USPS Shipping Module Setup - Help Needed!!!

[diamondcutter]

Hello,

 

I am in need of some serious help. I have an ecommerce website and I need to set up the shipping module so that it is integrated with USPS Shipping. I am not a developer, and in fact I hired a developer to create my site. I'm going to have my developer investigate this, but I would like to see if I could do it myself. I can do HTML and use text editors, but that's basically the extent of my knowledge. I don't know anything about PHP, API scripts, XML, etc.

 

In researching the OSCommerce forums, I've been overwhelmed with a lot of information. One source states that I'll need to start by requesting USPS Web Tools (http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=90365&mode=linear).

 

However, I went to the Contributions section (http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,487/category,all/search,USPS) and when I downloaded "USPS Methods v2.8b", it indicated that I need to register at www.uspsprioritymail.com.

 

I am really confused which (if any) of these methods I need to use. I just want my website to be able to quote shipping based on USPS information. If I could integrate shipping labels, that would be nice too.

 

So my questions are these...

 

1) Given my lack of development knowledge (as mentioned above, all I know is HTML), do I even have the capability of doing this myself. The things that I've read so far indicate that I'll need knowledge of API scripts, XML, etc.?

 

2) Can someone give me very detailed, step-by-step (but in common man's terms) how to integrate USPS into my website? Even if I can't do it myself, I can forward it to my web developer who could probably figure out.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[♥Monika in Germany]

Hello,

 

I am in need of some serious help. I have an ecommerce website and I need to set up the shipping module so that it is integrated with USPS Shipping. I am not a developer, and in fact I hired a developer to create my site. I'm going to have my developer investigate this, but I would like to see if I could do it myself. I can do HTML and use text editors, but that's basically the extent of my knowledge. I don't know anything about PHP, API scripts, XML, etc.

 

In researching the OSCommerce forums, I've been overwhelmed with a lot of information. One source states that I'll need to start by requesting USPS Web Tools (http://www.oscommerce.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=90365&mode=linear).

 

However, I went to the Contributions section (http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contributions,487/category,all/search,USPS) and when I downloaded "USPS Methods v2.8b", it indicated that I need to register at www.uspsprioritymail.com.

 

I am really confused which (if any) of these methods I need to use. I just want my website to be able to quote shipping based on USPS information. If I could integrate shipping labels, that would be nice too.

 

So my questions are these...

 

1) Given my lack of development knowledge (as mentioned above, all I know is HTML), do I even have the capability of doing this myself. The things that I've read so far indicate that I'll need knowledge of API scripts, XML, etc.?

 

2) Can someone give me very detailed, step-by-step (but in common man's terms) how to integrate USPS into my website? Even if I can't do it myself, I can forward it to my web developer who could probably figure out.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

step 1: get a USPS account

step 2: get a webtool account, link is in admin -> moduls -> shipping, you can see it after you install the usps module

step 3: email usps to change you over to production server as soon as their confirmation email gets in

step 4: enter account/pw info into module, and change it to live server

 

done!

[diamondcutter]

step 1: get a USPS account

step 2: get a webtool account, link is in admin -> moduls -> shipping, you can see it after you install the usps module

step 3: email usps to change you over to production server as soon as their confirmation email gets in

step 4: enter account/pw info into module, and change it to live server

 

done!

 

Hi Monika,

 

Thank you very much for the help! I really appreciate it :D

 

I have one more question. I've done everything and it seems like it's working great; however, there is 1 snag. When a user checks out, the total weight of the shipping is listed as 3 lbs. greater than I entered for the product. For example, if I entered a total weight of 0.20 lbs for a product, the total shipping weight upon checkout will be 3.20 lbs. Do you know why 3 lbs. is always added to the shipping weight?

 

Let me know...thanks!

Ryan

[diamondcutter]

I just figured it out. I had to change the the Package/Tare Weight in the Shipping Configuration. Thanks!