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Originally Posted by tartaglia
Carpeperdiem,
Thank you for bringing shipstation to my attention. It looks like a great product for our needs as well (Since we use Macs, we have never been able to use UPS Worldship). Just eliminating the need to cut and paste and parse the shipping info from the XC order to either UPS.com or to Endicia will save us a bunch of time.
Can you shed some more light on the integration process with X-Cart? Like, how does it know which orders to pull into Shipstation? Is there a way to ship a second time to a single order (we often split shipments due to backordered products)?
I know you are not getting anything from Shipstation as far as referral fees, and I have already put a call into them to get more info, but as an XCarter, you probably know the integration details better anyway.
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X-Cart Integration:
1. copy the file shipstation provides <shipstation_xcart.php>
2. enter your admin password in shipstation interface
3. your'e done
There are a few other settings you will want to teach shipstation -- such as default methods and packaging, label formatting, do you want shipstation to send the email or not, etc...
I actually LIKE the shipstation "your order is shipped" email better than xcart, so I am using that instead now.
Shipstation communicates with xcart -- and it changes the status of an order from "processed" to "Complete" after the order is shipped. HOWEVER -- and this does affect some operations -- it is simply changing the status. It is NOT the same as selecting the Complete status and then updating from the admin. Why is this important? Some processes and mods are looking for the function, "COmplete" to trigger actions; xcart will send an email if configured to, BCSE points will credit user points, etc... so by shipstation "simply" changing the status to "Complete" could mean adjusting your workflow.
In my case:
1. I am now using shipstation to send customer notifications "your order shipped" with tracking, etc...
2. Since I am using BCSE points system (CRP), I discovered a conflict with the CRP and the new Checkout_One x-payments connector -- right now, a processed order from C1XPC does not trigger the CRP accrue points. BCSE and ALteredCart know about this and I expect resolution shortly. For now, I am manually triggering "Complete" on all x-payment orders to the CRP points accrue. I can select all orders for the day, and do this with one click. This is not an issue with paypal payments.
I suggest dedicating a browser to shipstation because you want the default printer to be your label printer for shipping labels. So we use firefiox for shipstation, and the default printer for firefox is our Zebra label printer. I use Chrome for everything else, and my default printer for Chrome is the laser printer. Works great this way.
I have no other issues or reservations.
WHAT'S REALLY COOL is being able to automate Amazon Multi-channel fulfillment -- depending on size and cost of an item, the Amazon FBA fulfillment can be very cost effective. And for us, we can go on a short holiday without hiring (training) a shipping clerk. But before shipstation, we had to manually copy/paste each order - and that was a total buzz-kill. Now with shipstation, it's one-click and Amazon then fulfills. Yes, they charge about $6 to fulfill a one-pound item, but it would have cost us that ANYWAY. Now, in about 6 seconds, I route the order to Amazon FBA and that's that. When I had to train and bring in a shipping clerk every time I wouldgo away, it required a steady volume of orders, and we would up always lose $$ on it. Not anymore!
I don't rave on products or services all that often unless they work, and are a great value. This is one.
PS -- Just received a new laser printer for the shipping room. Canon 4770n. Using a staples.com coupon for $30 off w/ free next-day delivery, it cost $108 with tax. This is an UNBELIEVABLY GREAT monochrome laser printer/scanner/fax. This replaced a $3000 xerox printer that I've had for about 17 years. Canon is the best multi-function for macs and network use. I was going to buy the Brother, but their mac software is pretty much non-existent. I have other Canon printers and scanners - always a great value.
You see, I'm not always negative. I like a lot of things. I especially like things that work as represented and deliver value for the investment.
