Create USPS International Shipping Methods

When USPS International is installed and configured, the list of USPS International service types is automatically available to create USPS International shipping methods.

Step 1: In Sana Admin click: Setup > Ordering > Shipping.

Step 2: Click Add shipping method to create a shipping method.

The table below provides the description of the fields and settings that should be configured when you create a USPS International shipping method.

Fields and settings

Description

Name

Enter the name of the shipping method.

Enabled

Use this option to enable or disable the shipping method.

You can also enable or disable shipping methods on the shipping methods list page.

External shipping method

Map the shipping method to the one configured in your ERP system.

If the shipping method in Sana Admin is mapped to the shipping method in your ERP system, then when a customer places an order in the webstore, the selected shipping method will be stored in the sales order in the ERP system.

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Image

Add an image icon of the shipping method.

If you add an icon, it will be shown in the webstore in the list of delivery methods.

Description

You can add a description to the shipping method.

Shipping method description is shown in the Sana webstore on the Delivery method checkout step, where customers can select the shipping method they want their order to be delivered.

Calculation method

Select USPS International.

The shipping costs are calculated by USPS real-time depending on the USPS service type, customer's shipping address, actual weight and dimensions of the package.

NOTE

The USPS International calculation method is available only when the USPS International add-on is installed.

Set Up the USPS International Method Settings

Once you select USPS International as a calculation method, the USPS International specific settings will be shown.

Fields and settings

Description

Container type

Select the container type that should be used for delivery.

There is a dependency between container types and USPS services. Certain container types cannot be delivered by some USPS services.

When you select a container type, below you can see the allowed package size and weight.

The Variable box / envelope container type is used for custom packages that do not belong to any of the USPS standard container types.

If you select the container type Variable box / envelope and set the value in the Sana UOM field to None, you must specify the maximum weight and dimensions of your package in the Weight & dimensions section.

Service

Select the type of service to be delivered by USPS according to the selected container type.

The USPS divides mail into different services, called “classes”. Each class of mail has different features, service levels, postage prices, and presort requirements.

For more information, see International Mail & Shipping Services and Global Express Guaranteed.

Rate type

Select the rate type based on which you will receive shipping charges for the USPS services. The available options are:

  • Retail pricing is the starting tier for pricing. This is the rate you will pay at your local Post Office or other retail locations.

  • Commercial pricing is offered by some companies and offers some savings over USPS Retail.

  • Commercial plus pricing offers you even more savings over the other pricing plans.

Max weight (lbs)

The Weight & dimensions section is available only if you select the Variable box / envelope container type and Sana UOM is set to None.

If you select the container type Variable box / envelope and set the value in the Sana UOM field to None, you must specify the maximum weight (in pounds) and dimensions (in inches) of the USPS International container type.

It is used for custom containers that do not belong to any of the USPS International standard container types.

Max length (in)

Max width (in)

Max height (in)

Sana UOM

Select the unit of measure from the list available in Sana.

The list of units of measure is retrieved from your ERP system. The selected unit of measure is mapped to the USPS container type.

Content type

Select the content type of your shipment depending on the characteristics of an item you deliver.

For example, if you deliver any pharmaceutical products, you can select the Pharmaceuticals content type.

Extra charge amount (USD)

You can set an extra charge for a shipment.

It can be a fixed amount or percentage. An extra charge should be defined in USD. If both values are set, fixed amount and percentage, the value of the fixed amount will be taken. If you do not want to add any extra charges, 0 values should be entered.

Final rate = USPS return rate + extra amount
or
Final rate = USPS return rate * (extra percentage + 100)/100

Extra charge percentage (%)

Number of days for package processing

Specify the number of days needed for package processing.

Availability per country

Select countries for which the shipping method should be available.

If some country is not selected, the shipping method will not be available to the customers of that country.   

Customer segments

Assign customer segments.

Using customer segments, you can filter shipping methods. If you add a customer segment to the shipping method, then this shipping method will be available only to the customers that meet the criteria set in the customer segment. Other customers will not see this shipping method.

When you configure USPS International shipping methods, you should take into consideration the requirements below. On the screenshot below you can see a block of USPS International specific fields and settings.

  • At least one block of the USPS International specific fields and settings must be configured for a shipping method.

  • One shipping method cam have multiple blocks of the USPS International specific fields and settings. If you need to add more blocks, click on the Add button. If you want to delete a block, click on the Delete button .

  • There is a dependency between container types and USPS services. Certain container types cannot be delivered by some USPS services.

  • You cannot set up a USPS International shipping method with multiple configurations for the same USPS Container type and Sana UOM for a single shipping method.

Item’s Units of Measure and Shipping Rates

Scenarios When USPS Returns a Shipping Rate (Based on the Item’s Unit of Measure)

Scenario 1

A customer has an item which is configured in the ERP system with the following item dimensions.

Unit of measure

Weight

Length

Width

Height

Piece

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

A user created a USPS International shipping method in Sana Admin, for example as shown in the table below.

Container type

Service

Rate type

Sana UOM

Content type

Extra charge amount

Extra charge percentage

Number of days for package processing

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Piece

Not specific

0

0

Same day

The unit of measure configure in ERP matches the unit of measure set in the Sana UOM field in the USPS International shipping method settings.

Result:

In this case, USPS will return a shipping rate because the item’s unit of measure in ERP and the USPS International shipping method’s unit of measure specified in the Sana UOM field are the same.

Also, USPS will return a shipping rate only if the item’s dimensions in ERP do not exceed the maximum item dimensions allowed by USPS.

Scenario 2

A customer has items which are configured in the ERP system with the following item dimensions.

Unit of measure

Weight

Length

Width

Height

Piece

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

Box

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

KG

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

L

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

A user created a USPS International shipping method with multiple configurations for the same USPS container type and service, but different units of measure in Sana Admin, for example as shown in the table below.

Container type

Service

Rate type

Sana UOM

Content type

Extra charge amount

Extra charge percentage

Number of days for package processing

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Piece

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Box

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

KG

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

L

Not specific

0

0

Same day

The units of measure configured in ERP match the units of measure set in the Sana UOM field in the USPS International shipping method settings.

Result:

In the shopping cart there are 4 different items with 4 different units of measure.

In this case, USPS will return a shipping rate because the items’ units of measure in ERP and the USPS International shipping method’s units of measure specified in the Sana UOM fields in multiple configurations of the USPS International shipping method are the same.

The shipping rates for each item are calculated separately and then, the amount of these shipping rates is summed up. That amount will be the final shipping cost.

Scenarios When USPS Does Not Return a Shipping Rate (Based on the Item’s Unit of Measure)

Scenario 1

A customer has an item which is configured in the ERP system with the following item dimensions.

Unit of measure

Weight

Length

Width

Height

Piece

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

A user created a USPS International shipping method in Sana Admin, for example as shown in the table below.

Container type

Service

Rate type

Sana UOM

Content type

Extra charge amount

Extra charge percentage

Number of days for package processing

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Box

Not specific

0

0

Same day

The unit of measure configured in ERP differs from the unit of measure set in the Sana UOM field in the USPS International shipping method settings.

Result:
In this case, USPS will not return a shipping rate because the item’s unit of measure in ERP and the USPS International shipping method’s unit of measure specified in the Sana UOM field do not match.

Scenario 2

A customer has items which are configured in the ERP system with the following item dimensions.

Unit of measure

Weight

Length

Width

Height

Piece

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

Box

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

KG

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

L

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

A user created a USPS International shipping method with multiple configurations in Sana Admin, for example as shown in the table below.

Container type

Service

Rate type

Sana UOM

Content type

Extra charge amount

Extra charge percentage

Number of days for package processing

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Piece

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Box

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

KG

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

L

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Hour

Not specific

0

0

Same day

The units of measure configured in ERP match the units of measure set in the Sana UOM field in the USPS International shipping method settings.

Result:
In the shopping cart there are 4 different items with 4 different units of measure. These are the first 4 items from the table above.

The items’ units of measure in ERP and the USPS International shipping method’s units of measure specified in the Sana UOM fields in multiple configurations of the USPS International shipping method match.

However, there are no items in the shopping cart with the UOM Hour that is configured in the shipping method.

In this case, USPS will not return a shipping rate.

Scenarios When USPS Returns a Shipping Rate (When the Value in the Sana UOM Field is Set to None)

Scenario 1

A customer has an item which is configured in the ERP system with the following item dimensions.

Unit of measure

Weight

Length

Width

Height

Piece

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

A user created a USPS International shipping method in Sana Admin, for example as shown in the table below. A user set the value in the Sana UOM field to None.

Container type

Service

Rate type

Sana UOM

Content type

Extra charge amount

Extra charge percentage

Number of days for package processing

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

None

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Result:
In this case, USPS will return a shipping rate even though item’s unit of measure in ERP and the USPS International shipping method’s unit of measure specified in the Sana UOM field differ. The USPS International shipping method does not consider item’s unit of measure in ERP when the value in the Sana UOM field is set to None.

Scenario 2

A customer has items which are configured in the ERP system with the following item dimensions.

Unit of measure

Weight

Length

Width

Height

Piece

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

Box

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

KG

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

L

4 lbs

12.5 in

0.5 in

9.5 in

A user created a USPS International shipping method with multiple configurations for the same USPS container type and service, but different units of measure in Sana Admin, for example as shown in the table below. For one of the USPS International shipping methods, a user set the value in the Sana UOM field to None.

Container type

Service

Rate type

Sana UOM

Content type

Extra charge amount

Extra charge percentage

Number of days for package processing

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Piece

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

Box

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

KG

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Flat rate envelope

Priority mail international

Retail

None

Not specific

0

0

Same day

Result:

In this case, USPS will calculate shipping rates separately for the items which units of measure in ERP and shipping method settings match, and the one that does not match will be calculated regardless of the item unit of measure in ERP as there is a shipping method configuration with the None Sana UOM.

The shipping rates for each item are calculated separately and then, the amount of these shipping rates is summed up. That amount will be the final shipping cost.

For more information, see USPS International Troubleshooting.

NOTE

All items which do not meet the above mentioned scenarios will be packed into a separate container if they do not exceed weight and dimensions units allowed by USPS. If all items cannot be packed into one container, the remaining items will be packed in another container.