USPS Server down?

[ILoveHostasaurus]

Re: USPS Server down?

It can...

If you are using a Gateway...it calls the gateway and waits for a response. if the gateway is down...then it moves to the next method...so, its a configuration issue...what to do when the gateway goes down.

In an ideal world yes, in reality the gateways never seem to go down in a way that allows Merchant to handle it gracefully; they often accept connections and hang there, so Merchant hangs there ultimately ending with an ugly error and a lost sale. Or equally problematic, the rate server returns something wrong and Merchant lets it through as a zero dollar shipping.

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

Re: USPS Server down?

In an ideal world yes, in reality the gateways never seem to go down in a way that allows Merchant to handle it gracefully; they often accept connections and hang there, so Merchant hangs there ultimately ending with an ugly error and a lost sale. Or equally problematic, the rate server returns something wrong and Merchant lets it through as a zero dollar shipping.

I believe a lot of those issue are up to the module. By default, most probably use global timeout settings, but no reason they couldn't have their own setting. (unless using MvCall)...as for bogus returns, again, there are somethings a module could do to qualify returns...believe, not saying that there are improvements to be made, just wanted to highlight the fact that gateways go down...always do...so preparations (including improvements) need to be made.

[Southlander]

Re: USPS Server down?

In an ideal world yes, in reality the gateways never seem to go down in a way that allows Merchant to handle it gracefully; they often accept connections and hang there, so Merchant hangs there ultimately ending with an ugly error and a lost sale. Or equally problematic, the rate server returns something wrong and Merchant lets it through as a zero dollar shipping.

Yes this is what we have seen in the last 2 days. Everything from 0.00 rate returned -- to an MvCall error -- to simply nothing returned (no rates).

[beamer]

Re: USPS Server down?

In an ideal world yes, in reality the gateways never seem to go down in a way that allows Merchant to handle it gracefully; they often accept connections and hang there, so Merchant hangs there ultimately ending with an ugly error and a lost sale. Or equally problematic, the rate server returns something wrong and Merchant lets it through as a zero dollar shipping.

Yup it does- We had an order to Japan that was supposed to calculate two packages and it only calculated the first one and hung. The customer checked out with greatly reduced shipping and I ate 25.00 in shipping charges.

[Viscott]

Re: USPS Server down?



http://www.usps.com/homearea/onlines...erruptions.htm

[adam2003w]

Re: USPS Server down?

As recently as 10:30 EST our USPS module is intermittently not calculating shipping charges, but only charging the handling fee.

Anybody got any idea when this will be resolved?

[Brandon MUS]

Re: USPS Server down?

This is all the information anyone has:

The Postal Service continues to experience intermittent system interruptions on usps.com. We apologize for the inconvenience this is causing, especially at what is one of the busiest times of the year. We are hopeful that full service, across the country, will be restored as soon as possible. We thank you again for your patience.

http://www.usps.com/homearea/onlines...erruptions.htm (My emphasis.)

[USPSRateCalc]

Re: USPS Server down?

Hey folks,

The shipping api is down, however the rate calculator is available. We provide the rate calculation engine to the folks that provide the shipping api. The shipping api offers numerous services and we are just one of them.

If you require domestic rates calculations, as received by ShippingAPI.dll, you can access our rate engine directly.

Accessing the rate calculator api is very similiar to how you access this functionality from the shipping api.

Getting started:

A simple demo site that will allow you to learn/test a subset the API:
http://postcalc.usps.gov/domSDK/sdkdemo.htm [usps.gov]

For programmatic access use the XML over HTTP Application:
http://postcalc.usps.gov/SdkXml.aspx [usps.gov]



Documentation is available but I do not have a publically available site to post this on. If a site is available, just let me know and I will post the SDK documentation there.

Let me know if I can help.

Adrian Griffith

ManTech Information Systems & Technology
Project Manager, USPS Postal Explorer and Rate Calculators
[email protected]

[Barrett]

Re: USPS Server down?

240pm eastern

The Postal Service continues to experience intermittent system interruptions in our Webtools API’s. We apologize for the inconvenience this is causing, especially at what is one of the busiest times of the year. We are hopeful that full service, across the country, will be restored as soon as possible. We thank you again for your patience.

We have taken every step to resolve the situation, and continue to work around the clock both internally and with our external partners.

We appreciate your business and your patience.

Internet Customer Care Center

[GDesigns]

Re: USPS Server down?

This is what we got earlier:

The Postal Service website, usps.com, continues to experience intermittent interruptions to services. We apologize for the inconvenience this is causing, especially at what is one of the busiest times of the year for families and business owners.
As a valued Click-N-Ship customer, we wanted to provide you with two solutions to help you ship now while we continue to work around the clock to resolve the situation.

• Open an online account with Endicia or Stamps.com, PC Postage vendors and Postal Service partners. You will qualify for a FREE, 30-day trial period, while enjoying all the benefits of printing postage and labels from your home or office. Please click here for information and to create a new account: "http://www.endicia.com/SignUp/" OR here: http://www.stamps.com/postage-online/how-it-works/

The Postal Service free package pickup service is still available and can be accessed through the website. Once you print your postage using either Endicia or Stamps.com, click over to www.usps.com/pickup and schedule the package pickup. Please remember that packages will be picked up during the next day's regularly scheduled delivery.
Please continue to check the website for service updates or call 1-800-ASK-USPS for additional information.
Thank you again for your trusting us with your business and please accept our apologies for the disruption to our internet services.

[ocpxc02]

Re: USPS Server down?

Has anyone been using their USPS modules since late yesterday? If so, have they run consistently without stalling the checkout process?

As of yesterday afternoon, we were still having trouble printing international postage out of Dazzle as I believe the customs forms have to be pulled from their servers.

I hate to turn our USPS module on and negatively impact sales (which I think we did earlier in the week), but leaving it off is also costing us in terms of international and AK/HI orders. People just do not want to find out shipping charges after the fact.


Paul

[kenb]

Re: USPS Server down?

I'm also wondering if API is working for some people.
I use Viking USPS Advanced for MIVA4.24
When I tried to get into my Advanced program the post office wanted my user ID and password-something I hadn't had to since first install.
I've emailed USPS at [email protected] but no answer yet.
I don't want to make a bad situation worse by re-registering.

Ken

[adam2003w]

Re: USPS Server down?

Anyone have any idea what the status is with the USPS server now? The last post on this thread was yesterday at 9:17 am ... so I'm guessing trouble has been averted or there would be more posts.

[ILoveHostasaurus]

Re: USPS Server down?

We're still hearing of intermittent issues, they're still showing it too:

http://www.usps.com/homearea/onlines...erruptions.htm

[adam2003w]

Re: USPS Server down?

wow ... I wonder how many sites this is affecting.