Web Tools Integrator Notice: January 27, 2013 USPS Price Change

We just got this email from USPS.



Web Tools customer;



On January 27, 2013, the Postal Service will update domestic pricing and mailing standards and international prices and product features. For detailed information on prices, mailing standards and new product features, please reference the Federal Register Notices and Pricing Files viewable at [url=“http://pe.usps.com/”]http://pe.usps.com/[/url].



Price Change updates will be available in the Web Tools testing environment for integrator access on or around January 14, 2013. The test environment can be accessed, using your production UserID, via the following URL scheme, host and path:

  •     Secure APIs: [url="https://stg-secure.shippingapis.com/ShippingApi.dll"]https://stg-secure.shippingapis.com/ShippingApi.dll[/url]<br />
    
  •     Non-secure APIs: [url="http://stg-production.shippingapis.com/ShippingApi.dll"]http://stg-production.shippingapis.com/ShippingApi.dll[/url]<br />
    

Below is a summary of changes to each affected API. Please note that the changes below are intended to be backwards compatible, however, may not be depending on how individual programs and applications are integrated with the APIs. If you rely upon a third party developer (e.g. software or ecommerce/cart provider) for USPS products and services on your website or in your application, please direct any questions to them.

[b]Domestic Rate Calculator APIs[/b]
- RateV4
[indent=1]o Updated product and extra service prices[/indent]
[indent=1]o Parcel Post renamed Standard Post[/indent]
[indent=1]§ When = “ALL,” ”ONLINE,” or “PARCEL POST”, WebTools ClientServiceID="4" (MailService=“Parcel Post®”) will return as MailService=“Standard Post®”[/indent]
[indent=1]§ New enumeration “STANDARD POST” will be available and return Standard Post single-piece postage and extra services pricing and availability[/indent]
[indent=1]o Delivery Confirmation renamed USPS Tracking/Delivery Confirmation[/indent]
[indent=1]§ When =”2” and is [u]not[/u] “ALL,” ”ONLINE,” “PLUS”, WebTools SpecialService ServiceID="13" (ServiceName=“Delivery Confirmation™”) will return as ServiceName=“USPS Tracking/Delivery Confirmation™” [/indent]
- RateV3
[indent=1]o Updated product and extra service prices[/indent]
[indent=1]o Parcel Post renamed Standard Post[/indent]
[indent=1]§ When = “ALL,” ”ONLINE,” or “PARCEL POST”, WebTools ClientServiceID="4" (MailService=“Parcel Post®”) will return as MailService=“Standard Post®”[/indent]

[b]Domestic Label APIs[/b]
- Express Mail Label (ExpressMailLabel) and Hold For Pickup Express (HoldForPickupExpress)
[indent=1]o Intelligent Mail® Package Barcode (IMpb)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Presence of optional NineDigitRoutingZip tag as the final tag of the request will trigger the return of the IMpb barcode on January 27, 2013[/indent]
[indent=1]§ The IMpb barcode will be returned in all responses effective February 24, 2013[/indent]
[indent=1]§ For more information on the IMpb, please reference [url="https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailpackage"]https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=intellmailpackage[/url][/indent]
- Delivery/Signature Confirmation (DeliveryConfirmationV2, V3, V4; SignatureConfirmationV3, V4)
[indent=1]o Parcel Post renamed Standard Post[/indent]
[indent=1]§ New enumeration “STANDARD POST” will be available[/indent]
[indent=1]o Label Image Changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Product banner text updates for rebranding of “Parcel Post” to “Standard Post”[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Service banner text updates for rebranding of “Delivery Confirmation™” service to “USPS TRACKING #”[/indent]
- Merchandise Return Service (MerchandiseReturnV2, V3, V4)
[indent=1]o Intelligent Mail® Package Barcode (IMpb)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Response will return 30 digit IMpb barcode format as default[/indent]
[indent=1]§ tag (optional tag, optional value) added as the last request tag to indicate five or nine digit routing zip code (30 and 34-digit IMpb barcode).[/indent]
[indent=1]§ New enumeration “STANDARD POST” will be available[/indent]
[indent=1]o Label Image Changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Product banner text updates for rebranding of “Parcel Post” to “Standard Post”[/indent]

[b]International Rate Calculator APIs[/b]
- IntlRateV2 and IntlRate
[indent=1]o Updated product and extra service prices[/indent]
[indent=1]o USPS e-Delivery Confirmation International[/indent]
[indent=1]§ New USPS e-Delivery Confirmation International extra service available for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Box and First Class Mail International (ServiceID=”9”)[/indent]
[indent=1]o First-Class Mail® International Parcel name change:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ When = “ALL” or ”PACKAGE” , WebTools Service ID="15" (SvcDescription=“First-Class Mail® International Parcel**”) will now return as SvcDescription=“First-Class Package International Service™”[/indent]
[indent=1]o Extra service Restricted Delivery (ServiceID=’3’) will no longer be available for international products[/indent]
[indent=1]o Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes will have a four pound maximum weight[/indent]

[b]International Label APIs[/b]
- Express Mail International (ExpressMailIntl)
[indent=1]o tag (optional tag, optional value) added to group[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “4BY6LABEL” added as enumeration to tag; returns 4x6 label image when used[/indent]
[indent=1]o Image changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ 4x6 label image added as an option[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “Total Qty” field added to the label image[/indent]
[indent=1]§ value returned in From Address section of label image (Format: 555-555-5555)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ General label image text and instructions updates.[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Detailed description of contents” now “Detailed Description of Contents”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Contents” now “Contents: (Check All That Apply)”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Postage and Fees” now “Total Postage/Fees”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “0” defaulted in weight column when no value provided in NetPounds or NetOunces tag[/indent]
[indent=1]· Date update to September 2012[/indent]
- Priority Mail International (PriorityMailIntl)
[indent=1]o tag (optional tag, optional value) added to group[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “4BY6LABEL” added as enumeration to tag; returns 4x6 label image when used[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “4BY6LABEL” valid for all labels except the Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Box[/indent]
[indent=1]o Extra services[/indent]
[indent=1]§ group (optional tags, optional values) added to the end of the request schema, with repeating tags as children[/indent]
[indent=1]§ "9" added as enumeration to to indicate Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International is desired[/indent]
[indent=1]· Valid only for requests for the Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Box[/indent]
[indent=1]§ group (optional tags, optional values) added to response schema, with tag grouping , and tags as children[/indent]
[indent=1]o Image changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ 4x6 label image added as an option[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “Total Qty” field added to the label image[/indent]
[indent=1]§ value returned in From Address section of label image (Format: 555-555-5555)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ General label image text and instructions updates:[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Detailed description of contents” now “Detailed Description of Contents”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Contents” now “Contents: (Check All That Apply)”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Postage and Fees” now “Total Postage/Fees”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “0” defaulted in weight column when no value provided in NetPounds or NetOunces tag[/indent]
[indent=1]· Date update to September 2012[/indent]
[indent=1]o Image changes (Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Box)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Country of Origin and HS Tariff Number fields added[/indent]
[indent=1]§ value returned in From Address section of label image (Format: 555-555-5555)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ General label image text and instructions updates:[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Detailed description of contents” now “Detailed Description of Contents”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Contents” now “Contents: (Check All That Apply)”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “AES/ITN/Exemption” now “AES Exemption”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “0” defaulted in weight column when no value provided in NetPounds or NetOunces tag[/indent]
[indent=1]· Date update to September 2012[/indent]
- First Class Mail International (FirstClassMailIntl)
[indent=1]o Extra services[/indent]
[indent=1]§ group (optional tags, optional values) added to the end of the request schema (just before new PriceOptions tag), with repeating tags as children[/indent]
[indent=1]§ "9" added as enumeration to to indicate Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International is desired[/indent]
[indent=1]§ group (optional tags, optional values) added to response schema, with tag grouping , and tags as children[/indent]
[indent=1]o tag (optional tag, optional value) added to the end of the request schema[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Valid enumerations are “RETAIL” (default), “COMMERCIAL BASE” and “COMMERCIAL PLUS”[/indent]
[indent=1]o Image changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Rebranding of “First-Class Mail International” to “First-Class Package International Service™” in banner and receipt text[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Country of Origin and HS Tariff Number fields added[/indent]
[indent=1]§ value returned in From Address section of label image (Format: 555-555-5555)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ General label image text and instructions updates:[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Detailed description of contents” now “Detailed Description of Contents”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Contents” now “Contents: (Check All That Apply)”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “AES/ITN/Exemption” now “AES Exemption”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “0” defaulted in weight column when no value provided in NetPounds or NetOunces tag[/indent]
[indent=1]· Date update to September 2012[/indent]
- 2976A Customs Form (CP72V3)
[indent=1]o tag (optional tag, optional value) added to group[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “4BY6LABEL” added as enumeration to tag; returns 4x6 label image when used[/indent]
[indent=1]o Image changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ 4x6 label image added as an option[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “Total Qty” field added to the label image[/indent]
[indent=1]§ value returned in From Address section of label image (Format: 555-555-5555)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ General label image text and instructions updates:[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Detailed description of contents” now “Detailed Description of Contents”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “HS tariff number” now “HS Tariff Number”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Country of origin of goods” now “Country of Origin”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Contents” now “Contents: (Check All That Apply)”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Postage and Fees” now “Total Postage/Fees”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Commercial sample” now “Commercial Sample”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Returned goods” now “Returned Goods”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “0” defaulted in weight column when no value provided in NetPounds or NetOunces tag[/indent]
[indent=1]· Date update to September 2012[/indent]
- 2976 Customs Form (CN22V2)
[indent=1]o tag (optional tag, optional value) added to the end of each group[/indent]
[indent=1]o Image changes:[/indent]
[indent=1]§ “Country of Origin” field added[/indent]
[indent=1]§ value returned in From Address section of label image (Format: 555-555-5555)[/indent]
[indent=1]§ Mailing Office Date Stamp added to top copy[/indent]
[indent=1]§ General text and instructions updates:[/indent]
[indent=1]· “IMPORTANT: …” text on label face now “IMPORTANT: The item/parcel may be opened officially. See Privacy Notice on next printed page.”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Detailed description of contents” now “Detailed Description of Contents”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Contents” now “Contents: (Check All That Apply)”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “AES/ITN/Exemption” now “AES Exemption”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Commercial sample” now “Commercial Sample”[/indent]
[indent=1]· “Country of Origin of Goods _______” text removed[/indent]
[indent=1]· Total sum of item quantities displayed.[/indent]
[indent=1]· “0” defaulted in weight column when no value provided in NetPounds or NetOunces tag[/indent]
[indent=1]· Date update to September 2012[/indent]

For questions and concerns, please contact our customer support at 1-800-344-7779 or [email="uspstechsupport@esecurecare.net"]uspstechsupport@esecurecare.net[/email].
______________

Web Tools Program Office
USPS Digital Access

We received this message as well. Hopefully it won't be a repeat of the last time this happened. Has anyone at CS-Cart had a chance to verify these changes won't cause problems?

[quote name='asmith' timestamp='1359061914' post='153567']

We received this message as well. Hopefully it won't be a repeat of the last time this happened. Has anyone at CS-Cart had a chance to verify these changes won't cause problems?

[/quote]

Unfortunately we have not heard anything about this from CS-Cart; but after several years of never ending bugs and lengthly patches for issues like this, it's not suprising.

Hello all,



Thank you for your messages.



We have contacted USPS regarding these changes and they told us that all the necessary changes will be made on their side and there is no need to change the USPS script in CS-Cart.



Thank you.





Pavel Zyukin

CS-Cart Support team

Not so fast … USPS First-Class Mail International no longer works.


[quote]

[color=#282828][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][indent=1]o First-Class Mail® International Parcel name change:[/font][/color][/indent]

[color=#282828][font=arial, verdana, tahoma, sans-serif][indent=1]§ When = “ALL” or ”PACKAGE” , WebTools Service ID=“15” (SvcDescription=“First-Class Mail® International Parcel**”) will now return as SvcDescription=“First-Class Package International Service™”[/font][/color][/indent]

[/quote]

I can confirm this. Real time USPS Priority works, but not First Class International Parcel. The only option a Canadian customer has to ship a 4 ounce Earring is $28.25 for Priority instead of 7.35 for First Class (this went up a lot).

Bob

Fixed … First, make a backup copy of your database before making ANY change!!



In the CS-Cart database,

cscart_shipping_services >> Find field service_id “204” >>> Change 'code' field to “First Class Package International Service”.

cscart_shipping_service_descriptions >> Find field service_id “204” >>> Change 'description' field to “USPS First-Class Package International Service”



-Tim

Parcel post isn't working either. I guess needs a new name as well.

In cscart_shipping_services > I changed “Parcel Post M” to “Standard Post”

In cscart_shipping_service_descriptions > I changed “USPS Parcel Machinable” to “Standard Post”



Seems to be working

Thanks!

I did not use Parcel Post so I was not aware that option was no longer working as well. With these price increases I just might have to offer it now.

Hello all,



Thank you for your messages.



Indeed, it seems that the appropriate changes still should be made to CS-Cart according to the new changes on the USPS side. We have sent another e-mail message to the USPS support team in order to find out whether any additional changes should be made. Last time from their answer we understood that nothing needs to be changed. In fact it was wrong. I apologize for my previous confusing answer.



I am glad to hear that you have found a solution to the issue with the USPS First Class International service. Still if some of you experience any other issues related to recent USPS changes, please do not hesitate to contact us via Customer Help Desk and describe your issue in detail so that we could provide instructions on how to resolve it or resolve the issue directly on your server if you wish. Note that this issue is still being examined by our engineers though there is already a fix provided in this forum thread. They need to check this fix first and see if some other changes are required so that we could provide you with the proper instructions.



Thank you.





Pavel Zyukin

CS-Cart Support team

[quote name='Tim Hensel' timestamp='1359334777' post='153779'] Fixed … First, make a backup copy of your database before making ANY change!! In the CS-Cart database, cscart_shipping_services >> Find field service_id “204” >>> Change 'code' field to “First Class Package International Service”. cscart_shipping_service_descriptions >> Find field service_id “204” >>> Change 'description' field to “USPS First-Class Package International Service” -Tim [/quote]



There should be a dash in First-Class. Now it works. Thanks Tim.



CS-Cart database, cscart_shipping_services >> Find field service_id “204” >>> Change 'code' field to “First-Class Package International Service”.

[quote name='CS-Cart Support team' timestamp='1359095125' post='153612']

Hello all,



Thank you for your messages.



We have contacted USPS regarding these changes and they told us that all the necessary changes will be made on their side and there is no need to change the USPS script in CS-Cart.



Thank you.





Pavel Zyukin

CS-Cart Support team

[/quote]



Well they were wrong. Im using 3.0.2 and First Class International no longer works. It is forcing people to use USPS Priority International. The fix above works great though!

Hello parodius420,



Thank you for your message.



You are right. As I told in my previous message, USPS provided us with wrong information about the necessary changes. I am glad to hear that you have resolved this issue with using the fix provided in this thread. We will certainly include the fix for this problem in the next CS-Cart release.



Thank you.





Pavel Zyukin

CS-Cart Support team