Setting up Shipping Methods: USPS

To get started, you must first open a USPS Web Tools account. After you complete the registration process, you will receive your ID and a URL to the USPS test server. You can skip the testing phase, and contact their Internet Customer Care Center to request immediate activation to the production server. The ICCC will validate your store and send you the URL to the production (live) server.

To set up USPS shipping methods, do the following:

1. In your Control Panel, go to Set-up > Shipping.
2. If USPS is not shown, click on Add Shipping Method, choose the USPS box, and click Click the Add Shipping Methods bar that appears at the bottom of your page. 
3. Click on Set-Up next to the USPS section to view your configuration settings. 
4. Set Enabled for Checkout to Yes.
5. Gateway URL & Secure Gateway URL are needed to access the USPS shipping rates. These fields are preset by default, and normally do not need to be changed.
6. Enter a Title for this shipping method that will appear during checkout.
7. Enter the User ID and Password for your USPS Web Tools account.
8. Set Mode to Live.
9. Set Package Request Type to either:
   - Divide to equal weight (one request) (Recommended) 
   - Use origin weight (few requests)
10. Set Container to the type of packaging usually used to ship products ordered for your store. We recommend using Variable. 
11. In the Size list, select the option that describes the typical package shipped from your store.
12. Set Machinable to one of the following:
    - Yes: If your typical package can be processed by a machine
    - No: if your typical package must be processed manually
13. Enter the Maximum Package Weight that you will ship by USPS. By default, this field is set to 70.
    Please consult your USPS for maximum supported shipping weight if you may have orders heavier than this. This may also need freight weights. 
14. In the Calculate Handling Fee list, select on of the following methods:
    - Fixed 
    Certain amount per order regardless of size
    - Percent
    Percentage of the order total price
15. In the Handling Fee field, enter either a fixed amount or percentage, depending on which you selected in the Calculate Handling Fee field. These values should be a number, no currency ($) or percentage (%) symbols.
16. In the Allowed Methods list, select each USPS offered to your customers. The methods you choose will appear during checkout.
17. Set the Free Method list to the method you want to use for free shipping. You may also select “None.”
18. Set the Free Shipping with Minimum Order Amount (at the bottom) to one of the following:
    - Enable: To provide free shipping for orders that meet the minimum monetary amount specified. If you enable this, be sure to enter the Minimum Order Amount for Free Shipping.
    - Disable: Free shipping via USPS will not be offered
19. The Displayed Error Message text box is preset with a default message. You can either leave this message or you can type the message you want your customers to see if USPS shipping becomes unavailable. This is useful for customers who are trying to checkout with USPS but are not shipping to one of the countries you have available in the following step.
20. Set Ship to Applicable Countries to one of the following:
    - All Allowed Countries
    - Specific Countries (For this option, you will need to select the Ship to Specific Countries to each country where your customers are allowed to ship by USPS.)
21. Set Show Method if Not Applicable to one of the following:
    - Yes: To list all USPS shipping methods to customers, regardless of their availability. If they are not permitted to use USPS such as being outside the specified Countries, the Display Error Message text will appear. 
    - No (recommended): To list only the methods which are currently available to the customer.
22. Set Debug to Yes while testing to create a log file with the details of all USPS activity related to your store. You can change this to No at any time. 
23. In the Sort Order field, enter a numeric value to determine the order in which USPS shipping methods appears in the list with other shipping methods at checkout. The highest value is 0, which will be put at the top of the list.
24. When complete, click the Save button to save your settings.

We highly recommend placing a test order once complete to assure everything is in place! 

The most common issues our customers have is not having the correct credentials in place. Make sure you are using your User ID and Password for your USPS Web Tools.