I called USPS last night. They agree there is no API update on there site. And they would give me nothing over the phone. I asked who I need to call for this info. the answer was basically "don't call us, we will call you". They took my email address. And that was it.
After playing with settings I agree there are no changes required if you are going to use the First Class Parcel rate. Because the First class settings will default to the higher Parcel rate. If you want to test and make a display change do the two following changes in /includes/modules/shipping/usps.php.
With no other changes, USPS returns First Class - Package rates. Which is what I needed.
Change this:
$usps_server = 'production.shippingapis.com';
To this:
$usps_server = 'stg-production.shippingapis.com';
This:
'First Class' => 'First-Class Mail',
To This:
'First Class' => 'First Class Parcel',
Other things I learned yesterday by process of expimentation, but not needed for Monday are.
// old
// $request = 'API=Rate&XML=' . urlencode($request);
// change to
$request = 'API=RateV3&XML=' . urlencode($request);
// old
// $request .= '</RateRequest>';
// change to
$request .= '</RateV3Request>';
// old
// $request = '<RateRequest USERID="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_USERID . '" PASSWORD="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_PASSWORD . '">';
// change to
$request = '<RateV3Request USERID="' . MODULE_SHIPPING_USPS_USERID . '">';
// old
//'<Service>' . $key . '</Service>' .
//'<ZipOrigination>' . SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP . '</ZipOrigination>' .
// change to
'<Service>' . $key . '</Service>' .
'<FirstClassMailType>(1 of 3 new terms we dont know yet)</FirstClassMailType>' .
'<ZipOrigination>' . SHIPPING_ORIGIN_ZIP . '</ZipOrigination>' .
