USPS API Update July 28 2013 - UPDATE - A PATCH HAS BEEN RELEASED TO FIX THIS ISSUE

[Rick Wilson]

On July 28, 2013 USPS pushed out an API update.

We had advanced notice of this update (by about 3 weeks) and had a chance to test it in their development environment last week.

During our testing in their development environment, our existing module worked fine and much like the previous USPS API Update it was only cosmetic regarding the names of the services.

When they pushed these API Changes live today, something as yet to be determined was different than their testing environment they provided us last week and as of right now our current module is unable to get live rates from USPS.

We are testing and attempting to understand why the module isn't working in the live environment when it worked in the test environment.

We will update this thread as we know more, in the meantime you'll need to use a Fallback Shipping method or other method of getting live rates until we can remedy the situation.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

We've since learned that the only versions impacted by yesterdays changes are stores running PR8 Update 9 or 10.

We will be putting out an "emergency" patch that only contains a fix for this module, there's a chance it will come out today but more likely tomorrow.

[willough]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

How will this be affecting older MM4 stores? We have one store using the VC Advanced USPS module and those live rates are not working either. How to resolve? Nothing posted on the VC site. I know this older module is not currently supported.


Barry

[Rick Wilson]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

I have no idea how this will impact the Viking Coders 4.x module, my best guess is it's broken at this point and unlikely to be fixed (just like we're not updating our 4.x module any longer).

I will email Viking and see if I can get an official update from them.

[jsdva]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

..."emergency" patch that only contains a fix for this module, there's a chance it will come out today but more likely tomorrow.

Thanks for the fast work on this. It is also a good learning lesson as to why stores should always have a back-up or more than one shipping method...you just never know...thank goodness my clients all have more than one.

Jamie

[emediasalesvp]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Hi all,
Yes we have been working on the issue as well. We should have our fix before end of day. I would appreciate that if you are reading this to also create a ticket in our support system as we are answering all your tickets in order that they have come in.
You can create your ticket here: https://clients.emediasales.com/admin.php
NOTE: We are not updating version 4 as Rick had mentioned earlier.

[nrodney]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Thanks for the fast work on this. It is also a good learning lesson as to why stores should always have a back-up or more than one shipping method...you just never know...thank goodness my clients all have more than one.

Jamie

To create a Fallback Shipping Method, log in to your admin and perform the following steps:

1.) Click on the "+" next to "Shipping Settings".
2.) Click on "Shipping Rules".

In the master Shipping Rules menu, you can select one of the following options for the "When no Shipping Methods are Available" feature to handle the operation your store will perform when there are no shipping methods available.

(Option 1) Use Fallback Shipping Method:

3a.) Selecting "Use Fallback Shipping Method" allows you to prevent shipping errors from occurring and take orders, even if shipping rates cannot be retrieved from a carrier.
4a.) Enter a name for your shipping method in the "Fallback Shipping Method Description" field. Enter a price for your shipping method in the "Fallback Shipping Method Price" field. You can enter a fixed price for shipping, or you can have shipping calculated as a percentage of the order subtotal.

or

(Option 2) Display Error Message and Redirect Shopper to Page:

3b.) Selecting "Display Error Message and Redirect Shopper to Page" will allow you to redirect shoppers to a page of your choosing, which you can customize to give information to your shoppers instructing them on how to proceed with their order.
4b.) Select a page from the drop-down menu that you wish to redirect shoppers to when shipping cannot be calculated.

5.) Click "Update".


Check out our PR8 Reference Guide for more detailed information regarding Shipping Rules via the following link:

Production Release 8 Reference Guide: http://www.mivamerchant.com/referenceguide

[emediasalesvp]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Hi All,
Our update is now available. Please submit a ticket and we will do the instal for you.
Also, we did update the V4 store module as well.
Thank you,
Jeremy Pritchet

[whona]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Any update on this? I've got quite a few customers who do not want UPS, which is our only other method of shipping.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Yes we'll be streaming out the update in the next hour or so.

[whona]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Okay, USPS is now working with the update, but UPS has disappeared.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Our built in UPS module can't display rates side by side with USPS due to a legal restriction that comes from UPS. That is how it's worked since we released our updates UPS module about 18 months ago.

[whona]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Further to my investigation, there is a greyed out "EXCLUDES" option in the shipping rules, whenever U.S.P.S. is present. This field cannot be changed.

[whona]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

Ah, we just switched from the older UPS to the tools feature. So basically, we can no longer use UPS as a shipping method.

[Rick Wilson]

Re: USPS API Update July 28 2013 - Broke Our Current Module

It's worth noting we're actively working with UPS on the legal issue and we hope it will get resolved in the long run. There's another thread on this that goes into much more detail.