Troubleshooting Common USPS Shipping Error Messages and Resolutions

Summary: This article outlines the error messages that may appear when attempting to ship with USPS and provides guidance on how to address these issues.

Common USPS Error Messages

When attempting to ship with USPS, users may encounter various error messages. Here are some of the most common errors and their meanings:

1. Failed to Manage Merchant Credentials

• Error Message: "Pre-Rating Validation: Rate service call failed: USPSAPI (Account: [Account Number]) Failed to manage merchant credentials. USPS API Failed."
• Resolution: This error indicates an issue with the merchant credentials associated with your USPS account. It is advisable to check your account settings and ensure that your credentials are correctly configured.

2. Indicia Permit Required

• Error Message: "Error summary: 400-Bad Request', saying 'an indicia company name must be configured by USPS."
• Resolution: This error typically means that an "Indicia Permit" needs to be set up with USPS to allow shipping to military addresses. Contact your USPS representative to obtain this permit, which is necessary for shipping to APO or FPO addresses.

3. Failed to Generate Labels

• Error Message: "All requested packages failed to generate labels for chosen carriers. Failed to generate labels through UPS service: Encountered an error when running UPS Rest Request: [Error Code]."
• Resolution: This message indicates that there was an issue generating shipping labels. It is recommended to contact your carrier representative to resolve any issues related to the shipper number or account permissions.

Troubleshooting Steps

If you encounter any of these error messages while attempting to ship with USPS, follow these steps:

1. Check Account Settings:

   • Ensure that your merchant credentials are correctly entered in your account settings.
   • Verify that your account is authorized to use USPS services.

2. Contact USPS Support:

   • If you receive an error related to the Indicia Permit, reach out to your USPS representative to set up the necessary permissions for shipping to military addresses.

3. Re-Authorize Payment Token:

   • If you experience issues with the payment token, navigate to Settings > Carrier Accounts > USPS API account, and reset the payment token as needed.

4. Monitor for Updates:

   • Stay informed about any ongoing issues with the USPS API that may affect shipping performance. Regularly check for updates from your support team.

Conclusion

Understanding the common error messages when shipping with USPS can help you troubleshoot and resolve issues more effectively. If you continue to experience problems after following the recommended steps, do not hesitate to reach out to customer support for further assistance.