In this video I help you understand how to install USPS shipping to your WP E-Commerce Shopping Cart. I know this article is not for all of our readers, but I have had some questions about this so here it is.
Watch the video or follow along with the step by step screen shots below.
Step 1
– Go to the dashboard
– click on plugins
– Make sure your WP e- commerce plug in is installed and activated
Step 2
– Go to settings
– Click on store
– Click on the shipping tab
– Make sure shipping is turned on
– Enter your town and zipcode
– Check the USPS box
– Click on edit
– Enter your USPS ID
o If you do not have a USPS ID click on the “click here” link to get one.
o Fill out the USPS API form and click submit.
o A letter will be sent to you by e-mail with your username and password.
– Go to the United States Postal service website and go to Developmental guides. Read these pages.
– Return to the WP-Ecommerce Plugin settings Page and check the box “use test server”
– Click on update.
Step 3
– Call The United States Postal Service at 1-800-344-7799 and talk to a representative. They are very helpful and they will validate the services. You MUST do this step to use the USPS Shipping API
– Refresh your settings by clicking on update
Step 4
– Go to Edit product
– At the “Shipping” tab enter your dimensions.
Step 5
– Go to USPS_20.php that is found in your plugins folder
– Go to search and find the word “media”
– Delete the comments
– Click save.
– Upload it back to your server and refresh your settings.
TIP: Save a copy of your settings in a folder.
– Go back to your store settings, check the media mail box.
– Click on update.
You have now start using the USPS shipping API with your WP E-Commerce Store!
Host of "Get on Track, Stay on Track" weekly interview series, helping your small business one expert at a time.And CEO of Wiser Sites, a general contractor and marketing agency - connecting your customers with your products.
Thank you for your tutorial.
You make adding UPS shipping to WP e-Commerce really easy.
I am glad this helped out. It seems to be a real popular topic,. I just hope WP E-Commerce continues to keep the plugin supported and updated. The support has been a challenge and I have taken my clients over to WooComerce.
I’ve been searching for anything relevant to 2013 and issues with this cart. Since you seem knowledgeable… have you ever run into having the cart not allow you to remove “First Class” or other options from international customers?
The client can’t actually choose “First Class” as an option to ship to their customers, so they lose money if people buying from the site choose the cheapest shipping option (which they invariably do, every time.) Essentially, international shipping shows every option, every single time, regardless of what’s chosen in the admin. I’ve dug into the usps_20.php file and tried to manually disable those services, but I can only assume that the XML response from USPS contains all of the options by default, regardless of what wp-ecommerce is expecting. If you’ve ever encountered the issue, I’d love to know how you solved it. I just can’t seem to affect the shipping options at all for international shipping (not without breaking other things, anyway.)
It’s a terrible shopping cart, really, I’ve had to dig into the plugin code in one way or another for every second issue since it was installed. I realize you are only another person hacking away at the plugin like the rest of us, so you may have no idea. Thanks anyway.
Have you tried to un-comment the shipping types in the usps_20.php?
Hi Webinator,
Thanks so much for the tutorial!
One quick question, will pay you worst case for your time if need be..
https://gurunamsingh.com/gurunam/products-page/
Media Mail<sup>® $2.53
Priority Mail 2-Day<sup>™ $5.60
Priority Mail Express 1-Day<sup>™ $14.10
That’s how my prices are displaying on the site.
Any hints?
Thanks!
I looked at your site and it appears that you have this solved.
Hello… The video really helped a lot. Thank you for posting.
My problem: I have everything up and running. The USPS Shipping calculator seens to work fine for domestic purchases and single items internationally. Where it goes off is when an international order is placed for more than one item. It doesn’t just double the postage… it goes way up.
For instance, a single 2 LBs item shipped to Germany shows First Class International as $24.15 which according to the USPS web site is correct. If I update it to 2 2LBs items… it gives me a First Class International price of $77.90 which is WAY off. Real price should be $38.95.
All of the prices for Priority Internayional are off, as well.
What am I doing wrong? I have all of the dimensions and weights added to my products. Any suggestions?
Again, I am not sure why this is happening, but maybe there is someone reading this that can assist.
Thank you for your video. Followed the steps and was able to get The USPS Shipping calculator up and running. Don’t think I would have ever understood the test run without the vid. Here’s my problem: Looks like I have done everything to set up the shipping calculator. Entered dimensions and weights for all my products. When I tset order a single product, it appears the calculator works well, both domestic and international. But when I order multiple items, the international shipping sum is WAY off. The sum for First Class International comes out higher than Priority, which is reversed. I don’t understand it. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Well, I am glad this has helped you to at least get started, and at the same time sorry I cannot help you out more. I am not familiar with the International calculator / rates. I would need to research this and try to untangle it myself. I am willing to assign this project to my team if you are interested in premium assistance. Just let me know if you need further assistance.
Thanks for the tutorial. I was stumped on why it wouldn’t connect to the API.
I know, it took me a long time to unlock the code of this, which is why I created the tutorial. Glad I was able to help you avoid some of the same frustration that I went through. Ha-ha
I followed this tutorial but nothing USPS related even shows up on my checkout page. The “media” part of the tutorial was nice. i just thought media wasn’t available. At least if I ever get it working, there’s that. Thanks.
I went to your site and I see it is working now. Your shipping rates seem pretty high though. Be sure to check your dimensions weight, etc. Glad the Media mail tip helped.