of each box would be $240. With my tare settings, I will be able to ship that order for less than $1,440.

I hope in my ramblings, I've answered your question.

I sure appreciate the attention you're giving to this matter. I think it's time I bought the ZenCart guys another cup of coffee. :)

Let's try something ...

This customization is only for you, Mike, so try renaming your current file:
/includes/modules/shipping/usps.php

to something like:
/includes/modules/shipping/usps_OLD_HALF_WORKING.php

Then load this version to your server to test ...

What it does it manage the Order Total $$$ and divides it by the number of boxes so that it is lowered and can get quotes ...

The question is, how accurate is this for you ...

NOTE: there are a few echo's in the file that I was using for testing around line 921-924 that can be commented out but are there to see what values are being used/converted ...

This works perfectly in all respects in these circumstances:

1. not logged in - estimate shipping
2. logged in and checking out

But it breaks when logged in and pressing the estimate shipping button. See the screen shot. The pricing is less then 1/10th what it should be.

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

And this is a Product set to $2399.00 and 88lb, correct?

Ajeh:

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

And this is a Product set to $2399.00 and 88lb, correct?

Sorry for the delay. The post didn't update due to an error, and I didn't notice it until now.

Shipping/Packaging
Title Value Action
Country of Origin United States Info
Postal Code 97138 Info
Enter the Maximum Package Weight you will ship 70
Package Tare Small to Medium - added percentage:weight 11:.32 Info
Larger packages - added packaging percentage:weight 10:2 Info
Display Number of Boxes and Weight Status 2 Info
Order Free Shipping 0 Weight Status 0 Info
Shipping Estimator Display Settings for Shopping Cart 1 Info
Display Order Comments on Admin Invoice 1 Info
Display Order Comments on Admin Packing Slip 1

Note, I tried other weights in the max weight I will ship field. But they all came up with the same results. Actually, I tried 999 lbs, but that returned no results. But 66, 70, 88, 99, and 120 all gave the same results I posted earlier.