Hello,

I'm using USPS as my primary shipping options. Lately I keep on getting emails from them saying that they will be revising their APIs on May 14th and I wonder if it will require any updates on my end. Can anyone of the developers shed some light on how this will affect (if at all) us?

P.S. Here are the USPS options that I use, just in case it matters:

I use ProductCart v.2.76p2

Thank You!

I'd love to know the answer to this as well.  I was planning to restart my "migration to v3" project before then...but, in case I can't find the time...any changes I need to make to 2.76 to keep our business going?

ProductCart currently uses Version 2 of the USPS API. According to the message sent by USPS, RateV2 will still be supported after the release of RateV3, so there should not be any disruption of service (i.e. USPS rates should still be returned after the new API is released). This makes sense to us as it would not be sensible for USPS to render existing online stores incapabable of showing USPS rates.

That said, the new API has features that we will want to incorporate into ProductCart. We plan to update the current implementation of USPS for ProductCart v3.1, which will be released in June of 2007.

The only issue, from what we can see, is for large packages sent via USPS Priority Mail, were the current API could return incorrect rates as the parameters used to calculate the rates have changed.

Specifically "[...] USPS is introducing a new dimensional weight pricing model for Large Priority Mail pieces. Dimensional weighting is a mechanism that converts the cubic size of a piece into a weight. If a large box is very light, it will be charged as a higher-weight piece, based on the International Air Transport Association (IATA) standard. This change only affects Priority Mail pieces larger than 1 cubic foot, and traveling to destinations within zones 5-8. [...]"

ProductCart v3.1 will "pass" to the new USPS API the package dimensions so that rates can be properly calculated, as long as the dimensions have been entered on a product by product basis using the Oversized Item settings in the Add/Edit product page. Otherwise, the default package dimensions will be used.

ProductCart v3.051 and below do not pass these values to USPS, which could result into incorrect USPS Priority Mail rates for large packages. Again, this is something that will be corrected with the 3.1 release.

This caught us by surprise as the previous communications by USPS seemed to indicate the opposite (as mentioned above). We are working on a fix and we will try to have it available as soon as possible.

We will post some information here and on the "Just In" section of the http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/index.asp - ProductCart Support Center as soon as our development team has created a fix.

First Class inside of the US is not working correctly. The correct service is now called First Class Mail Parcel - at least thats what I was told earlier today at the post office (maybe if you ship flat envelopes that service is still being called First Class, but the quote I get through the site is not correct even in this case).

Parcel Post - again incorrect qoutes are returned.

Priority Mail - looks good.

Express Mail - looks good.

International rates are not returning at all as someone mentioned above.

Regarding the changes that just went into effect at USPS, there are several categories of mail services, especially for international services, that have been deleted and the names of others changed.

For example:
Global Express Mail is now Express Mail International
Airmail Parcel Post is now Priority Mail International

Is ProductCart v2.7 going to get an update so these new names can be reflected on the shipping preferences and settings?

We have posted the files to fix the issue with USPS International rates in the "Just In" section of the http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/index.asp - ProductCart Support Center . The zip file contains a fix for versions 2.76 and above.

Submit a support request if you are still not able to retrieve rates after you have updated your store's files.

To bad, we need the fix for 2.75.  Is there a way to have it available.

Hello,

I've wrote an email to you, but just in case you guys check forum more often, Domestic Rates are still not correct.

Priority Mail - works fine.

Express Mail - incorect amount being pulled.

Parcel Post - incorrect amount being pulled.

First Class - it's useless now. What we need is "First Class Mail Parcel" option and it's not being pulled as First Class and there is no seperate option for it.

More details on these were included in the email I sent you.

Also on a topic of shipping. I was wondering if there are any way to allow customers to select such optional services as Delivery Confirmation number and Insurance?

Thank You!

Will there be a release for 2.76?

I'm jammed on upgrading to v3 (even though I've purchased it), and, I really need this to work again.  It's costing me money every time someone needs something shipped to Canada...and, I'm sure it's costing me business when the only shipping rate they see is UPS (which is insanely expensive).

I've been trying to go through support, but, they don't seem to be aware of this issue.  Further, I haven't had an e-mail response to my last two e-mails.

Please let me know how I can proceed.

It sounds like you are referring to the issue that surfaced back in May where USPS made changes that affected the display of International rates.  If so, you can download a patch from the following page:

http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/archive.asp" eudora="autourl - http://www.earlyimpact.com/productcart/support/archive.asp

Specifically, see the section:

U.S. Postal Service International Rates change in product names.

On May 14, 2007 USPS implemented many shipping changes. One of those changes was to restructure International Mail prices and along with that change were updates in the International product names. We have updated the necessary files so that you are able to return rates for international shipments via USPS.

Here is the specific Zip file that contains a fix for v2.76 stores:

http://www.earlyimpact.com/temp/justin/USPS_Updates_v276-v3051_051507.zip" eudora="autourl - http://www.earlyimpact.com/temp/justin/USPS_Updates_v276-v30 51_051507.zip

Let us know if that does not resolve your problem.

The ZIP file posted was exactly what I needed, thank you!

I'm not sure why the support group didn't get my e-mail responses.  I know how tricky that can be with the amount of spam we all deal with these days.

Thanks for getting our shop back into the international shipping business!