X-Cart forums

[natestone]

As a longtime user of X-Cart and a developer and integrator of eCommerce solutions, I found that shipping was taking far too long and was far too costly.

UPS and FedEx are expensive and not very willing to work with the little guys. So, I switched to USPS (which is faster and cheaper and gives you free Boxes!). Then I got tired of filling out labels and wanted to print them.


http://workingmansoftware.com/wm_images/usps_sample_label-200.png

A couple of hundred programming hours later - Voila! - 1-Click USPS Delivery Confirmation Labels in PDF format from within the X-Cart admin system.

I've created a module that allows you to print labels directly from your computer for all Domestic (US-only -> global coming soon) mail. You can order self-stick labels (the info is on my site) and then you just print, stick, add postage and send.

You can add postage via stamps, a postal meter, or at the post office.

I assure you that this software will cut your order fulfillment time dramatically. It will also help you lower your customer's shipping costs, cut out your box/packaging costs almost entirely, and make you or your employees much happier with the order fulfillment process.

The module works with X-Cart versions 3.5.xx and is in testing for (4.xx). The 4.xx version will be ready by 2/25/05.

A free 7-day trial is available and I promise that you won't go back once you have tried it out. I've put a lot of time into this addon and I think it's really useful and great for my businesses.

Also, if you pay for a license by 3/15/2005, I'll be including a free license for PDF Invoices for X-Cart. PDF Invoices is a fancy invoicing module I also wrote for X-Cart. It streamlines the invoice making it easier to read and easier to fulfill. Plus, it allows you to make a very nice looking letter-head based invoice. Right now it is in testing but I'll make beta versions available to all who purchase USPS Shipping Labels for X-Cart and will give you a full license when it debuts.

Finally, I hope you'll check my site out and give it a try. Install is pretty easy and should only take a few minutes.

http://www.workingmansoftware.com/content/view/13/44/

Thank you very much.

--Nate

[cigarbox]

Nate , Do you need to have real time USPS activated for your module to work ?

Chris

[natestone]

You do need a USPS Webtools userid and password currently. Additionally, you have to call the USPS and have them turn on the "Delivery Confirmation" API which allows you access to their Label server.

I'm working with them on getting that fixed and expect that it will be a fully, drop in solution by the end of this week (2/25/2005).

You can set your own rates and do not have to use the USPS real-time rates, however. You only need access to the USPS system so that you can print the labels themselves.

Thanks,
Nate

[vulcan-works]

is the postage for the label calculated and charged like the usps click-n-ship?

[natestone]

Unfortunately, no. The USPS currently does not allow automatic billing. As soon as they do, I'll be implementing it (and all future updates to my system are included free of charge).

Until then, you have to add postage to the container itself. I do this for the 2 stores I run using a PitneyBowes postage meter. You can also just purchase postage and put stamps on the box or go to the post office where they can scan the packages in and charge you the appropriate amount.

[vulcan-works]

Do you know when or if the usps will have automatic billing? Because without that the labels are useless.

[natestone]

It won't be anytime soon.

And, secondly, I completely disagree that it's useless. For my businesses it is WAY faster to use our label software and our Postal Meter for shipping than it is to use Click-n-ship.

Click-n-ship takes forever to use. With this, we print the order, click once to print the label, and then print out the postage with our meter.

If you only ship 1 or 2 packages a day, then Click-n-ship is probably okay. For 20-100, this is a way faster solution.

[natestone]

Also, you can just put stamps on a package. You don't have to have a postal meter.

USPS rates are pretty standardized you should be able to put the amount your real-time shipping calculation has on the purchase order if you have set up your postage correctly in X-Cart.

[cigarbox]

Nate ,

How is the 4.x version coming along ?

Chris

[natestone]

Yes.... good timing.

I just finished the 4.0.xx compatible version. Actually, I recoded the 3.5.xx version to be compatible with both production versions of X-Cart.


If you visit my site, you can download a free 7-day trial of the software and try it out. It should work well on both 3.5.xx and 4.0.xx systems.

Let me know if you have any troubles or suggestions.

Thanks,
Nate