Incorrect Shipping Options for New Zealand Customer

-- url of the page with the problem -- : ariesgamesandminis.com
-- HikaShop version -- : 4.2.0
-- Joomla version -- : 3.9.10
-- PHP version -- : 7.0
-- Browser(s) name and version -- : Chrome

Hello,

I had a customer from New Zealand inform me that he is only getting Priority Mail International shipping prices for an item that weighs 3lb. This is obviously under the 4lb weight limit for First Class Mail International.

How can I figure out what is going on? I've copied his address exactly, and even verified it on Google that it is correct. I've even confirmed on USPS website that there is no odd weight limit to New Zealand.

Makes me wonder if other customers in other countries are having the same issue as International Sales have declined in the last couple months.

Hello,

The best solution will probably be to use the "Debug" mode option of your USPS shipping configuration page to see what's sent to and returned from the USPS shipping platform through the HTML code of your checkout workflow (pressing F12 will do the job).

Which will enable you to contact and send it to USPS to ask them why they're only returning Priority Mail International shipping prices, it will greatly help us to improve the plugin if they could tell us the reason. Thank you.

Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

Mohamed Thelji wrote: Hello,

The best solution will probably be to use the "Debug" mode option of your USPS shipping configuration page to see what's sent to and returned from the USPS shipping platform through the HTML code of your checkout workflow (pressing F12 will do the job).

Which will enable you to contact and send it to USPS to ask them why they're only returning Priority Mail International shipping prices, it will greatly help us to improve the plugin if they could tell us the reason. Thank you.

Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

Hello,

So I made a test site, turned debugging on for the site, as well as the shipping options...and I'm in the cart at checkout, with F-12 open...and I am just not finding anything. What am I supposed to do that I'm not doing to find this debug log?

Mohamed...sorry for the late reply. Had to go to the eye Dr. and my eyes are just now getting back to normal from dilation.

Mohamed Thelji wrote: Hello,

So I made a test site, turned debugging on for the site, as well as the shipping options...and I'm in the cart at checkout, with F-12 open...and I am just not finding anything. What am I supposed to do that I'm not doing to find this debug log?

Well, on some website, debugs doesn't seem to be displayed correctly, because of the cache. Can you send us a temporary back-end access to your test website so that we can directly test it and retrieve the code sent and returned from the USPS platform ? Thank you!

Mohamed...sorry for the late reply. Had to go to the eye Dr. and my eyes are just now getting back to normal from dilation.

That's great, I'm really glad for you., wish you a nice day!
Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

Hello,

Either way...I've reached back out to them for clarification and hope to have that in the next day or two and post it here. If it still makes no sense, I'll use the contact form to get you access on the backend.

Mohamed Thelji wrote: Hello,

Either way...I've reached back out to them for clarification and hope to have that in the next day or two and post it here. If it still makes no sense, I'll use the contact form to get you access on the backend.

That's great that they could locate the problem, let's wait for their reply in that case !

Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

Thank you for contacting the USPS® Internet Customer Care Center. 
 
Please see the new guidelines:
 
https://pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/Imm/immc2.pdf
 
 
 
Ensure Correct First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®) Weight and Size Limits
 
All outbound First-Class Package International Service (FCPIS) items must be compliant with the maximum weight and size limits listed in IMM 251.2 in order to avoid FCPIS mailpieces being returned to our customers. Foreign posts have recently informed the USPS that they are receiving many FCPIS items that exceed the maximum weight and size limits, which creates operational and resource issues for them. When foreign posts receive oversized packets, they have the option to return the items to our mailers, which diminishes the customer experience for our customers.   IMM 251.2 is copied below for your reference:
 
 
251.2 Physical Characteristics and Standards — Packages (Small Packets)
251.21 Weight Limit
 
 
The weight limit for a First-Class Package International Service package (small packet) is 4 pounds.
251.22 Dimensions — Other Than Rolls
Packages (small packets) other than rolls must be within the following dimensions:
a.     Maximum length: 24 inches. Length is the longest dimension.
b.    Maximum length, height, and depth (thickness) combined: 36 inches.  12 X 10 X 3 is 38 inches combined.
c.     Minimum size: Large enough to accommodate the postage, address, customs form, and other required elements on the address side.
251.23 Dimensions — Rolls
Rolls must be within the following dimensions:
a.     Minimum length: 4 inches.
b.    Minimum length plus twice the diameter combined: 6-3/4 inches.
c.     Maximum length: 36 inches.
d.    Maximum length plus twice the diameter combined: 42 inches.
251.24 Quality
Packages (small packets) must be constructed to be strong enough to withstand normal handling.

Thank you for contacting the USPS® Internet Customer Care Center. 
 
Determining Length 

Measure the longest side of the package, rounding to the nearest inch. This is your length.

Determining Girth (2x Width + 2x Height)

Measure the width of the package, rounding to the nearest inch. Multiply this number by 2. 
Measure the height of the package, rounding to the nearest inch. Multiply this number by 2. 
Add these two numbers together. This is your girth.
Add the length and the girth together. This is your combined package measurement.

Length + 2x Width + 2x Height
12  +  2(10)  +  2(3)  =  38
 
12  + 20  +  6  =  38
 
If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us again.
 
Thank you for emailing your Postal Service™,
 
USPS Internet Customer Care Center

Hello,

Firstly, can you make sure that you have a dedicated USPS shipping method for the "First Class Mail (International)" service ?

Also, can you edit the "plugins\hikashopshipping\usps\usps.php" file and add these lines :

//Adding limits for First class International shipping
if(!empty($rate->shipping_params->FIRSTCLASSINT)) {
	// 4lb  = 64oz
	$limit = array('w' => 4);
	if($rate->shipping_params->with_dimension){
		$limit['length_girth'] = 36;
		$limit['z'] = 24;
	}
}

$packages = $this->getOrderPackage($order, array('weight_unit' => 'oz', 'volume_unit' => 'in', 'limit' => $limit, 'required_dimensions' => $required_dimensions));

Mohamed, I am so sorry...I completely missed this response from you. I just put that new line in the PHP file of my test site, and it seems to work fine because it is still blocking me from shipping what i used to ship to New Zealand due to the new restrictions from international countries on package size.

Was there anything specific you needed me to watch for?

Hello,

Well, it should have done the job as to add another restriction during the creation of every "virtual" packages that have to be sent to the USPS platform.

Can you give us more information about what it changed through your website through some screenshots for example ? Thank you

Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

I've been looking...but I cannot find any changes.

The issue here is USPS used to allow First Class Parcel to international areas. Now, they do not because of pressure from international areas on box sizes. For instance, this specific person was trying to buy a starter set for a board game, which...per USPS calculations...now exceeds the mandated 36 inch volume by 2 inches at 38.

Based on what the code looked like (I'm no programmer so I could be completely wrong here) but it looks like you guys are factoring that into the equation now even though USPS is doing that in the shipping API for the USPS Shipping option.

Hello,

Based on what the code looked like (I'm no programmer so I could be completely wrong here) but it looks like you guys are factoring that into the equation now even though USPS is doing that in the shipping API for the USPS Shipping option.

if($parcel->Weight > 13 && $type =='FIRST CLASS' && isset($rate->shipping_params->firstclass_mail_type) && $rate->shipping_params->firstclass_mail_type == 'PARCEL')
	return;

Maybe I'm doing something wrong...I'm not seeing a difference

Hello,

You should probably clear your browser and Joomla cache before testing it again

Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

Mohamed Thelji wrote: Hello,

You should probably clear your browser and Joomla cache before testing it again

Kind regards,
Mohamed Thelji.

Hello,

In that case can you send us a temporary back-end and FTP access to your website so that we can check the information that are st to the usps platform ? Thank you.

Kind regads,
Mohamed Thelji.

Mohamed...seems I didn't get a notification again on this thread. I apologize...

Sending login info & FTP info via the Contact Us Form for the test site.

FYI...I also just had another issue with Canada shipping. The staging site has that most recent one which is order G3Y6Q71. I had to go in and manually change the shipping to First Class International and give back the customer the difference on the shipping. Can you please also look into that? The items were WELL under the 36 inch volume shipping as the box to ship in was 8x6x6 in inches...but when I was looking at his cart for him BEFORE he purchased everything, it was showing as 201 CU Inches.

Hello,

The orders information seem to be correctly sent to the USPS platform, but not that setting the "Use product dimension" to no will result in packages dimensions not sent to the USPS platform, so they'll only be able to apply weight restrictions.

Kind regards,
Mohamed.

Mohamed Thelji wrote: Hello,

The orders information seem to be correctly sent to the USPS platform, but not that setting the "Use product dimension" to no will result in packages dimensions not sent to the USPS platform, so they'll only be able to apply weight restrictions.

Kind regards,
Mohamed.

Hello,

No, what I'm saying is that :

The orders information seem to be correctly sent to the USPS platform, but note that setting the "Use product dimension" to no will result in packages dimensions not sent to the USPS platform, so they'll only be able to apply weight restrictions.

If i set it to yet...I seem to get the same results, so nothing is changing.