Configuring USPS Shipping

Overview

This configuration screen allows you to turn on, edit, and configure the information necessary to use United States Postal Shipping (USPS) in real-time. You will need to contact USPS as well to get their approval as well as sign a licensing agreement to use their platform Application Programming Interface (API).

Navigation

To navigate to the Shipping Configuration, click Configuration>>Realtime Shipping>>USPS Shipping from the menu.

Commands

• Click on the checkbox Use USPS to incorporate US Postage Shipping Rate Calculations.
• Type in the name provided to you by the US Post Office for your Username. This is NOT the same as your USPS website login username. You must contact USPS and obtain permission to use their API to receive this Login.
• Type in the name provided to you by the US Post Office for your Password.
• Click on Select Services and specify what US Postage services you wish to display. You may select an individual service or All of them. By default, All is specified.
• Click on Select Packaging and specify what type of US Postage packaging you wish to use. You may select a certain type of packaging or select My Packaging. By default, My Packaging is normally specified.
• Click on Select Size and specify whether you are using Normal, Large or Oversized packages. By default, Normal is normally specified.
• Click on the appropriate radio button for Weight Unit. This is the weight your products have been entered in with. You can only specify a single weight.
• Click on the appropriate radio button for Registered or Insured. These options specify whether you plan on sending packages registered or insured and need these prices accumulated into the rate calculations. By default, these are not selected.
• Select Yes or No for the appropriate radio button for Machinable. These options specify whether your packages can be sent through a machine to determine the zip code. Check with US Post Office regulations if you are unsure. By default, Yes is selected.
• Enter a percent value into the Extra Surcharges(%) text box to add a percentage to the real-time shipping value that USPS returns. This allows you to increase the shipping charge and make the extra amount weighted depending on the total shipping charge.
• Enter an amount into the Extra Handling($) text box to add a set amount to the real-time shipping value that USPS returns. This allows you to increase the shipping charge and make the extra amount fixed independent on the amount to the shipping.
• Press the Apply Changes button. Once these changes have been applied, you will see a screen that says Updated USPS Configuration.
• Press the Clear button to clear your changes and go to the defaults.
• Press the Return button to go back.