Overview
In this section we will cover:
- How to set up your USPS Carrier in ShipperHQ
- The different rating types you may use for pricing
- USPS-specific configuration settings
Adding USPS
Now that you have your credentials ready, use the steps below to set up USPS in ShipperHQ.
1. Log into your ShipperHQ account & navigate to the Carriers link on the left navigation menu.
2. Click + New to add a new carrier
3. Choose the Live Rate Carrier option
4. Use the Search Carriers option to search for USPS or scroll down to find USPS from the list of available carriers
5. Click to continue in connecting your carrier account to ShipperHQ.
Account Settings Options
USPS Discounted Rate Types
USPS offers several standard rate cards/rate types. These rate cards are offered in different scenarios and outlined below. It’s important to note that ShipperHQ does not resell USPS rate cards. If you offer a certain rate card to your customers it’s important to ensure that you can actually ship at those rates. Talk to your postage provider (e.g. Endicia, Stamps.com, or Pitney Bowes) or USPS rep to determine which rate card you’re eligible to use.
- Retail Rates
What you would pay if you buy postage from a Post Office. This is the most expensive rate the USPS offers.On your USPS carrier in ShipperHQ, you can select “Retail Rates” in the Rate Type field of the Account Settings panel to have these rates shown to your customers (of course, you can always surcharge or discount these rates at will using handling fees or shipping rules). - Online Pricing
This rate type offers discounted rates, especially for USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. Although ShipperHQ does not integrate with Stamps.com or Endicia rates, these Online Pricing Discounts are comparable to discounts on postage from a USPS e-reseller. Online Pricing does not reflect special discount negotiations, but you could use this rate type along with Shipping Rules to match your deeper negotiated discounts.On your USPS carrier in ShipperHQ, you can select “Online Rates” in the Rate Type field of the Account Settings panel to have these rates shown to your customers (of course, you can always surcharge or discount these rates at will using handling fees or shipping rules). - Commercial Base Pricing (CBP)
In many cases similar to the Online rate but offers some discounts for services other than USPS Priority Mail. In ShipperHQ, choose “Online Rates” as the Rate Type to return CBP pricing. - Commercial Plus Pricing (CPP)
The highest discounts USPS offers. In order to receive CPP pricing, you’ll either need to sign a direct volume contract with the USPS or a contract with a USPS Reseller like Express One, Express Save, or USS Logistics. Most merchants will not use CPP pricing. On your USPS carrier in ShipperHQ, you can select “Commercial Plus” in the Rate Type field of the Account Settings panel to have these rates shown to your customers (as above, you can always surcharge or discount these rates at will using handling fees or shipping rules).
Machinable
Machinable is a USPS term for any packages, envelopes, etc. that can be processed automatically by USPS sorting machines. All standard boxes, envelopes, padded envelopes, and other packaging normally used for shipping via USPS is Machinable so we recommend leaving this box checked unless you know for sure that you ship packages which are not machinable. Unchecking this option will result in USPS not returning some services which are not eligible for shipping non-machinable packages and returning higher rates for services that are eligible for non-machinable packages. Consult the USPS directly if you are unsure.
Hazardous Items
The USPS allows shippers to ship some hazardous items by some shipping services. If this option is checked on your USPS carrier in ShipperHQ, ShipperHQ will indicate to the USPS that the shipment contains Hazardous Items and the USPS will only return services that are eligible for shipping Hazardous Items.
With the “Hazardous Items” checkbox checked, standard USPS services will not be returned. Instead, services with the suffix “HAZMAT” are the only services that will be returned by USPS (e.g. Priority Mail Express HAZMAT, Priority Mail HAZMAT, or USPS Ground Advantage HAZMAT). Ensure you have at least one of these services selected under “Active Shipping Method(s) for this Carrier” on your USPS carrier in ShipperHQ.
It is your responsibility to ensure that any items tendered for shipment to the USPS comply with all USPS guidelines including Hazardous Item restrictions.
Show Cheapest Flat Rate
If you want ShipperHQ to only show the cheapest between Small, Medium, and Large Flat Rate methods, you need this setting enabled.
This will automatically hide the more expensive flat rate shipping methods like med/large when small is chosen. NOTE: This requires enabling the Dimensional Shipping Feature.
You can find this setting by editing the Carrier > go to the Basic panel > scroll to ‘Account Settings’ section.
Specific Services
USPS Ground Advantage
USPS Ground Advantage is a USPS standard package service which provides a cheaper but slightly slower alternative to Priority Mail for domestic packages up to 70 lbs. It is available for shipments to all US states and territories including PO Boxes as well as APO/FPO/DPO addresses, military bases, and Freely Associated States. More information is available from USPS on their USPS Ground Advantage page.
USPS Ground Advantage launched July 9th, 2023 as a replacement for several services:
- First-Class Mail Package Service
- Retail Ground
- Parcel Select Ground
The USPS API no longer returns these retired services and instead will return USPS Ground Advantage in their place. If you were using any of the retired services in ShipperHQ, they will no longer be offered to your customers. You must update your ShipperHQ configuration with the steps below to start offering USPS Ground Advantage rates.
Replacing Retired Services with USPS Ground Advantage
If you were using any of the services which have now been replaced by USPS Ground Advantage, you’ll need to update your USPS carrier in ShipperHQ to allow this service to be offered:
- Navigate to the Carriers page in the ShipperHQ dashboard
- Select the edit icon to the right of your USPS carrier settings
- In the Basic tab under “Active Shipping Method(s) for this Carrier” click “Add Methods”
- Find and select the checkbox next to “USPS Ground Advantage”
- Click “Apply” and then “Save”
- Update any Shipping Rules or Shipping Groups that applied to the retired services to apply to the new USPS Ground Advantage service
- Deselect the checkbox for any retired services in your USPS carrier settings
Note that First-Class Package International Service nor any other international services are replaced by USPS Ground Advantage which is a domestic-only service. First-Class Package International Service continues to be offered by the USPS and supported by ShipperHQ.