Can't complete checkout process

[jbnova]

I've recently started getting an error when going through the checkout process. The problem seems to be directly related to the USPS API. When calling the USPS API, the site times out and gives the following error:

 

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in /home/***/public_html/store/includes/classes/http_client.php on line 330

 

If I turn off the USPS module, and just use "Flat Rate" it works fine. To test the problem, I made two fresh installations of osCommerce – one is installed on the same server as the problem site mentioned above, the other is installed on a different server. The fresh install on the problem server times out. The fresh install on the different server works fine.

 

So...the problem appears to be related to the server (though it only gives me trouble when accessing the USPS API or the UPS API that used to be included in previous versions of OSC). Both servers are with the same hosting company and appear to be configured the same. My hosting company isists that the problem is not on their end (of course!). Any suggestions on what a possible cause may be for the 30 second Fatal Error? I would like to give the server administrator some sort of clue if it is in fact a correction that needs to be made on their end.

 

Thanks!

[usernamenone]

And you have signed up for accounts with both UPS and USPS.

 

And you have your account user names and passwords inplace?

 

They don't work without account information and will produce errors trying to access their online modules.

[jbnova]

Yes. The problem exists with four different sites on the same server. Three of them have been in place and working fine for several years. The fourth is a fresh install that I launched for testing purposes.

[pigames]

USPS stopped working for me also. They must be having problems.

[jbnova]

I'm experiencing the problem with both USPS and UPS. However, the UPS problem only occurs with the original UPS module that used to come built-in to OSC. If I use the UPS (XML) contribution and turn off USPS, then the process goes through no problem.

 

Just as a test, I installed another brand of shopping cart on the server (Zcart) and it has the same exact problem. With either the USPS or UPS module turned on, it times out. In the case of Zcart, though, I get a blank page instead of the "Fatal Error."

[Guest]

I'm experiencing the problem with both USPS and UPS. However, the UPS problem only occurs with the original UPS module that used to come built-in to OSC. If I use the UPS (XML) contribution and turn off USPS, then the process goes through no problem.

 

Just as a test, I installed another brand of shopping cart on the server (Zcart) and it has the same exact problem. With either the USPS or UPS module turned on, it times out. In the case of Zcart, though, I get a blank page instead of the "Fatal Error."

 

 

Same thing happening on my site! I hope this is resolved soon. If anyone hears anything please let us know there seems to be quite a few shops out there that are having the same issue, and if haven't checked your site in a while now would be a good time.

[nickjo]

I e-mailed USPS and am going to call them to see if I can find out any information. I also contacted their domains e-mail address provided in their whois looking for answers.

 

Looks like it is working again.

[nicklestud]

Just to confirm - USPS API was shut down briefly on April 23rd in the early afternoon. For my site (Host in California) it is now up and running.

 

(All the same settings I have been using for a few years are not changed and work fine.)