Hey everyone. I've been testing out the USPS shipping method it was pretty smooth sailing until now.
When I estimate the shipping price for any item using priority mail, I get the price for buying postage at the postal office. USPS offers a online method that is cheaper where you pay and print the postage, but I don't know how to implement this. I checked by using the USPS calculator on their website.
Is there a third party addon that could solve this issue or am I just out of luck?
I don't need the process automated, I just need the price for priority mail to match the online postage price.
Any help would be appreciated
I would like to add another issue I'm seeing with the real time calculator. This thread seems appropriate for this instead of creating a whole new one. The calculator on my site overcharges way more than it costs to ship. Instead of charging something like $20 for priority mail, it charges $40. Has anyone encountered this issue and found a fix for it?
The problem is that I think that it's driving away my customers at times when it's time to ship.
Thanks for the help as always.
[quote]I just need the price for priority mail to match the online postage price.[/quote]
You should be able to add a - (Negative) surcharge amount to any of your USPS Realtime shipping methods to match this 10% discount as long as you are using CS-Cart versions 2.1.3 and later. 
Maybe I could do the same thing to fix my rates if I see that they are consistently higher by a certain percentage. Has anyone had the same problem as me with the real time calculator?
Thanks
[quote name='dstars' timestamp='1321875287' post='126428']
Maybe I could do the same thing to fix my rates if I see that they are consistently higher by a certain percentage. Has anyone had the same problem as me with the real time calculator?
Thanks
[/quote]
Hi,
I only use real time USPS international and the rates are exactly what is shown in USPS.com without any commercial discount. I have used real-time USPS in cs-cart for 1st class and Priority and they are exact also. Not sure why yours is so far off, I never experienced that. Seems like something is wrong with your weights or something else. Current versions allow for package size and types. I never used these features and if set incorrectly could be the cause of the discrepancy.
As far as the difference in price of, I think 5% (commercial rate) for some USPS postage classes between the cs-cart real-time rates and the USPS clip and ship rates, I tend to like this. The 5% difference makes up for some shipping costs: software/Zebra printer/labels/packaging. This way I don't add any handling fee. Shipping expenses is more than just the postage.
Bob
I agree with Bob on this. The discount I get from USPS.com using Click n Ship is not passed on to the customer. But Struck has the correct course of action to take if you want to give the discount to the customer: enter a negative surcharge equal to the discount you are getting for each service.
I found that the only time my Testing rates were off was when I had not set my default address to my own location. The testing rates use the default address as the originating zip code.
Thanks guys for the help.
This is the settings I have. Let me know if you see anything weird.
Shipping Methods: USPS priority mail
Delivery time:2-5 days
Weight limit: 0.01-70
Under the general tab.
Weight 0.01-70.00
Rate calculation: Realtime
Shipping service USPS Priority mail
Under Shipping Settings —> USPS tab
International USPS Type of mail: Package
Domestic USPS Package size: Regular
First Class Mail Type: Letter
Machinable: True
Container: None
Container (express): None
Priority mail width: 10
Priority mail length: 10
Priority mail height: 10
Priority mail girth: 20
I doubled check my address under Company and General and I have the right zip code. In case it was trying to ship from somewhere else.
I will also send an email to USPS to check on any error with my account.
I will let you guys know if I find out anything.
Thanks
Specify the package width, height and length for Priority mail, if Package Size is Large only. For First Class I use Parcel (not Letter), because I ship small package via First Class (under 13 ounces).
Here are the exact fields I use successfully for International U.S.P.S. (as CS-Cart calls it):
Type of Mail: Package
Container: None
Package width: 0
Package length: 0
Package height: 0
Package girth: 0
Package size: Regular
Extra service (none selected)
Domestic U.S.P.S values are:
Package Size: Regular (0…84)
First Class Mail Type: Parcel
Machinable: False
Container (Priority Mail): None
Container (Express): None
The four fields for the dimensions of the package are all empty
Extra service: none selected
Don't specify dimensions unless you are using the exact same dimensions for each shipment. These fields are values that USPS have defined and are used by shipping software all over the country. The values allow for dynamic configurations that CS-Cart doesn't do. CS-Cart will use ONE configuration for each Class of Service you set up for a shipper.
The good news is that First Class mail for packages under 13 ounces and First Class International for packages under 4 pounds is a cheap shipping method you can set up and not lose money on. My overseas customers really appreciate the First Class International rate.
I only set up USPS Priority Mail as my shipping method.
I changed my settings to yours below:
Domestic U.S.P.S values are:
Package Size: Regular (0…84)
First Class Mail Type: Parcel
Machinable: False
Container (Priority Mail): None
Container (Express): None
The four fields for the dimensions of the package are all empty
Extra service: none selected
I had a 16lb item to my cart and I calculate the shipping and it comes as $55.20. But on USPS.com they only estimate $15.70 for priority mail. No wonder my clients are not ordering. This is so crazy, it makes no sense to me. If I can't figure it out, I might have to disable shipping and make it free.
[quote]Machinable: False[/quote]
Typically you would want this to be set at “True”
Also, Under “Shipping Methods”, double check the Priority Mail shipping method you have created and make sure you have the Shipping Service setting to be: USPS Priority Mail
Hello Struck,
I just gave it a shot and see if it makes a difference and it's still calculating $55.20 for my example above.
Thanks for the help though.
Did you also double check this:
[quote]Also, Under “Shipping Methods”, double check the Priority Mail shipping method you have created and make sure you have the Shipping Service setting to be: USPS Priority Mail[/quote]
My bet is this is where the problem is…
[quote name=‘Struck’ timestamp=‘1322008280’ post=‘126594’]
Did you also double check this:
My bet is this is where the problem is…
[/quote]
Yes I have USPS Priority Mail selected from the drop down menu. I’m telling you this is crazy.
Alright, go to the actual “Product Details” page, then Shipping Properties for the product you are testing with, make certain that you do not have any dimensions entered in the Box Length, Width, Height fields that may be causing a conflict.
(Hang in there because there are several of us getting spot on rates returned on a continuous basis!) 
[quote name=‘Struck’ timestamp=‘1322009402’ post=‘126598’]
Alright, go to the actual “Product Details” page, then Shipping Properties for the product you are testing with, make certain that you do not have any dimensions entered in the Box Length, Width, Height fields that may be causing a conflict.
(Hang in there because there are several of us getting spot on rates returned on a continuous basis!)
[/quote]
I went to the actual product I am testing with. I scrolled down to Pricing/Inventory, and I see the weight is set but I don’t see anything for dimensions. Am I in the right place?
Also, out of curiosity, go to Settings>General>Default Location
Make certain that all of these address fields are “Blank” other than setting your “Default Country” to US (assuming your market focus is the US).
[quote]I scrolled down to Pricing/Inventory, and I see the weight is set but I don’t see anything for dimensions. Am I in the right place?[/quote]
No!
Go back to your product and click the tab called “Shipping Properties”
Then also check the product weight within that area to verify it is also set correctly.
BTW, What CS-Cart version are you actually using?
I don't have the Shipping properties tab in my product view.
I am using version 2.1.2.
Thanks!
[quote]I don’t the Shipping properties tab in my product view.
I am using version 2.1.2.[/quote]
Of course you don’t, it was added to version 2.1.3 onward! 
Double check your “Default Location” settings as I mentioned above to see what you have entered in those address fields.