USPS API Changes #2

5/13/07: USPS International users can download an update that will provide rate calculations using the new shipping method names. Click the “Check for upgrade” link within your module. The rate server appears to be working with these new names already.

…whereas it isn’t for domestic rates. We will therefore release a tentative update for USPS Advanced on Monday morning.

5/14/07: Version 4.003 has been released. This version addresses many of the required API changes. Unfortunately, the USPS rate server is not responding so the module–and all other USPS modules–will not be able to calculate rates. The rate server has returned and rates are being returned correctly.

USPS International users should upgrade to version 3.23 if they are not receiving the new rates.

USPS Advanced users should download version 4.004

USPS API Changes

We are still working our way through the details and testing out the changes as we go, but here’s a summary regarding the May 14 changes:

The forthcoming USPS rate changes have lead to some major changes in their API. Our USPS Advanced shipping module will support most of these changes. USPS Domestic and USPS International will only support changes that are applicable at the global level, e.g. the renaming of several international shipping methods. These two modules do not have the capability to support product or category-level changes, such as dimensional weights, the First Class mail types, etc.

The release of USPS Advanced and the forthcoming changes have lead to us stop selling the older two modules, USPS Domestic and USPS International. As mentioned above, we will continue to support current users by updating the modules to accommodate certain global-level features in response to the API changes. Anyone using USPS as a key component of their shipping activities will be much better served by USPS Advanced.

The international name changes are nicely summarized here.

The updates will be available prior to the May 14 switchover. Watch this space.

5/9/07: updates to USPS International are currently being tested. This update will be available prior to the 14th but should not be installed till then. Updates for USPS Advanced are 80% complete, with just dimensional weights still outstanding. We expect this part to go quite smoothly as it’s something we’ve done before in UPS Custom and FedEx Advanced. This too will be available before the 14th.