Andrey Mikhalchuk’s Blog

The purpose of this post is not to replace the original USPS installation manual, but to provide answers that you might have while installing it. It is based on my own experience and might be different from yours. This post is a part of set related to installing and configuring your own store. Please read the master post here.

1. You need to signup for USPS web tools. You can do it here: https://secure.shippingapis.com/registration/
2. In a few minutes you’ll get the email with your web tools login and password.
3. Send email to icustomercare@usps.com asking to switch your account to production server. You don’t have to test or wait. Indeed you should not do that as API used on USPS test servers doesn’t match the API used on production servers (sic!!). I.e. your osCommerce standard USPS shipping plugin won’t work with test servers! Actually that plugin is hardcoded to use production servers, but even if you patch it USPS test servers will return you error while production server will work fine.
4. After your account is switched to production you can go to admin menu of osCommerce->Modules->Shipping->United States Postal Sevice and configure it with your account data.
5. You can also test it on a fake order. If the plugin works correctly and you will get shipping rates from USPS sever on checkout page.

1. How to establish your own internet store with osCommerce, USPS shipping, Paypal Pro payment and Coupons | Andrey Mikhalchuk's Blog Says:
   February 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm

   [...] Comments How to configure USPS plugin for osCommerce (notes on installation and configuration) | Andrey Mikha… on How to establish your own internet store with osCommerce, USPS shipping, Paypal Pro payment and [...]

2. Lewis Says:
   April 24th, 2008 at 7:49 pm

   I followed your suggestion on setting up usps for oscommerce. When I run the dummy order at checkout it recognizes that usps module is there but it simply says an error occurred. There is no other explanation. The production server is switched on. In their email they suggested I remove the word “test” from a line of code as follows:

   “There is a line of code that refers to “shippingapitest.dll”. You’ll need to remove the word “test”.”

   I have done that. Still the same results. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

3. Andrey Mikhalchuk Says:
   April 24th, 2008 at 8:09 pm

   Lewis,

   Sorry, I need more details on your situation. Please run some kind of sniffer (like tcpdump) and take a look at the messages the module and USPS are exchanging with. The command should look like “tcpdump -i eth0 -s 1500 -w dump.pcap”. If you can’t resolve the situation please send me the dump (dump.pcap file) and I’ll try to help you.

   The .dll name should be “/shippingapi.dll”

   Please also check the plugin forum - you might be using a newer version of the plugin and it might have new bugs.

   Good luck!
   Andrey

4. Lewis Says:
   April 25th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

   Hello Andrey.

   Thanks for your response. I have done response dump in the usps module and I get the following results:

   ” string(1490) ” -2147219498DomesticRatesV2;RateEngineV2.ProcessRequestPlease enter a valid ZIP Code for the sender. 1000440-2147219498DomesticRatesV2;RateEngineV2.ProcessRequestPlease enter a valid ZIP Code for the sender. 1000440-2147219498DomesticRatesV2;RateEngineV2.ProcessRequestPlease enter a valid ZIP Code for the sender. 1000440-2147219498DomesticRatesV2;RateEngineV2.ProcessRequestPlease enter a valid ZIP Code for the sender. 1000440 ”

   I have searched the admin panel over and I cannot locate a place for the sender zip code. Can you tell me how to find that, please.

   Lewis

5. Andrey Mikhalchuk Says:
   April 25th, 2008 at 7:53 pm

   Lewis,

   In admin interface try Configuration->Shipping/Packaging->Postal Code. I think this is the code this plugin requires.

   Andrey