USPS API Changes

[Viking Coders]

Sorry for adding the 48th thread on this topic but obviously a lot of people are affected by the changes taking place tomorrow and I'd like to update those using (or considering) our USPS modules.

USPS International has been updated and, as the USPS rate server seems to be offering the new methods already, has been placed on our server for downloading.

USPS Advanced, which replaces--and far surpasses--our earlier USPS modules will be made available tomorrow in order to lessen the number of potential issues arising from trying to use the new rating methodology and names with the old server.

Apart from that news, I have to add: Wow, what have they done!? The technological side of things has been a real pain, with us fishing for specific API information by way of Google--and we'll likely be fishing for more tomorrow as real world meets real time--but the practical side of things for store owners looks even worse. Without considering dimensional weights, irregular or non-machinable packages, here's some before and after rate differences for a 10lb priority package to three different destinations:

Current: $8.85 $13.70 $20.25
Tomorrow: $8.80 $17.95 $31.10

Anyways, we are doing our best to get these changes as fully supported as possible and as quickly as we can. Once we are stable with the Merchant 4 compiled version, we'll move on to releasing a version for Merchant 5.

[APEGamer]

I have both your USPS Intl and USPS Advanced. I updated USPS Intl this morning (3.22), but don't see the new shipping types listed there yet (Priority Mail Intl and First Class Intl) and I'm getting the error that there are no valid shipping types. From your text above, I thought that your USPS Intl module would have the new types included. Is there something I'm missing?

[Viking Coders]

Hmm, try reinstalling (note down your license key and userID first, of course). you will probably have to first uncheck "Active" under Modules, then disable under Shipping configuration in order to get around the issue with having orders already associated with that module.

If that doesn't fix it, please go ahead and open a ticket in our helpdesk and we'll take care of it.

[aimcmc]

Is the Advanced Version ready to buy and install, now. Your web site is a bit confusing in saying that there will be a temporary upgrade on Monday morning. I'm not sure if the upgrade is done, if there's another one coming, or what. We'd rather install a version that is tested and ready to go, than having to come back for immediate bug and upgrade fixes. What's the status? Shall we buy now, or wait a little while longer. Thank you.

[Viking Coders]

Believe me, we'd rather be selling a version that won't need any further updates too but that's unlikely to happen today. We've had reports that USPS itself is having issues calculating rates with their own API.

The version currently available, 4.003, offers the new rates and seems to work fine for global-level calculations, i.e. regular whole-order shipping. There are some issues with shipping products separately and dimensional weights are not fully implemented. So I'd recommend the update especially for those who need to offer the new international methods (Priority Mail International, First-Class Mail International, Express Mail International and their sub-types).

[aimcmc]

OK, so we made the investment and got the module. But, where's the documentation? The email says there should be a html or txt file with the module, but there was none. And, we looked in your documentation section of your web site and can't find anything for the Advanced module there either.. We don't want to install it until we know how to use it. Please, where do we find the documentation for this module. Thank You.

[APEGamer]

Hmm, try reinstalling (note down your license key and userID first, of course). you will probably have to first uncheck "Active" under Modules, then disable under Shipping configuration in order to get around the issue with having orders already associated with that module.

If that doesn't fix it, please go ahead and open a ticket in our helpdesk and we'll take care of it.

Thanks for the info - we just disabled USPS Intl after updating to the new USPS Advanced 4.0.0.3, which has the new shipping options available.

Now we're fighting with page time-outs, but it's entirely possible that this is on the usps.com side, not ours.

[Viking Coders]

There is no documentation yet. The module was just released. That said, every part of the module can be set up without influencing other modules or being active. There is an enable setting for global control and check boxes for each method you want to offer. Right now however our focus is on getting things working correctly. The documentation will have to come later. Looking at our FedEx Advanced and UPS docs will cover most of the functionality.


In any case, I can report that as of now, the USPS rate server is as good as dead. Even their staging server is barely alive, taking close to 2 minutes to respond to a rate request.

[Viking Coders]

Now we're fighting with page time-outs, but it's entirely possible that this is on the usps.com side, not ours.

I'm afraid so. A direct xml post (not using the module) has been running for 4 minutes now without a response.

[rotokirby]

The rate server seems to be working again now. Props to VC for providing an updated module and keeping the community informed on the forums!

[APEGamer]

The rate server seems to be working again now. Props to VC for providing an updated module and keeping the community informed on the forums!

I concur - we're also getting responses now.

And a huge thanks for VC for doing Miva's job for them. I could be wrong, but as far as I can tell, you're the only solution for Intl shipping for Miva Merchant customers at this point. Prepare to rake in the money!

[Barrett]

1255pm Central still not getting rates for domestic Express Mail.

[rotokirby]

1255pm Central still not getting rates for domestic Express Mail.


Oops. You're right...we're not getting Express Mail rates either, but at least things are heading in the right direction. Luckily, not many of our customers use Express Mail. :eek:

[kcates]

I can't get Shipping Supermod to acquire the USPS domestic Express Mail method for the USPS Advanced module. Anyone else having this problem?

Domestic Priority and International methods work fine.

Thanks!
Ken

[Viking Coders]

We're looking at the Express issue now. It's all becoming a bit of a blur but I think they renamed the method on the server from what they had earlier--"Express mail to addressee" (which difffers from Express mail PO to PO).

[aimcmc]

Ok there's no documentation. I understand. I do though have one question though, before we install. Do we need to de-activate the standard Miva shipping module before using yours. I assume the answer would be yes, but in this business, making any assumptions, is bad business; so I thought I better ask. Thank you.

[APEGamer]

Ok there's no documentation. I understand. I do though have one question though, before we install. Do we need to de-activate the standard Miva shipping module before using yours. I assume the answer would be yes, but in this business, making any assumptions, is bad business; so I thought I better ask. Thank you.

As an FYI, I left the other shipping modules active, but unchecked all of the various shipping options.

[Viking Coders]

Unchecking the methods is an easy workaround. Merchant won't let you disable a module that has existing orders associated with it but by unchecking it under Modules and then disabling it under Shipping Config, you can remove the old module. Apart from the issue earlier with the USPS server--now humming along nicely by the look of it--shipping modules normally cooperate quite well. It's quite a robust part of Merchant.

[Viking Coders]

As of 6pm Eastern, we have the following versions available:

USPS Advanced 4.004

USPS International 3.23

There are no current issues with either that I am aware of. 4.004 tweaked some miscellaneous problems with product-level settings, especially shipping in a separate package. It also correctly feeds the new dimensions: width, size, height and girth. (Girth is the widest measure around a non-rectangular package).

A popular question has been whether the methods can be renamed. Yes, they can, in the same manner as UPS Custom and FedEx Advanced. The FAQ (http://vikingcoders.com/faq/424_433_en.html) gives details.

[Trailex]

Miva 5 soon?

[Viking Coders]

We would have loved to come through today with a 5.x version--and did get started on it--but we're going to need to focus on the current 4.x version till the dust settles. The timing is really unfortunate as we're off to the Ruby on Rails conference later in the week also.